Page 3 of Playing the Game

Adam sighed. “I’m hardly going to cop off with another player in front of the rest of the team.”

“There are more subtle ways.”

“And you’d know all about that.”

Udo shrugged. “Fair point.”

“Anyway I wanted a catch up with you, my friend. How was the south of France?”

They’d only been together as a team for a few days to train for the Bilbao match. Adam hadn’t had a chance to speak properly to Udo.

“We had a ball,” Udo replied. “Steven’s family came out for a bit and so did my mum. They all got on like a house on fire.”

Adam watched the joy on Udo’s face. He remembered when he and Jen would holiday together. His parents would join them for part of it too.

His face must have given away his emotions.

“Everything okay?” Udo asked.

“Just thinking of past times,” Adam replied.

“It was mean of the journalists to bring Jen into it before.”

It wasn’t unusual. Jen had been a successful social media influencer so they’d been a couple in the spotlight. Not in the same league as Posh and Becks but when they’d split, it had made the headlines for a short while.

“I know you don’t like talking about it,” Udo added.

“You’re right, I don’t,” Adam replied.

Udo focused on cutting his steak.

“I’m sorry,” Adam said. “I thought after a year, things might have moved on.”

“What happened?”

Adam sighed and put his cutlery down. Udo had joined Brockton long after that whole shitshow.

“The official line was our jobs were pulling us in different directions.”

Udo frowned. “But Jen closed all her social media accounts. She’s effectively given up her career.”

The guilt he felt over that burst into life inside him once more.

“We were going to elope,” Adam said. “Jen shared everything on her bloody socials. I couldn’t face a massive wedding with all the shit that goes with it. We compromised that we’d have the ceremony for just us and our families then throw a huge party.”

Udo was watching him like a hawk.

“And?”

“I got cold feet the week before,” Adam explained.

“Why?”

“Something didn’t feel right.”

“Because she’s a woman?”

“No,” Adam said, quickly. “I told you. I’ve never had a problem with who I’m with. She knew all about that as well. I could see my life being laid out before me and I couldn’t cope with it. Jen always said I’m too immature to settle down. Maybe she’s right.”