Chapter 18 #2
“Don’t worry,” Goran said. “Ewen is crap too.”
“Hey, I resent that,” Ewen replied, swatting Goran over the head with his shorts. “I beat you fair and square last month.”
“For the first time.”
Goran winked at Udo.
He appreciated the gesture so much. Adam and his crew were telling the rest of the lads that they were coming out firmly in support of Udo. It meant a lot.
“You never ask me,” Colin said.
“Do you want to come?” Adam asked.
“I can’t,” Colin replied. “I’m going for a run with Jerzy and Alain.”
They were the enfants terribles of Brockton FC. Jerzy had signed at the same time as Udo and instantly hit it off with Alain. They spent most weekends on the hunt for women. Neither had any intention of fighting the stereotype most people believed of footballers.
“Then what are you crying about?” Ewen asked.
“It’s nice to be asked, that’s all.”
Adam went over and kissed the top of Colin’s head before messing his hair up.
“Next round you can come,” he said. “I didn’t think it would be your thing. Sorry, Col.”
Colin blushed. He was a sweet kid. As the baby of the team, he seemed far too preoccupied with being accepted by everyone.
Udo remembered when he had begun his career at Stuttgart. He’d been the same. The only difference being he had a huge secret that he had to keep quiet. As a teenager and suddenly being surrounded by men at peak fitness wandering around naked, that had been a task in its own right.
When Shaun walked in, the room hushed as one. Udo pitied him but remembered Steven’s words. He couldn’t do anything about this situation. Instead, he sat down at his section and set about changing into his training kit.
“I want to say something,” Shaun said.
Udo glanced up. Everyone else stared at Shaun.
“Go on then,” Adam said.
“I’m sorry,” Shaun began. “I got caught up in my head. It’s not been the same for me this year and I let my frustrations out on Udo. I had no right to do that.”
He stared at Udo, who would quite happily have let the ground swallow him up. He appreciated the apology but would have preferred a more private affair. Still if Shaun needed public retribution, this was probably the right way to go about it.
“The bastard interviewer kept needling at me. It’s no excuse. I’ve had enough years in this game to know they’ll take the spiciest quote.”
Adam nodded. “You’re right, you should have known better.”
“Anyway, I’ll put a statement out on my socials saying I regret my stupid words,” Shaun said. “I truly am sorry, Udo. Honest.”
Udo shrugged. “Think nothing of it. We all get annoyed at things. I’m sorry that you thought I was getting preferential treatment.”
“I didn’t really.”
“At least that’s cleared things up,” Adam said. “Now how about we get ourselves into shape to win the last few games? Then next season, who knows what we’ll be doing.”
The rest of the lads cheered. Once again, things were on an even keel. Udo could relax and actually enjoy playing at Brockton.
As he put his shirt on, Udo’s phone bleeped. It was a text from Steven. Carefully, he opened it, making sure no one saw over his shoulder.
We’ve been invited to Javier’s for dinner tonight.
Udo’s heart raced. What now?
“Everything okay?” Adam asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Oh nothing,” Udo replied, putting his phone away. “Just my mum.”
He tried to pick up the conversation as he tucked his mobile away. What should be a normal couple thing had to be conducted like a spy operation.
But we’re a couple. No matter what.
A grin spread on his face. He really must make the effort to enjoy this.
Doom and gloom can wait for another day.
***
They had chosen the perfect afternoon for a round of golf. The spring sun shone down on the verdant grass. It was an idyllic setting with a soundtrack of bird song. Udo sighed and enjoyed the warmth on his face.
They were on the green. Adam’s ball had landed wide and Ewen had already potted his closely followed by Goran. Udo took a breath and then tapped his ball. It sailed into the hole.
“You’re not too bad at this, “Ewen said.
“Thanks.”
Adam putted his ball successfully.
“But neither of you are as a good as me,” Ewen crowed.
Udo and Adam shared a look.
“I’ve met most of the players in our league,” Udo said. “I’ve never known anyone so obsessed with winning as you.”
Ewen cackled and held the ball up in front of Udo’s face. “There isn’t anything else, my friend.”
They wandered to the next hole. The fairway was surrounded by trees. That gave them privacy from prying camera phones.
“You’ve had a rough week,” Goran said. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay,” Udo replied. “I want to focus on the game.”
They walked a little farther.
“It’s Liverpool this Saturday,” Adam said. “We’re going to have to play our arses off.”
Udo chuckled. “Your inspirational captain speech might need some work.”
“We can’t all have a personal coach,” Ewen teased.
This made them all jeer him.
“Don’t you start,” Udo replied.
“I’m only joking,” Ewen said. “Imagine being stuck in a room with Coxy for an hour a day. How do you stay awake?”
“Coxy’s all right,” Goran cut in.
“Yeah I guess. So bloody boring though.”
Another group of golfers ahead of them were taking an inordinate amount of time. They hung back and waited. If they got recognised, it could hold everything up. People were kind but they needed some peace.
“Tito Lopes is the one to watch this weekend,” Goran said. “He’s fucking fire.”
“I heard he’s gay,” Ewen added.
Instantly Udo snapped to attention. Why did things have to go from happy to worry in the blink of an eye?
“So what?” Adam asked. “You got a problem with that?”
“Of course I haven’t,” Ewen replied. “I was just saying.”
Adam swung his club.
“There must be loads of gay men in football,” he said. “Poor bastards have to keep it undercover.”
Are they testing me? Do they know?
He mopped his brow with a cloth meant for cleaning the balls. He would do what he usually did when in a conversation like this. Stay quiet and ride it out. They’d be talking about cars in no time.
“What do you think, Udo?” Goran asked.
Okay so that isn’t going to work.
“Don’t ask me,” he said. “I believe as long as the goals are scored, anything else is none of our business.”
“Quite right,” Adam said. “Mind you, Tito Lopes is the king of fucking goals. That’s what we should be worrying about.”
The people in front had moved.
“Come on, let’s put this game to bed,” Ewen said. “Oh and as for Shaun Riggs and his opinions. He can fuck off. You could be bumming Steven Cox every night for all I care. Just keep the goals coming. Oh and pass a few to me while you’re at it.”
They all burst into laughter.
Udo followed behind them. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep this up. So much for trying to enjoy it. His head ached. Still being with Steven made it all worthwhile.