Page 131 of Playing the Game

Olive gurgled. He lifted her out of the water and cuddled her.

“Sorry, princess. I’m having naughty thoughts about your father.”

“I heard that,” Adam replied. “Not in front of the child, please. Shit. It’s Jen.”

He strode out of the room. Jonas had a flash of paranoia that he was taking the call away from him.

Calm down. He’s allowed some privacy.

Jonas went over to the steps and climbed carefully out. He found a towel on a lounger and wrapped Olive up in it. She gazed up at him. Such trust in her eyes.

“Did you like your swim?” he asked.

She babbled away.

“You’re trying to tell me, aren’t you? Clever girl.”

Adam came in. He looked ashen-faced.

“What’s the matter?” Jonas asked.

“She’s on her way,” Adam replied. “She’ll be here in an hour.”

Jonas carried Olive over. Adam’s eyes were full of tears.

“I can’t lose her, Jonas.”

“Hey now. No one has said you’re going to. Let’s take it as it comes.”

“Together?”

“Absofuckinglutely. Unless you want to do it alone. I can come later.”

Adam rested his hand on Jonas’ shoulder. “Whatever is decided today impacts your life too. I want you with me.”

“Then I’ll be here.”

They kissed. Jonas vowed never to take Adam’s lips for granted again.

“When I think how close I came to losing you,” Adam said.

“But you didn’t. I think in some way I always knew you’d come good. Even if you tested that theory to the absolute limit.”

Just over an hour later and Adam was hopping around like a demented kangaroo. He reckoned he was entertaining Olive, who didn’t seem on board with that. Jonas suspected he was really burning off his nerves. If it worked on the football pitch, it could do the same in Adam’s lounge.

The buzzer went and Adam ran off to let his ex-girlfriend in. Jonas quickly checked himself out in the mirror. He’d thrown on a pair of Adam’s jeans and a T-shirt. He really would have to go home at some point. Even if only to get a change of clothes.

He went to pick Olive up from her bouncy chair then stopped.

“Your mama will want a snuggle,” he said to her.

It also might come across as territorial if Jonas was holding the baby.

He heard voices. Then the lounge door opened. He’d never met Jen. Once the article had been published, he had done his internet research. She was a beautiful woman. The photos from last week had shocked Jonas.

Today, Jen looked better. She made a beeline for her child.

“Oh my darling,” she cried out. “I am so sorry.”