Page 29 of Playing the Game

Tito gave them the finger.

“Not bad, Farman. You’d better pass to me this afternoon or I’ll trash your flat.”

“Get yourself into position and the ball’s yours.”

Jonas enjoyed listening to the banter. Noah had been quiet most of their time at Brockton. It pleased Jonas to see him coming out of his shell.

Who knew what they would find.

He also made a note to stop singing Adam’s praises all the time. He saw nothing wrong in respecting the captain, but maybe he’d been overdoing it.

A few hours later and they were in the locker room at their stadium, Brockton Park. They only usually came here on matchdays. The training facility was their true home. Usually it felt nice to be playing in front of the home crowd.

That certainly wasn’t a given today.

“Everyone okay?” Adam said.

He stood in the centre wearing only the tightest white briefs. They were clearly doing the Lord’s work containing his bulge. Jonas bit his bottom lip to clear his mind of the filth swirling around in it.

“Ready to show them who’s boss,” Tito replied.

“I want you two on the same side,” Adam said, pointing to Tito and Ewen.

“Me?” Ewen cried out. “I’m the best buddy this kid could ask for.”

Tito caught Jonas’ eye. There was a glint that spelled trouble.

“Crossing the age divide,” Tito said. “Amazing stuff.”

Ewen opened his mouth when Adam stopped him with a hand on the shoulder.

“If anyone gets Lopes in the Secret Santa, please buy him a joke book. His humour needs a reboot.”

Even Tito’s face cracked at that one.

Adam’s whole face lit up when he got the room under his control. It showed that he took pleasure in pleasing others and being the leader of the pack.

Steven came into the room. As usual, his first gaze was reserved for Udo before he gave them all his attention. Jonas took strength from these two. Even if he had a tiny seed of jealousy.

“How are we doing?”

“Getting there,” Adam said.

He pulled his shorts on. Jonas was impressed how Adam commanded the room. It gave him chills.

“Any sign of the protestors?” Noah asked.

Steven leant against the wall.

“’Fraid so,” he said.

Jonas stopped. “Really?”

“Not loads,” Steven said. “Behind the east goal there’s a contingent of fans who aren’t happy.”

Everyone seemed stunned. The unnatural silence in the locker room became overwhelming.

“How do you know?” Jonas asked.