Page 49 of Playing the Game

“Here she is,” Ewen said. “We’ve heard the news. Congratulations.”

Meg nodded. “Thank you, Ewen.”

The other lads were transfixed. Meg grinned at Colin, who went every shade of red.

“Will you need a chaperone for future sports massages?” Ewen asked.

Meg patted him on the shoulder. “I think I’ll contain myself. I’ll see you straight after. That should chase away any naughty thoughts.”

“She got you there,” Ingvar said.

Ewen fake pouted. “I’m wounded.”

Meg sat next to Noah. “What were you talking about anyway?”

“Goran is christening his kid,” Alain said.

“Aw nice.”

“And you’re invited,” Goran said.

“As my plus one,” Colin added.

She beamed at him. “That sounds like fun.”

“Like I said, all partners are welcome.”

To Adam’s dismay, Goran pointedly stared at Jonas.

Talk about making it obvious. Fucking hell.

“Shit,” Meg said. “All those soap stars will be glam as fuck.”

“So will you,” Colin replied.

He gazed at Meg adoringly. Sort of like a cross between a cherub and a basset hound.

“We’re going shopping after training,” she replied.

Adam glanced at his watch. “We’d better get moving. Tactics await.”

They spent the next four hours planning their gameplay for the weekend. This helped them determine the set pieces they would practice for the next two days.

As feared, it actually was dull as fuck. Steven did like to get into a lot of detail about the enemy’s playing style.

“Do you ever get chance to fuck?” Adam whispered to Udo. “Or is he watching other men’s legs all the time.”

Udo smirked. “Oh we get the chance. You haven’t got the monopoly on it, you know.”

Adam winked.

Finally they were released into the world. Adam drove straight home. It was cold out and he planned an afternoon on the sofa under a blanket with a movie.

Just as he was getting settled, the intercom buzzed.

“Can I not have a moment of peace?” Adam said to the empty room.

As the skipper, it wasn’t unusual for one or more of the lads to show up unannounced for a chat or to hang out. When Jen had left, Adam had encouraged it. The house had been so desolate.