Chapter 12
TWELVE
CARMINE
Carmine stared at his reflection. The shirt was way too tight.
“I need something loose,” he said, pulling the item off. “I don’t want to show the star players of Brockton my gut.”
“What gut?” Samantha fired in retort.
When he’d lived in L.A., Carmine had gone to the gym six times a week. He hadn’t even got a membership in Manchester. The mirror told a terrible tale.
“Will you find the best gym in town?” he asked.
“I’m not working right now.”
He grabbed an ink blue Ralph Lauren shirt.
Ah, Ralph. You always come to my rescue.
“Can you remember to sort it on Monday?”
“I will do my level best.”
“Maybe I’ll stop obsessing about being Old Father Time if I can get my abs back.”
“Then I’ll definitely put it on my to-do list.”
He finished the buttons and held his hands out.
“Well?”
“Hot.”
He winked. “Thanks. I am going to tone up. You should see Noah’s body.”
Samantha sat up. He tried to ignore her shoes on his bed.
“Tell me.”
“Nope. That’s for me to know.”
“Spoilsport.”
“That is certainly not what he says.”
Samantha cackled. “I love this. Is his ass to die for?”
With a sly grin he turned to the mirror to perfect his hair.
She clapped her hands together. “I knew it would be. Oh you lucky sod.”
Samantha had been more than happy to ferry him to Noah’s. Sadly the Jeep had gone back to the rental company. He’d arranged for her to come early to help with preparations.
“Another thing. I need wheels,” he said.
“You’re on your own with that one. Not a clue, love.”
He thought to himself. “I’m sure there’s someone in that locker room who can help. I’ll ask Noah.”
“Look at you having your pick. Throw one my way.”
“You’re spoken for.”
“I’m not. I binned him.”
He spun round. “What?”
Samantha shrugged. “He’s so boring he’d put a glass eye to sleep. I hit my limit.”
Carmine sat down next to her and took her hand.
“You should have said. There’s me banging on like love’s young dream.”
“Not that young.”
“Piss off.”
“Don’t sweat it,” she said. “I wasn’t in love with him. Good shag though. I might see if he wants to keep that going. You know, until the next specimen presents itself.”
He shook his head. “You’re amazing.”
“I know. Now get a move on. We need to pick the food up and I’ve got a bubble bath with wine waiting for me.”
After one last mirror check, they headed off to Brockton. On the drive, Carmine made absolutely sure that Samantha wasn’t upset. In the end she convinced him. It was Barry’s loss. She was quite a woman.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Raoul had made enough food for feed an army.
“This is ridiculous,” Carmine said, laughing.
“It’s for Brockton FC, isn’t it?”
“Not the whole team, staff and supporters.”
Raoul grinned. It was the first time Carmine had seen this since he’d come home.
“It’ll all freezable. I’ve written the instructions on each carton.”
Carmine squeezed his arm. “Thank you. I appreciate it. Very much. How much do I owe you?”
“Don’t insult me.”
“Raoul. I can’t ask you to…”
“You didn’t. I offered. Don’t worry. I’ll write it off as marketing. Tell them I want to see all their faces in the next month.”
He winked at Carmine. For the first time, Carmine saw Raoul in his own light. Finally out from behind their father’s shadow.
“That I will do,” Carmine said. “I’ve made a start on design ideas. I know you’ve not got a property yet but I’ve been playing with vibes.”
“Why don’t you come up in the week and show me?”
Carmine nodded.
After he and Samantha had loaded her Fiat 500 up with food, they made the short drive to Noah’s apartment.
“Do I detect a thaw on the horizon?” Samantha asked.
“I think you do. Bloody hell.”
It was so unexpected Carmine hadn’t had a chance to process it. He would unpack things at the end of the night. Hopefully in bed with Noah, all cosy.
Before that he had a dinner party with a gang of footballers to get through.
Must not give them food poisoning.
The pressure was real.
Once Samantha had dropped him and the food off, Carmine set about helping Noah to unpack it.
“Hey,” Noah said, sidling up to Carmine and putting his arms around his waist. “Don’t I get a proper hello before the others get here?”
Carmine kissed him. Instant relaxation hit his body. He could melt into Noah’s arms any day of the week.
He nuzzled Noah’s neck.
“Can’t we cancel?”
Noah shook his head. “They’ll be here any minute. You’ll have to hold that thought.”
Carmine reached down and squeezed Noah’s cock.
“I’d rather be holding something else.”
Noah wriggled out of reach. “Down, boy. Now let’s see what we have.”
“Raoul’s sent spaghetti with Papa’s special seafood sauce, Tuscan stew, a ton of different salads and yes, he sent more meatballs than I know what to do with.”
Noah smiled. “We can let Steven and Udo take some home. Any dessert?”
“Tiramasu and a polenta cake.”
Noah stared wildly at everything.
“Bloody hell. He’s gone to town.”
“Don’t forget the meats and antipasti. In fact, we should probably get that stuff on plates so we’re ready for when they arrive.”
They set about transferring the smorgasbord of treats to serving dishes.
“Look at us,” Noah said. “Just a regular couple inviting some friends over for a meal.”
Carmine squeezed Noah’s arm.
“I’m very proud to do so.”
Before they sealed the deal with another kiss, the intercom went.
“I wonder who it is,” Carmine said.
“Steven and Udo,” Noah replied. “Adam is getting ready at Jonas’ flat.”
“No Tito?”
Noah shook his head. “He had an international game. He’s away for a few days.”
None of the Brockton players got picked for the England squad.
They accepted the fact that there were many other players way further up the food chain than they were.
Tito often got picked for his national side.
Something he liked to remind them at every opportunity.
Ewen usually fired back that the pool to pick from in Cape Verde was shallow. A fact Tito hated.
Noah went to answer the door. Carmine took the opportunity for a quick glance in the mirror. Anxiety swept through his system. Everyone at the table would have more money and more status than him.
Even so, he had every right to be there. Noah was his partner and Carmine needed to relax into this.
The fact that he was the oldest was also not lost on him. Steven was only a year younger than him. Even so, he could see himself through their eyes. Why was a man rapidly approaching forty seeing a guy in his early twenties?
Carmine screwed his eyes tightly shut. That kind of thinking wasn’t helpful.
Tonight is going to be fun. Relax for fuck’s sake.
He forced a smile on his face when Noah returned with Udo, Steven, Jonas and Adam.
“All together,” Carmine said.
“We picked these two up on the way,” Udo replied.
They exchanged handshakes and pleasantries. Everyone had been so friendly to Carmine. It appeared Noah meant a lot to them. That made Carmine’s heart soar.
Noah was the perfect host. He got the players sparkling water.
“Shall we have a glass of wine?” Steven suggested to Carmine.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
He led Steven to the kitchen to open a bottle of red that Raoul had put in the package.
“Can the guys have a drop?” Carmine asked.
Steven shook his head. “Not during the season. Javier has a hard line when it comes to booze.”
Carmine nodded. It stood to reason. Carmine loved wine. He had been practically raised on the stuff. He couldn’t wait for the summer when Noah would be able to let his hair down.
“It’s nice to finally have someone to have a proper drink with,” Steven said.
Carmine poured them generous glasses. He passed one to Steven and held the other up.
“To Brockton.”
“Brockton.”
They clinked glasses.
The wine was welcome. The fuzzy glow instantly banishing a few of his nerves.
“I should get this food out,” Carmine said.
“Let me give you a hand.”
They grabbed the plates he and Noah had stacked with treats.
“How are things going?” Steven asked.
Carmine glanced through to the lounge area where Noah held court.
“Really well,” he said dreamily. “I’ve never met anyone like him.”
“He’s a special guy. It’s pretty unusual to find a soccer player so focused on other people.”
That was one of the things that Carmine really loved about Noah.
Loved?
“I know,” Carmine replied. “He really is one of a kind.”
“I’m glad that he’s thinking about himself more too. The house you designed for him is a step in the right direction.”
Instantly Carmine’s hackles raised. “Noah is adult enough to know what makes him happy.”
“Oh I get that. Sorry. I didn’t mean anything.”
“I know. I guess I’m defensive of him.”
“Another good sign,” Steven replied with a wink.
Carmine relaxed again.
“It’s a good thing when a player’s home life is stable,” Steven continued. “It makes things so much easier.”
“I’m getting the impression you want to say something, Steven.”
Steven took another glug of his wine.
“Cards on the table, I have a side mission tonight.”
“Oh yes?”
“Javier wanted me to ask about the future. Do you think you’ll go public?”
Carmine sighed. Why did everyone obsess over this? Also why had Stephen come to him instead of Noah?
“Maybe one day,” he replied. “At the moment, I haven’t told my family that I’m gay so we’re keeping things on the downlow.”
Steven raised an eyebrow. “Really? You’d think it would be Noah with the secrets to tell.”
“Because I’m older?”
“Yes. You can’t deny there is a sizeable gap.”
Carmine nodded. “There is. Mind you, Noah is far more mature than I am.”
“I can believe that. I hope you don’t think I was prying. After what happened with Udo and me, the club are understandably paranoid.”
It made sense. The media furore had been relentless. Of course they would want notice if they were to experience that again.
“You should speak to Noah about things like this.”
“Fair enough. My apologies.”
“I can say, if we decide to do anything of that nature,” Carmine replied. “You will be the first to know.”
“Great. That’s all we ask.”