Page 24 of Playing the Game

“Thank you. I don’t deserve it.”

“I have an idea. You can buy us all bottles of champagne when we lift the cup,” Jonas said.

This time the grin on Edi’s face seemed genuine.

“You have yourself a deal. Now we have another reason to make this happen.”

Adam caught Jonas’ eye. This man was becoming part of the team before their very eyes.

The meal passed without further incident. Stefano did wonders at lifting everyone’s spirits. As Jonas paid, Adam followed the others outside. He’d been so excited to play with their new teammates at the weekend. Now he would be watching everyone like a hawk.

They were used to abuse from away fans. That came as part of the job. Yet, when Udo had been forced out of the closet, their own supporters had turned on them. It had been tough for all the team.

Well most of them.

“I bet Shaun will be laughing his head off,” Udo said.

Shaun Riggs had been a striker at Brockton who had taken a stance against a gay player in their squad. Swapping him for Jonas must have been the final humiliation. It wouldn’t surprise Adam if Shaun wasn’t the president of this splinter group.

“Fuck Shaun Riggs,” Adam replied. “You focus on getting that ball in the net. We’ll show the whole footballing world that Brockton are not to be fucked with.”

“Who are you fucking?” Jonas asked as he joined them.

“No one, sadly,” Adam replied.

“I’m heading home,” Udo said. “Steven will be stressing out about this.”

“Udo,” Adam said. “You started to turn things around last season, remember? There’s no reason we can’t do the same again.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Udo walked toward his car, leaving Adam and Jonas. The other lads were on the corner, waiting for cabs.

“Adam Williams?”

There stood Lisa Donnelly. A local journalist who he’d had a fling with the previous year.

“Oh hi,” he said.

“How have you been?”

“Good. Yourself?”

He became acutely aware of Jonas watching him.

She bit her bottom lip. “Sorry to hear about you and Jen…again.”

Adam nodded. “Thanks.”

“Give me a call sometime.”

Without waiting for a reply, she swept off to join her friends farther down the street.

“A fan?” Jonas asked.

“Kind of,” Adam replied. “We had a few dates last year before I got back with my ex.”

Jonas watched her disappearing down the road.