Page 17 of Playing the Game

“Not until May,” Noah replied.

He sat next to Jonas.

Javier operated a strict no-alcohol rule. That had been made clear from the outset. It didn’t bother Jonas too much.

“When are you moving in?” Noah asked.

“Tonight,” Tito replied. “Might see if Brockton has some sexy guys to christen it with me.”

Jonas shook his head. “Isn’t that being a bit obvious?”

Tito frowned. “I’ve transferred here with a massive wage cut. I think my cat is out of my bag.”

Jonas didn’t know how Brockton would react to Tito sleeping his way around the town. But he was in his mid-twenties. He could do what he liked.

Even if Jonas were significantly older than these two, he certainly wouldn’t be taking responsibility for their actions.

“I might move in tonight too,” he said. “I hate where I’m staying.”

“Then I will as well,” Noah declared. “Anyone fancy a PlayStation night?”

This was right up Jonas’ street. He’d spent far too many hours playing computer games over the years.

“You’re on,” he replied.

“God, you are like pensioners,” Tito said. “Let’s go out and see what’s happening. Colin told me there are some decent bars.”

Jonas had absolutely no intention of being in a loud pub shouting to be heard over shitty chart music.

Maybe I am getting old.

“Can’t you find anyone on the team to go out with?” Noah asked.

“Like Ewen?” Tito replied. “I can’t see that, can you?”

Jonas frowned. “It’s not a good idea to make enemies this early on.”

“Says you.”

“I’m going to fix that. You’re just winding Ewen up.”

Tito shrugged. “He’s had it easy for way too long. It’s about time someone came and challenged him a bit. He’ll thank me in the long run.”

Jonas wasn’t too sure about that. He vowed to take Adam to one side tomorrow and sort this out. He wanted to play to win. Politics on and off the pitch were not on his agenda. They never had been. They especially weren’t in Brockton.

After another day’s training, Jonas was running on the treadmill in the gym. The walls were painted with the club’s mint green. Supposedly inspiring quotes lined them. Jonas had never trained anywhere as well equipped. He was in heaven.

Adam was on the next machine. Jonas noticed that Adam was running ever so slightly faster than him.

Most of the other lads were on the weights at the other end of the room. Jonas hit the Walk setting and got his breath back.

“Can I have a word, Skipper?”

Adam followed suit and so they were both at the same pace.

“Of course.”

Adam’s voice still had a hard edge to it. All the more reason to sort this out once and for all.