Page 174

HATE TO BE YOU

Hugh

NOVEMBER 7, 2003

“A RE YA GOOD, LAD ?” C AP ASKED, CROUCHING DOWN BESIDE ME TO TIE HIS LACES midway through training on Friday.

Shaking my head, I blew out a breath and focused on not losing my head.

“Come on,” he coaxed. “Take a lap with me.”

Considering the prospect of taking a lap meant avoiding the prick wearing number fourteen, I gladly fell into step with my captain.

“You destroyed me in that maths test this morning, lad,” he said, not breaking a sweat as he ran alongside me. “I thought I was killing it with 94 percent, but you knocked it out of the park with full marks.”

I knew what Johnny was trying to do, and I really fucking appreciated it. He wasn’t known for taking an interest in anything that wasn’t rugby related, so the fact that he was bringing up test scores meant that he was trying.

While I wasn’t entirely sure if he knew what was happening, he clearly sensed the storm brewing inside me, and this was his way of pumping me up.

“Yeah,” I replied, jogging alongside him. “It wasn’t too bad.”

“Not too bad?” Cap laughed, nudging my shoulder with his. “What were you hoping for? A hundred and one percent?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, shaking my head. “Sorry, my head’s in space right now.”

“Nah, it’s still on your shoulders, ya bleeding brainbox,” he replied, tone way gentler than usual.

We ran another three laps and had stopped to stretch out before Johnny spoke again. “Listen, I heard yourself and O’Neill had some kind of falling out over Halloween.”

“Yeah,” I replied flatly. “We did.”

“Care to fill me in?”

My brows furrowed in surprise. “You don’t know?”

“Gossip’s not really my thing, lad,” he replied with a shake of his head. “And I don’t go to parties, and this right here is about as much socializing as I have time for.” He shrugged before adding, “Besides, I’d rather hear it from the horse’s mouth, not the horse’s shit shoveler.”

“Shit shoveler,” I chuckled. “I haven’t heard that one before.”

He smirked. “So, do you want to tell me what happened?”

“I’d rather not,” I admitted, pushing a hand through my hair. “It’s, ah, it’s just…”

“Fair enough,” my captain cut in, holding his hands up. “We’ll say no more on the matter, lad.”

I arched a brow. “Just like that?”

“What other way would it be?” he replied calmly. “We all have our right to privacy, lad.”

“Yeah,” I replied, feeling really fucking grateful for him in this moment. “I do want you to know that I won’t cause trouble on the team for you.”

“That’s really good to hear, lad,” Johnny replied. “Because the team needs both of ye.”

“Yeah, Cap,” I replied with a nod, swallowing my pride. “I know.”

Liz was sitting on the grassy bank at the edge of the pitch when Coach called it for the day.

Perfect .

I swear I had never walked so fast to get to the changing rooms as I did in this moment.

Ignoring Pierce, who was jogging toward her, I kept my gaze trained ahead and powered on.

“Hugh,” she called out when I passed her, but I pretended not to hear.

I couldn’t control my emotions right now, and I wasn’t about to humiliate myself with her again.

She’d already done enough of that for the both of us.

Wordlessly, Gibs fell into step beside me, blocking my view of her, and for that, I was beyond grateful.

He didn’t crack a joke or throw shade.

He just walked beside me, shielding me with his presence.