Chapter Twenty-Four
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Devon
“Aiden’s coming for Christmas by the way,” Jonny said as we sat on the bench in the changing room getting ready to head into the gym. We didn’t have a match this week, but that didn’t mean our training load had lightened. “I spoke to him last night.”
“Yeah, how’s he getting on?” I asked as I laced up my trainers. I hadn’t seen Aiden in years except through pictures on Instagram, and it would be nice to see him again in person. Especially if he brought more of his fabulous cookies.
“Good, business seems to be going well. Although he called me a cheap bastard for not ordering more.” He chuckled. “But he’s going to bring cookies for Christmas, and I promised to take him to The Court. Although getting laid is up to him.”
I snorted. “Yeah, just turn him loose and I’m sure he’ll be fine.” From what I’d heard, Aiden had game and he was cute too, so if he wanted to get laid, he wasn’t going to have any trouble.
“That’s the plan,” Jonny said. “Although I guess I should make sure he doesn’t cause trouble.”
“Nope, that’s not your responsibility.” I slid up next to him and nudged him with my knee. “Your only responsibility is to have fun.” I leant in closer. “And fuck me senseless.”
Jonny’s foot slipped off the bench with a thud and I bit back a laugh. “I think I can do that,” he said, rubbing the back of his knee.
“Good, I look forward to it.” I reached for my other trainer and realised Jonny was looking at me. “Something wrong?”
“No, I was just thinking about something Aiden said.”
“Yeah? What was that?”
“Do you remember the time I nearly punched Chris Jackson?” he asked casually as he fiddled with the cuffs of his training top.
“From Under Seventeens?” I asked as I dredged through my memories. The name was vaguely familiar and a spotty face with a terrible teenage haircut swam into mind. “When did you try and punch him?”
“Er, Under Sixteens,” Jonny said. “And I don’t know when it was. I didn’t exactly make a note of it.”
I rolled my eyes fondly. “Okay then, why did you try and punch him?”
“Because I was jealous,” he said quietly, looking down at his feet, hands interlaced and elbows on his knees. “He kept going around telling people he was your best mate and shit, I don’t know, it got to me. It was stupid really, especially looking back on it. Like why the hell did I get so worked up? But teenagers, I guess. I’d totally forgotten all about it until Aiden brought it up.”
“Why did he?”
“Well, I told him we were dating, and, er, he wasn’t surprised.” Jonny twisted his head and grinned at me, the corner of his mouth curling.
“Really?”
“Yeah, he said he knew I’d fancied you for years, but he didn’t tell me because he knew I wouldn’t listen—which I think is kinda bollocks but—”
“Do you? Do you really?” I asked, nudging him with my knee again. The changing room was starting to empty around us and I knew we had about two minutes before someone came and fished us out. But we could keep talking. It would just have to be between sets and drills.
Or maybe later, over dinner.
Maybe one day we should actually try going out for dinner. Like some sort of date.
“I don’t know, maybe?”
“And it didn’t take Mason and West doing whatever they did to make you see sense?” I asked with a laugh, watching as Jonny rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, all right, point proven.” He nudged me back. “Anyway, Aiden said I’ve always had issues with jealousy around you. I’ve just never noticed it before. But I managed to get past it before, so I guess I can do it again.” He stood and stretched, offering me his hand. I took it and climbed to my feet, frowning as I did.
“You said you got past it… but it wasn’t because I left, was it?”
“No,” he said. “I don’t think so anyway. That wasn’t until we were eighteen, so I must have gotten over it before that or I’d never have made it this far. Not if I was being a prick.”
“So you know you did, but you don’t know how?”
“Yeah.” He grinned and shrugged, but there was something in his eyes that didn’t quite match the rest of his face. Like he was trying to pretend everything was okay when it wasn’t. “It’ll be okay, though. I know it’s an issue now, so at least I’m aware of it. And maybe I’ll take Clive up on the offer to talk to someone.”
“Okay, sounds good,” I said. I was still holding his hand and I squeezed it tightly. “But you do know you can talk to me too, right? This isn’t all on you. We’re in this together and not just because we’re teammates. I… you’re my boyfriend, Jonny, and my best friend, and I’m not letting you deal with this by yourself.”
“I know, and I promise it’ll be fine.” He leant down and kissed my cheek. “We should get going before we get yelled at. Also I need to talk to Mason about Aiden coming so I can get the spare room sorted and maybe organise that night out. Ryan said they’re doing a club night after the show and maybe we could see if anyone else wants to come? Maybe a team night out? I know it’s not usually our sort of thing, but if we organise it, then it will be.”
“Take the whole team to a gay bar? You know they’ll get eaten alive.”
He snorted. “I don’t know. I think quite a few of them would like that. Maybe Mason and I aren’t the only ones who’re oblivious.”
I thought about some of the team as we walked towards the changing room door, our fingers still laced together.
He was probably right.
The rest of training passed as usual, and I finished up the day with a sports massage that reduced my legs to jelly as Donna worked out all the knots in my legs and ass, digging her fingers and elbows into my muscles. It was painful as fuck and more than once I squeaked and swore.
Donna was used to it, though, and was kind enough to ignore my whining. She was good at knowing when we were in actual pain and there were problems and when we were only complaining. It was funny—most of us didn’t think twice about throwing ourselves across the pitch, pushing ourselves harder and faster with every match and training session, or breaking bones, but someone gently poking a knot in our muscles was enough to have half the team in agony.
Afterwards, I went back to my flat, since Jonny had D3 I’m glad you figured everything out. We’ll have to go for another drink sometime and you can tell me all about it.
Devon
I’d like that. I owe you at least a bottle of champagne for all the help.
Peaches
Done!
Peaches
You really do know the way to my heart.
Feeling a tiny bit smug that I’d managed to get Peaches on side, I stretched out again and then heaved myself off the sofa. I had no plans for the rest of the evening except eating, watching TV, and soaking myself in the bath with one of the bath bombs I’d treated myself to. I needed to look at ordering a few more Christmas presents too, but I had no idea what to get Jonny that wasn’t just myself tied up in ribbon.
Although… maybe that could work.
Someone had to make good ribbon cuffs and maybe some cute silk underwear with a bow on it. I’d get him something else too, but Jonny loved playing with me and I’d make the perfect Christmas toy. And it would be easy for us to come back here and indulge in private.
I had no idea how long Jonny, Mason, and Ryan’s lease on the house was, but maybe in the new year it would be worth talking about. I was sure Mason and Ryan would like their privacy, and I’d love to have Jonny to myself. The only issue was how new Ryan and Mason’s relationship was, at least in relative terms, but they’d been roommates for a while, so maybe it wouldn’t be such a hurdle since they were already used to living together. And with Mason’s wage, it wasn’t like they’d have to move into somewhere tiny.
Jonny and I would definitely need to look for somewhere new since my flat was small, but I had a rolling contract, so I wasn’t tied to anything.
I knew I was putting the cart before the horse, and we had a lot of things to work out before we actually got to that stage, but I’d been dreaming about a relationship with him for so long that I couldn’t stop my brain from running away with things.
I just had to hope that everything would work out the way I’d always wanted.
My phone flashed on the kitchen counter where I’d put it to start getting things out of the fridge.
Jonny
We’re totally fucked. Ryan mentioned something about karaoke—apparently Mason told him they were all singing Cher in the dressing room, and now he wants us all to try Mariah Carey?! FFS.
Jonny
Also, how do you feel about joining our game of Dungeons & Dragons?