Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
CARMINE
His stomach churned as he watched Noah park up outside the wooden-panelled building. The sign read Broadbent Tearooms. He wanted to find a quiet spot to say what he needed to. This place looked perfect.
Noah hopped out of his car.
Fuck he looks good.
Carmine had chosen a white cable-knit sweater, light jeans and a black wool coat to guard against the elements.
Classic but sexy. He hoped.
Of course, Noah was in a tracksuit. Not that Carmine cared. He could be in rags and he’d still want to surge forward with his plan.
They walked into the café. With it being late afternoon on a Thursday there weren’t many people in. Those that were did a second take when they saw Noah enter.
A kind-looking woman stood behind the counter.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” she said. “Take a seat and I’ll be over in a jiffy.”
Whether she recognised Noah and wasn’t impressed or simply had no clue that a Premiership footballer had walked into her establishment, she carried on with arranging some cakes on a stand as though nothing had happened.
Carmine saw a booth by the window. The surrounding ones were empty. They should get some privacy.
Once they sat down, he took in Noah. It felt like it had been months since he’d seen him. It was all he could do not to burst into tears and fall into his arms.
“Are you hungry?” Carmine asked.
“Not at the moment.”
Noah appeared as nervous as Carmine.
“Perhaps we should have a pot of tea and a chat first?”
Could he get any more British? Everything would be okay over a nice cup of tea.
“Sounds like a plan.”
The café owner was already approaching with her pad. Carmine ordered and off she bustled.
“So,” Noah began. “What brings you to my gate?”
“I missed you.”
“Carmine, I’m sorry that we quarrelled. I was out of line. It’s none of my business what you tell your parents.”
As they waited for their drinks, Carmine relayed everything that had happened to him over the last few days. What his parents had said to him. That things were all right. That his father was going to live.
When he said those words, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
He didn’t want anyone in the café to think this was anything other than Noah meeting with a business associate. If he burst into tears, the camera phones might come out and they’d be viral before nightfall. Even worse, the media would get hold of it.
The young family in the other corner were watching them intently. Why did Noah have to be famous? There was no escape.
After the tea had arrived, Carmine poured them both cups.
“Expertly done,” Noah said.
Carmine puffed his chest out. “I used to wait on at La Piazza for pocket money. Dad had a phase of doing an Italian twist on afternoon tea. It was so popular. In fact, I don’t know why they ever stopped it. Maybe Raoul can resurrect it for the new place.”
He was babbling. Noah had remained silent as Carmine had unburdened himself.
“How about you?” Carmine asked awkwardly. “I saw you got through to the quarter finals.”
Noah nodded. “The lads are fired up for this cup. We have to win it or we’ll lose Javier and Steven.”
“Do you reckon Jamie will follow through with that threat?”
“He has to otherwise we’ll never believe him again. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Javier is the best manager I’ve ever played for.”
Silence fell. Carmine wanted to say so many things but kept getting stuck.
“Can we try again?” Noah blurted out. “Please.”
The earnest expression on his face, the way he bit his lip and laid his hands on the table. They were only inches away, which was almost too much for Carmine to bear.
“You beat me to it.”
“Did I?”
“I’m not in the habit of commandeering my assistant’s wheels to come and talk roof tiles or project plans.”
Noah smiled. That radiance Carmine had worried he’d never bask in again came out in full force.
“I wouldn’t fancy your chances if you pranged it.”
“I didn’t go over thirty all the way here.”
They gazed at each other.
“Well?” Noah asked.
“Yes. I think we absolutely should try again. I’m sorry I tried to barge into your life without invitation. I totally understand why you would protect Malcolm. I shouldn’t have pressured you to do something you weren’t ready for.”
Noah sighed. “Actually, I’ve had a bit of a learning curve myself.”
“Oh?”
“Some of the lads have given me a month’s wages to get things underway.”
Carmine was astounded. “A month’s wages? On your salaries. That will be huge.”
Noah nodded.
“They’ve only just told me,” he explained. “I’m blown away.”
“How exciting. Imagine what you can do. Not only for Malcolm but across the country. Noah, this is everything.”
He had to keep his voice down. So much for the image of selfish footballers only worrying about where their next Maserati was coming from.
“I know. I’ve no idea how to go about it. I guess we’ll find that out.”
“We?”
“You and me, dingbat. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it properly. All-in.”
Tingles ran up Carmine’s spine. Fuck, he hadn’t dared to dream this would go as well as it had.
“There’s only one thing I want to say,” Noah said.
Carmine had been ready to take Noah’s hand and jump. Now he stopped.
“What?”
“There will always be an age difference,” Noah began. “I promise you I don’t care. I have to know that it’s something you can get over. It’s literally the only thing we can’t control.”
Carmine rested his foot on top of Noah’s. It was the only physical contact he dared make. Even so Noah jumped. A glint in his eye.
“Then we have to allow for it,” Carmine replied. “I won’t ever get into video games. It’s best to be brutally honest.”
Noah snorted. “And I won’t get into spending hours reading design books.”
Cheek. Carmine thought he’d curbed that particular addiction when he was with Noah.
“How about I read books while you play games?”
“See,” Noah said. “We’re compromising already.”
Carmine giggled like a child. The adrenalin and joy overriding his system.
“Shall we finish up here and go to yours to seal the deal?” Carmine said.
Noah drained his cup.
“After you.”
It had been a night of lovemaking, laughing and planning. Carmine found himself at Noah’s dining table the next morning digging into homemade porridge with fruit.
He usually settled for a croissant on the go. This was part of the compromise, he supposed. To have Noah across from him made it more than worthwhile.
“Thank you for pretending to like it,” Noah said as if reading his mind.
Carmine forced another spoonful down. “Perhaps I might have a shelf in your cupboard when you move to the new house.”
“It’s yours. That reminds me, do you know a decent interior designer? Ben’s nagging at me to get one sorted.”
Carmine had a list of contacts. He was great at networking and had been reaching out to people who would complement his business. Word of mouth was the best and cheapest marketing tool around.
“I’ll find you someone. What time are you training?”
Noah shook his head. “We’re not today. Javier wants us to rest before the match tomorrow even if it’s only a league one. He’s even putting Jonas and Ewen on the bench. Everything is focused on the quarter final.”
“When’s that?”
“In a couple of weeks.”
“Nervous?”
“Nah. We’re going to do this.”
Carmine swirled his spoon around his bowl, making patterns with the juice that had escaped from the berries.
“There’s something I’d like to do today. If you’re free.”
“Name it. I’m all yours.”
“I’d like to introduce you to my family. Properly.”
Noah reached across and took his hand. “If you’re sure, then I’d be honoured.”
They finished breakfast and showered. Noah insisted on showering together, which in turn meant they got all dirty again. After the second shower and Noah’s further attempt at sex, Carmine put his foot down. They couldn’t spend the day stuck in a loop. They had things to do.
Finally the church clock in the centre of Brockton chimed eleven as they walked across town. Carmine stole a glance at Noah. He was striding ahead, his head up. He exuded strength even though he must be scared.
They were both aware that they were well-known figures in the town.
Tongues would be wagging. Carmine was beginning to come round to the idea of going public.
It would solve a lot of problems. Although having seen how Udo and Steven were on every website, newspaper and talk show, he wasn’t quite ready for it.
Let the Brockton gossips have the exclusive for a while.
Everyone who mattered to him, knew. He’d even told Raoul.
His older brother had surprised him along with the rest of the family.
Instead of the rejection that Carmine had braced himself for, Raoul had hugged him.
Apparently he’d also known since they were kids.
It appeared that Carmine hadn’t been hiding his true self as well as he’d thought. All that effort for nothing.
Of course Raoul had nearly lost his mind when he found out about Noah. The first thing he’d asked for was free tickets. Something Carmine was more than happy to oblige if possible. Anything for a quiet life.
The hospital lay on the other side of town. They soon made their way to the ward Stefano was on. Carmine felt that he’d trodden every inch of these corridors lately.
Maria sat by Stefano’s bedside when they walked in. A nurse came over to intercept them and sprang back when she saw Noah.
“I was going to say it’s only two visitors per bed,” she said, blushing. “I’m sure we can make an exception for ten minutes. It’s very good of you to visit. Mr Amato will be over the moon.”
She evidently had assumed Noah was performing a charitable function. Carmine suppressed a giggle.
“Thank you,” Noah said. “And I appreciate you being flexible on the rules.”
“Of course. Not a problem. So lovely to meet you.”
With that she dashed off to the nurses’ station. No doubt to alert all her colleagues they had a celebrity in their midst.
They approached the bed. Maria stood as Stefano struggled to arrange his pyjama jacket and smooth his hair.
“Noah Farman,” Stefano said. “What on earth are you doing here?”
Carmine took the seat next to his father with Noah standing awkwardly at the end of the bed.
“You said to me to make things right with the love I’d lost,” Carmine said. “Well, I did what you wanted.”
Stefano’s eyes widened. “You and him?”
Carmine glanced at his mother, who had tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Yep.”
“Are you trying to give me another heart attack?” Stefano exclaimed. “Do you mean to say that you’ve been seeing a Brockton player and you didn’t tell me?”
Carmine chuckled. “I’m telling you now.”
Stefano gestured to Noah.
“Come here,” he ordered.
Noah obeyed. Maria moved round to Carmine’s side of the bed and rested her hand on his shoulder. Her touch grounding him.
“Welcome to the family, son,” Stefano said.
To Carmine’s amazement, Noah sat and took Stefano’s hand.
“Thank you,” he said. “I promise you that I will care for Carmine.”
“Do you love him?”
Carmine wished the ground would swallow him up. They hadn’t actually ironed this particular fact out yet. Typical of his father to do the work for them.
Noah stared across the bed at Carmine. Their eyes locked.
“More than anything I’ve ever known,” Noah replied.
“Then you’ll do for me,” Stefano declared. “Maria. When I get out of here, we’ll have a meal. I can make my famous tiramisu.”
“Pah,” Maria replied. “You’ll do nothing of the sort. Those days are long gone, Stefano Amato. Fruit salad is the only dessert that will pass your lips. I can’t go through this again.”
Stefano pulled his best sulky face.
“Actually, Mr Amato, I’m a bit obsessed with diet. Perhaps I could introduce you to the Brockton nutritionist? They’d get you a plan together in no time.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Maria said. “Thank you, Noah.”
“Oh I see,” Stefano said. “You’ve not been in the tribe five minutes and you’re colluding with her.”
“Sorry,” Noah replied. “I know where the real power lies.”
He winked at Maria, who clutched Carmine’s shoulder more tightly.
This was a scene that Carmine would never have imagined in his wildest dreams. If happiness was a drug, he was hooked.
He took his father’s other hand and listened as the conversation turned to Brockton’s latest performance. Of course, Stefano had suggestions for how Noah could improve his gameplay and absolutely no hesitation in launching straight into it.
Yet, Noah could more than hold his own against Stefano and Carmine was content to watch as they found common ground to bond over.
Noah listened earnestly to the older man, still holding his hand.
Carmine loved Noah with every fibre of his being. And that was the only thing that mattered.