Page 60 of Playing the Game

“I…uh…I think so.”

As if he and Jonas hadn’t talked about it at length when Jonas had returned from Liverpool.

“I’ll get Howard to meet with him,” Javier confirmed. “They can come up with something a bit more exciting than anAt Homepiece in a crappy magazine.”

Adam had done a few of those in his time. They had paid for most of the restoration project. He loathed being suited and booted in his own home but Jen had insisted.

Adam breathed a sigh of relief he hoped wasn’t detectable. What really worried him was Jonas might simply leave at the end of the season. No footballer should be heckled by their own fans.

“I’ll have another word with Ewen,” he said. “He’s taking the piss.”

“We have a plan then,” Javier replied.

Adam nodded. He left them to it and went into the locker room. Most of the lads were in the showers. He went over to his spot and took his shirt off.

He noticed Ewen hurriedly getting changed.

“Got to be somewhere?” he asked.

“There’s no point in hanging around is there?”

Adam knew exactly what Ewen had in mind. To avoid a tongue-lashing from Javier at all costs.

“Are you threatened by Tito?” he asked quietly.

Ewen looked around.

“Do you want to shut up?” Ewen said.

They were on their own. The others were having extra-long showers. It had been cold out there.

Adam patted the bench next to him. Ewen complied. Albeit with the air of a sulky teenager.

“It’s understandable if you are,” Adam whispered.

“Maybe a bit,” Ewen conceded. “He’s younger and has won the bloody Champions League. I’ve never even been close.”

“Antagonising him isn’t the way to sort this.”

Ewen blushed. “The kid rubs me up the wrong way. That’s all. I’ll try and not be such a dick.”

Adam slung his arm around Ewen and hugged him. They’d played together for many years.

“It’s a tough old world.”

“You’re not wrong.”

As the evening began to take its hold over the small Lancashire town, Adam parked up outside Jonas, Noah and Tito’s building. He glanced up at the windows. Most of the lights were on.

He’s in.

Adam locked the car and wandered over to the main door. Rain clouds loomed. What a surprise.

He pressed the buzzer.

“Skipper?”

“Can I come in?”