Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
UDO
“Good morning, darling.”
“Hi, Mom.”
Udo perched on the arm of a chair and stared out at the garden. It had been raining all morning. Yet the clouds were parting and the sun was breaking through. He hoped that would be a good omen for the day.
“How are you feeling about the game?”
He wasn’t sure how to answer that. It had been a good week. In fact, it had been a great week. Not just because of Steven. Training had been fun. He had formed a good partnership with Adam. Even Shaun had kept most of his comments to himself.
“I don’t know,” he said. “The other lads have made an effort.”
“I told you they would. You footballers aren’t so complicated. A goal wipes out everything.”
Udo chuckled.
“I think the people in the town are coming round too.”
Earlier that day, he’d gone with Rob to open a bathroom showroom on the outskirts of Brockton. Usually he hated doing things like that. Howard had made it clear that they worked. Udo complied. To be fair, he’d had a warm reception.
“That’s fantastic news. You don’t sound very upbeat.”
Udo sighed. “I know this sounds stupid. Now I’ve scored once, they will want more.”
“Then give them more,” she replied. “You are Udo Holtmann, for goodness’ sake.”
“I was.”
“You still are and always will be.”
Udo always called his mother before a game. It had become a good luck ritual that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t.
“What are you doing today?”
“Watching you, of course.”
He grinned. Ever since he had moved to the UK for his career, his mum had invited friends over to tune into the game. Of course, she would fly over for the big ones. Her presence calming him like no other.
“Thank you,” he replied. “It means the world knowing that you’re with me.”
“Always. You seem a lot brighter today.”
He also couldn’t keep anything from her. They’d been so close during his childhood that he never even tried to fib. She had an innate ability to weed it out of him.
“I am.”
“Are you dating someone?”
Unbelievable.
“How do you do that?”
“I’m your mother. It’s genetic. Who is he?”
Udo had never hidden his sexuality from her. To her credit, his mother had never had a problem with it. After an awkward conversation when he was fourteen, she had been his biggest ally.
“It’s…well, it’s Steven Cox.”
There was silence on the line.
“Mom?”
“I’m here. Is that really a good idea, darling? Why don’t you find anyone not associated with the club?”
“It isn’t like London round here,” he explained.
“I’ll say,” she replied. “Oh, Udo, after what happened last time, I would have expected you to be more careful.”
Udo glanced at his watch. They were playing away at Canonbury and he needed to meet the others at the team coach.
“It’s completely different.”
“Are you sure?”
“Can you have some faith me?”
She sighed. “I suppose. Keep your wits about you, though. I don’t trust anyone in football. Not anymore.”
It meant the world that she had his back. No matter what.
“Thank you, Mom. I’d better go.”
“Wait. Before you go, let me ask you one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Are you happy?”
“Very much.”
“Then be careful.”
“I will. Bye.”
He terminated the call. Could he really be that careful? Steven already suspected that Javier was onto them. One gust of wind and their house of cards would fall.
Then what?
Udo sped down the country lane. It was dusk and he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. The radio blared out the sports report.
“So, Mike,” the presenter said. “Who is your vote for goal of the day?”
“Well, Brian, for the second week running, it’s got to be Udo Holtmann. That winner he scored against Canonbury might be goal of the year.”
“I agree. I think we can be forgiven for saying he had a shaky start at Brockton.”
“Too true. Now he’s flying.”
Udo switched it off. The trees surrounded him again.
It was the spot where he’d made the call to Steven that had changed everything.
Quick as a flash, he pulled over and got out.
The relief of proving to everyone that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder overwhelmed him.
He leant against the car for a second to gather himself.
He hadn’t fully realised how stressed and upset he’d been. He supposed it took things getting better for his body to even acknowledge it.
“Everything’s okay. It’s fine.”
He wandered over to the fence. The sheep from before were nowhere to be seen. He repeated his mantra a few times. Forcing his body to relax.
In the distance, he heard an engine. Udo got back into the car and sped off.
There was only one thing that he needed. Udo pushed down on the accelerator.
In no time, he was at the intercom for Steven’s gates.
“It’s me.”
The gates opened and he sped up the short drive. His stomach was a whirl of butterflies as he got out of the car and strode over to the front door.
Steven opened it. He looked so handsome in white linen trousers and a tight grey T-shirt.
“Hi,” Steven said, beaming.
Udo fell into his arms.
“Hey now,” Steven said, holding him. “What’s this? I thought you’d be on cloud nine.”
“I am,” Udo replied. “Honest. It’s just a lot.”
They broke apart and Steven stroked his hair.
“You’ve had some shit to deal with lately. But it’s turning now.”
Steven led Udo inside the house. He was beginning to look upon this place as a sanctuary. That was dangerous.
“Have you eaten?”
“I’m not hungry. Maybe later. You have something.”
Steven double backed and wrapped his arms around Udo’s waist.
“I won’t be able to until I’ve put a smile on your face.”
Udo forced a weak one. Then he stared deeply into Steven’s eyes. This man was offering him love. Why was he being silly about it?
“Sometimes I worry when things are going right,” he confessed. “The only way is down.”
“Bloody hell,” Steven replied. “What am I going to do with you?”
Udo kissed him. His emotions overtaking him.
“I need you,” he said.
It was true. A primal urge had surfaced that could only be quelled by Steven’s body.
“It would be my pleasure,” Steven replied.
The grin that followed set Udo’s body on fire. The fear was mixed in with it all. But Udo couldn’t stop now even if he wanted to.