Chapter 12
TWELVE
UDO
Udo was on cloud nine as he walked from the car into Newby Park. It had been two days since he and Steven had ended up in bed. Training the day before had been easy. Steven had attended a scouting session on the east coast.
Most Premier League teams had academies to grow talent.
It was the best way to ensure they packed their locker rooms for generations to come.
Udo had worked hard at his first club, VfB Stuttgart.
They had given him the best possible start in his career.
He had kept in touch with some of the staff there.
His nerves jangled as he entered the training facility.
They’d decided to keep up the early coaching sessions.
It would be odd if they suddenly cancelled them after a week.
Steven remained terrified that Javier would find out.
Udo respected that. He was rapidly developing feelings for this man.
The last thing he wanted to do was to lose him from Brockton FC.
This time Steven waited for him in the meeting room. Udo smiled shyly. They’d texted each other since Udo had left Steven’s house. Even so, Udo wasn’t the type to sleep around so to have been that intimate with Steven and now have to face him across a table was not his usual working day.
“Morning,” Udo said.
“Good morning,” Steven replied, steepling his fingers. “How was yesterday?”
“I found myself strangely tired.”
Steven shifted in his chair. “Yes, well. Perhaps we should focus again on some of our own players. I’ll take you through their foibles and style of play. That’ll help you predict what they’re going to do.”
Poor Steven shifted uncomfortably. They wouldn’t do much good unless they addressed the elephant in the room.
“Did you miss me last night?” Udo asked.
“Udo…”
“I know, I know. We can’t talk like that here. I don’t think that Jamie has the meeting rooms bugged, do you?”
“That’s not the point. The risk is too high.”
Udo settled in his seat. He was making Steven nervous, which was unfair.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t help myself.”
“How about you come to mine this evening?” Steven whispered.
Udo leant forward on the table.
“I’d love to,” he replied softly.
“Good. Now let’s get to business.”
By the time Udo went to get changed, the locker room was full.
“Colin, do you want to get your nose out of that book and your kit on?” Adam said.
“I’m revising for my driving theory test,” Colin replied.
Ewen grabbed the book. “For every ball you get past me in training today, I’ll spend fifteen minutes testing you.”
Colin’s face lit up. “Honest?”
“Yeah. You need some wheels, kid. I’m sick of giving you lifts everywhere.”
Udo walked over to his space to put on his kit. Shaun came into the room fiddling with his phone.
“Was that your mum, Shaun?” Alain asked.
“No, why?”
“I left my boxers at hers last night.”
They all burst into fits of laughter.
“Fuck off,” Shaun sneered. “I’m not in the mood for you today.”
Udo gave him a weak smile. Something was obviously upsetting him.
“Oh here he is,” Shaun said. “Our hero.”
“Good morning, Shaun,” Udo replied.
Had their truce expired already?
Udo took his T-shirt off and threw it in his locker.
Colin, who sat next to him, glanced nervously his way.
Udo presumed that they’d been talking about him before he’d come in.
If only they knew what had really happened.
Shaun would have a field day. Not only with Udo being gay but the fact that he’d slept with the assistant coach.
“Ready to show us how it’s done again?” Shaun teased.
It was Alain who had made the comment about his mother. Udo had no idea why Shaun was coming for him.
“What do you mean?”
Udo pulled his shirt on.
“We need to check that wasn’t a fluke on Saturday.”
Adam came out of the bathroom.
“Leave it, Shaun,” he said. “Udo did well on Saturday. You said so yourself.”
The door opened. Javier and Steven came in. Javier strode into the middle of the room. Udo glanced at Steven, who hung back.
“What’s going on in here?” Javier asked. “Adam?”
“Nothing, boss,” Shaun replied. “Just a bit of banter.”
Banter? That word hid a multitude of sins. How many times had Udo seen arguments put down to it? Udo was confused. He thought he and Shaun had turned a corner. Today it seemed to be reset.
Javier stood in front of Shaun. “I don’t like banter,” he said. “I presume it came from you, Riggs.”
Shaun looked the picture of innocence. “Not me, boss. Just making sure the favourite is ready to prove his worth. Finally.”
“Now wait a minute,” Steven said, taking a step forward.
“It’s okay,” Udo said.
The last thing he wanted was Steven to give the game away. A fire had begun in Udo’s belly. The combination of the goal and the sex, most likely. Either way, he would harness it and bring it onto the pitch.
He walked over to Shaun. Remarkably, Javier gave way for him.
“Shaun,” Udo said calmly. “I have scored more goals than you. Played in more finals than you. And I have more medals than you. Granted, I’ve not been the best since I came here. What I will also tell you is that ends now.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Shaun replied.
He was red around the neck which told Udo he’d had an impact on him.
“I’m not here to be a hero,” Udo continued. “This team is the only thing that matters at the moment. How about we cut the…banter? I’ll prove myself to all of you on the pitch.”
Udo stared at them all.
“We can secure ourselves from relegation this season. Then kick the shit out of them all next,” Udo said. “We can only do it together.”
Adam began to clap him. Goran, the goalkeeper, joined him. Then Ewen and Edi and Colin. Before long, the locker room applauded.
“Together it is then,” Shaun said.
“Right then,” Javier shouted. “Enough of the emotionals and let’s get out there. You won’t win anything pissing around in here.”
Udo returned to his place and carried on changing. Some of the lads left the room with Javier. Udo glanced back. Steven caught his eye before silently leaving with them.
Shaun was scowling at his mobile phone.
Adam came over and clapped Udo on the shoulder. “Pretty good speech, my friend.”
“Thanks.”
“Listen, some of the guys are coming to mine after training. We can shoot some pool or grab something to eat. You up for it?”
Udo had planned on getting to Steven’s as quickly as possible. He also recognised the importance of such an invite. The captain was giving him the seal of approval.
“I’d love to,” Udo replied with a smile.
“Nice one. Let’s go and kick Riggs’ arse first, eh?”
“Yeah. I’ll prove him wrong.”
“That’s the spirit. You’re a Brockton Boy now, Holtmann. We like to prove everyone wrong. Riggs, you coming?”
Shaun shoved his mobile into his shorts pocket. A big no-no where Javier was concerned.
“Got to see someone this afternoon.”
He stalked out of the room.
“What’s wrong with him?” Adam asked. “He’s like a bear with a sore head.”
Udo watched the door close. “God knows. What I can say is he’ll take it out on me. Whatever it is.”
Adam’s house was huge. Part of it looked very old too. Udo had expected something modern. Footballers didn’t usually go for restoration projects. They wanted everything sparkling and new.
He parked next to the others. As they all got out of their respective cars, they examined Udo’s.
“Nice wheels, Holtmann,” Goran said. “They fit right in.”
Udo appreciated the kind gesture. Goran drove a Bentley, which shone in the sunlight next to Ewen’s Ferrari. Ingvar’s Range Rover came next. Adam’s Bugatti completed the line. Poor Colin hadn’t passed his test yet.
“I’ll be upgrading soon,” Udo replied. “I didn’t need a car in London and I wanted to make sure I wanted to…well you know, put roots down.”
They walked to the door.
“And do you?” Goran asked.
“Yeah, I reckon so.”
“I’m glad,” Goran said. “This is a decent team and they treat us well.”
Before Udo responded, the door was flung open by a grinning Adam.
“Gentlemen,” he said. “Come on in.”
He led them into a large hall with wood-lined panels. Goran obviously knew his way around. He opened a door to reveal a cupboard for coats and hung his up.
“Udo?”
Udo took off his leather jacket and handed it to Goran.
“It’s his second home,” Adam explained to Udo.
“He chose well. This place is gorgeous.”
“Thanks. It was a shell when I bought it. The lads called me fucking crazy.”
“I can confirm we did,” Goran said.
Adam stuck his tongue out at him. They had a bond that Udo had never had with other players. He’d always held something back.
“Took three years,” Adam continued. “So worth it.”
He led Udo into a vast lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Instead of doing one big extension, they built all over the original. This is the first new bit.”
The modernity of the lounge didn’t clash at all. It had been so well done it complemented the older parts of the house. The view of the rolling gardens gave the impression of sanctuary.
“Wow,” Udo said.
“Come through.”
They walked into another room that was clearly an annex. There they found Ewen and Ingvar.
The room was the man-cave to end all man-caves. Adam had arcade machines, darts and what looked like a poker table in the back. Colin was frantically playing pinball.
He looked so young compared to the rest of them. They all treated him like a kid brother. Udo wondered if that ever upset poor Colin. After all he was earning more than most people in the country and on the pitch was every bit as good as the others.
“Here he is,” Ewen said, clapping Udo on the shoulder. “So glad you came. Now how about I thrash you at pool?”
“Give him a chance,” Adam said. “Anyway, we can’t start until Edi gets here. We’re playing doubles, remember.”
Ewen shook his head. “He’s always late, that one.”
They all sat down on the couches. Udo took the room in. Adam went over to the wood panels and opened what appeared to be a secret door. It revealed a mirrored bar area.