Chapter 19
NINETEEN
STEVEN
Javier’s house was a super-modern creation hidden in its own woodland. All that they saw from the road was an unusually high wall and severe gates.
Steven parked next to Javier’s bright orange Aston Martin DBX. He might want to avoid attention at home but he evidently didn’t mind being noticed on the road.
The house was a concrete structure with huge windows. It couldn’t be more different from the mansions of Udo and his teammates. There would be no mock Tudor or red brick on this estate.
Javier and his gorgeous wife, Nikki, were in the garden.
“Come round,” Javier called as Udo and Steven got out of the car.
In all the time they’d been working together, Steven had never been invited to the Tosar family home.
Javier made it clear that he liked to keep those parts of his life separate.
When he’d asked Steven and Udo to dinner, Steven had been flabbergasted.
He suspected there might be an ulterior motive but he didn’t mind playing along.
The Tosars had set up a table on the terrace, which overlooked a small pool.
“Steven,” Javier said. “And Udo.”
“Hello, Javier,” Udo said. “And Mrs Tosar.”
“Oh please, call me Nikki,” she said, beaming.
They sat at the table that was filled with salads, olives and cheeses.
“Nikki is making her world-famous paella,” Javier explained. “Steven, would you like a glass of wine?”
He glanced at Udo. Whilst he absolutely would love one to take the edge off, it seemed unfair to Udo.
“I’ll have a sparkling water if you have it,” Steven said.
Javier raised an eyebrow. “Very supportive.”
“Our manager is a tyrant,” Udo said. “We have to be careful.”
Javier threw his head back and cackled. “A worthy response, Udo. The same drink for you?”
“Please.”
Javier disappeared into the house, leaving them with Nikki. She was so glamourous with a mane of dark hair and rich brown eyes. Steven had met her on many occasions in the players’ lounge. They’d never progressed past small talk.
“How is the interior design going?” Steven asked.
“I love it,” she replied. “I’m very lucky.”
“What did you do before?” Udo asked.
Nikki helped herself to an olive. “I worked on the scouting team for the club that Javier took over. It was love at first sight. We soon got together. Of course, we kept it quiet. Then the job for Brockton came up. I said that if we were moving to England, I wanted to change careers.”
“And she’s never looked back.”
Javier came out of the house with a tray of drinks. Steven noted that he’d also poured sparkling water for him and Nikki.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Nikki replied. “We’re happy nonetheless. Even with the kids keeping us up morning, noon and night.”
They’d married before they left Spain and Nikki had fallen pregnant by the time they’d reached Lancashire. They now had two sons. One two years old and the other four.
“Where are your boys?” Steven asked.
“Asleep,” Nikki replied. “And pray it stays that way. They have a habit of taking over.”
Steven laughed. “I have a six-year-old niece so I know exactly what you mean.”
“She’s a force to be reckoned with,” Udo added.
Nikki and Javier shared a glance.
“So you’ve met the family then, Udo,” Nikki asked.
“I certainly have.”
“As a friend and colleague,” Steven hastily added. He didn’t want Javier to think that they were flaunting their relationship all over the place.
“That’s good,” Javier said. “I can’t stress enough that secrecy has to be kept at all times.”
“Oh, Javier,” Nikki said, resting her hand on his leg. “Don’t be so old-fashioned. Would you say that to Adam or Ewen or Shaun?”
Javier reddened. “I have many things I would like to say to Shaun, right now.”
“To be fair, he did apologise,” Udo said. “I truly believe he meant it as well.”
“That’s good,” Javier replied. “This week’s drama was simply Shaun thinking you were getting preferential treatment. Imagine how he, or the fans, would react if they found out you and Steven are sleeping together.”
Steven bristled.
“It’s more than sex, Javier,” he said.
“Forgive me. That was crass. Although I don’t think the media would focus on anything other than the physical. Let’s be real here.”
The fans and the press were worries that kept Steven awake at night. Society might be progressing but it seemed that the world of football was being stubborn. Fans would shout obscene and despicable things in the heat of a match.
“You’re right,” Steven said. “I’ve seen it enough times.”
Nikki shuddered. “When our youngest, Pablo, was in hospital, the away fans were appalling. Shouting they hoped he died.”
Steven remembered that. Poor Javier had remained in the dugout for most of the games around that time, preferring to send Steven to the touchline.
Javier took his wife’s hand. “It was the hardest thing in my career. As a manager, I’m expected to take it on the chin. As a father, I wanted to rip their fucking heads off.”
“It was awful,” Nikki added. “All is well again now. Now excuse me, I should check on dinner. It won’t be too long.”
She got up and stretched. Steven noticed that Javier never took his eyes off her. Their love was rock-solid. It gave him hope for the future.
“Please, allow me to help,” Udo said.
“There’s no need.”
“I’d love it,” he continued.
“Then step this way.”
Udo followed Nikki into the house, leaving Steven with Javier. Considering they spent a ridiculous number of hours together at work, suddenly Steven felt uncomfortable sitting on his boss’s terrace.
“You both seem happy,” Javier said.
“We are or at least I definitely am.”
Javier took a sip from his glass.
“You’ve chosen a potentially difficult path,” Javier said. “I’m sorry for sounding like your relationship is purely physical.”
“That’s okay,” Steven replied. “I’m fully aware of the pressures we would face.”
Javier stared hard at him. “Are you really?”
“I am. I’ve seen it enough times.”
“Then you have my support,” Javier declared. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Thank you, Javier,” Steven replied. “It means the world.”
Javier glanced over his shoulder.
“Now,” he said, leaning forward. “I’ve got a plan to show the club and the fans that Udo Holtmann is going to take us to places they never dreamed possible. Don’t tell him anything just yet.”
Steven recoiled. “I don’t like keeping secrets.”
“As assistant coach in the team your boyfriend plays in, that’s tough shit. Now do you want to hear it or not?”
In the car on the way home, Udo stroked Steven’s leg.
“Do you think that went well?”
Steven nodded. “Definitely. Javier is definitely in our corner.”
“That’s good,” Udo said.
Steven stole a glance at him. He looked happy.
“I can’t wait until the end of the season,” Steven said. “Then we can get some breathing space.”
Udo took in the verdant green of the countryside as they sped along the small lane.
The football season was like living in a bubble.
Other things went on but they weren’t to impact the team under any circumstances.
Steven worked hard to ensure their prized players lived as charmed lives as possible.
“I want a goal against Liverpool on Saturday,” Udo said.
Steven frowned. “Javier has a plan and don’t ask me to tell you, because I can’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“What I said.”
Before Udo replied, Steven’s phone began to ring. The car system told him Naomie was calling. He put it on the speaker system and indicated to Udo to be quiet.
“Hi, Naomie. Are you okay?”
“Yeah I’m good,” she replied. “How are you?”
Steven smirked. There would be one reason for her to be calling. He would let her work for it.
“Not bad, thanks. Just been for dinner at Javier’s.”
“Oh nice.”
“Is it Mum? Is everything all right?”
“It’s nothing like that,” Naomie said. “I wondered if you were around at the weekend? Kyle is DJing in Manchester.”
Steven glanced at Udo.
“Maybe on Sunday. We’ve got a big game on Saturday so I’ll be knackered. Why?”
“Is it a crime to want to see my brother while I’m in the area?”
“Of course not. I’ll see you then.”
“Bye.”
He terminated the call.
“That’s sweet,” Udo said. “I think I missed out not having brothers and sisters.”
“Don’t be fooled,” Steven replied. “This is an elaborate cash grab.”
Udo frowned. “That’s very cynical.”
“It’s true. I’ll bet you any money.”
They drove on in silence for a while.
“Why do you put up with it?” Udo asked.
Steven sighed. “Because my career disrupted her childhood. She was always seen as Steven Cox’s sister. Kids would come to ours to play. They weren’t interested in her. They only wanted to see if I was home.”
“So it’s guilt money?”
He hadn’t thought of it like that.
“There’s nothing wrong with sharing good fortune with family and friends,” he said snappily.
“I’m sorry,” Udo replied. “It’s none of my business. I’m lucky, my mum doesn’t ask much of me. Of course, I bought her a house and we have holidays. She never demands anything. It’s not in her nature.”
Steven let those words settle in. His relationship with Naomie had become very transactional. Perhaps he needed to tighten the purse strings a bit. He was her brother, not her bank manager.
“This evening has been nice,” he said, changing the subject.
“It really has,” Udo replied. “I felt like a proper couple for the first time.”
Steven stared at him. “I’m not sure how to take that.”
“You know what I mean,” Udo replied.
“I know, I’m teasing. I think we’re going to be all right, you know?”
Udo kissed Steven on the cheek. “I think you might be right. Now let’s get to yours. I want to rip your fucking clothes off.”
Steven put his foot down. He wanted Udo naked just as much. In fact, he wanted Udo any which way. He was in love and this time he truly believed the feeling was mutual. And now it seemed as if the world was starting to come around.
He couldn’t be happier.