Page 51 of Playing the Game

Jonas’ head shot up. “I am serious.”

“Hey,” Adam replied, stroking his hair. “I didn’t mean it like that. When we’re really truly sure it’s working. I’m not ready to have us picked over by the whole world.”

He took Jonas’ hand.

“For the record, I am serious too.”

Jonas raised Adam’s hand and kissed his knuckles.

“Then we wait.”

“At least until we can run away if it all goes to shit. I know I’m being unfair.”

Jonas shrugged. “It’s ironic that I find myself back in the closet the minute I burst out of it.”

“For what it’s worth. I won’t be sleeping with anyone else while I’m with you. I am committed.”

It might not be all that romantic but Adam hoped Jonas would take it in the spirit Adam meant it.

“I’ll level with you,” Jonas replied. “Cheating triggers me. There would be no going back. Not even a kiss.”

Jonas looked like a frightened child.

“I promise,” Adam said with as much sincerity as he could manage. He meant it and he truly wanted Jonas to believe him.

“Me too.”

TEN

JONAS

The following week Jonas was in the centre of Liverpool with Udo, Noah and Tito. He had only ever been there to play football. The four of them were in a building with incredible views of the impressive city.

“I’ve never had the chance to explore Liverpool,” he said as he stared out of floor-to-ceiling windows.

The River Mersey lay to their left and the iconic building with the Liver Birds on top was ahead.

“I miss it sometimes,” Tito replied.

Udo and Noah sat on a bright orange couch. Tito sprawled in a blue armchair.

“Brockton must be a shock to the system,” Noah commented. “After all this.”

Tito nodded. “I lived here for seven years. Most of my adult life.”

The city was buzzing even on a Tuesday morning. No one had given them as much as a second glance. Liverpool boasted two Premier League clubs so there weren’t many people impressed by the sight of four Brockton players wandering around. Tito hadbeen given the odd high five as they’d wandered along the waterfront. It appeared he had left on good terms with most of the residents.

“I wonder what this guy will be like,” Noah said.

They all had one thing in common. They’d been dropped by their management companies after making the move to Brockton. Of course, none of their managers had been honest about why. They’d come up with different excuses. Jonas’ had told him they were streamlining operations. It wasn’t even original.

Today they were meeting with Dean Jack of Freedom Sports Management. A sports manager who’d been in touch with a view to representing them. Jonas missed having that input into his life and career.

The door opened and a good-looking man with bald head and a bushy beard came in. Jonas would guess that he was in his late forties. He warmed instantly to him.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” he said, sitting down.

Jonas had always found the scouse accent comforting. This man had it in bucketloads.