Page 39 of Playing the Game

“I’ll have a pint with you.”

Jonas smirked. “You know what?” he said. “Drinks for everyone. This is Brockton and I helped score a bloody goal.”

“That’s the spirit, lad,”

One drink became three. Of course, Adam and Jonas were stone-cold sober. Which was more than could be said for a few of the locals when they finally got away.

“That was fun,” Jonas said as they walked to his car.

“Howard wanted us to get out and about. I think we’ve charmed the Royal Oak.”

Jonas popped the doors and they climbed in.

“Am I taking you for your car?” Jonas asked.

Adam turned to him. “It’s late,” he said. “I’ll get it in the morning.”

His eyes shone in the half-light. Jonas swallowed. Nerves suddenly gripping him.

“Seems silly to get a cab.”

“Why don’t you drive me?”

Fuck

Jonas sighed. “I feel like you’re trying to say something. To be honest, you’re failing miserably.”

“I am, aren’t I?”

“If you’re asking me to stay the night with you?—”

“I am.”

So many emotions ran through Jonas. He gripped the steering wheel.

“Are you knocking me back?” Adam asked. “Shit.”

“No. It’s just…”

“Do me a favour,” Adam cut in. “Drive this car. I have no intention of being made a dickhead in a pub car park.”

Jonas turned on the ignition.

“You’re not a dickhead.”

He drove out of the car park and onto the country road.

“Driving somewhere makes it so much easier to do this shit,”Adam said. “So I’ll blurt it out and we can agree never to talk about it again.”

Part of him wanted to put Adam out of his misery. But the dominant part needed to hear what Adam had in mind.

“Go on then,” he replied.

Adam took a breath. “Okay. I’m bisexual. Always have been, always will be.”

Well that’s quite the revelation.

“You’ve kept that quiet.”