Chapter 5
FIVE
ADAM
As the team walked down the street toward La Piazza, they reminded Adam of Reservoir Dogs. The lads had dressed to impress. Brockton was a small town and the players were often seen out and about, but very rarely en masse.
A few people waved while others stared warily at them.
Colin scurried to keep up with Adam.
“Is there something I can help you with, Colin?”
The nervous lad glanced over his shoulder.
“My mate messaged me,” he whispered. “Some of the fans have formed a protest group.”
“A what?”
“You know. Protesting about the newbies. Being gay.”
Adam stopped so Colin ran into him.
“Are you shitting me?”
“No.”
“Fuck.”
Adam ran his hands through his hair. The others were coming too close to continue the conversation.
“Not a word,” Adam said.
“Promise.”
He needed to speak to Steven.
Okay, get them settled then nip out.
“Come on, you lot. Jesus. You wouldn’t think you played football for a living.”
With a last glance at Colin, he led them in.
As usual, Stefano, the owner, was all over them.
“Adam. How good to see you again. Come, come I have the room ready.”
La Piazza had a gorgeous private dining room. Lit by candles and covered in paintings of Italy. They’d had many a good meal in there.
A few other tables had diners whose eyes were on stalks when they saw who’d walked in.
“How you doing, Stefano?” Adam asked.
The restauranteur had become as much of a fixture in their Lancashire town as Brockton FC. When he’d had a heart attack earlier in the year, the lads had come together to pay for a trip for Stefano and his wife to go to Italy and visit relatives.
“I am on cloud nine, Skipper,” he replied. “My eldest son is coming home. Finally he’s realised that Brockton is better than Los Angeles.”
Adam fought a smirk. “That sounds good. You’ll have to bring him to a game.”
“Pah,” Stefano replied. “He’s not interested in that. I’ll try though.”
“Stefano, can I leave you to wrangle these layabouts into order? I need to make a quick call.”
“Sure thing, Skipper.”
Adam left Stefano barking orders at his teammates and stepped onto the street. He got his phone out and dialled.
“Steven.”
“What’s up? It’s not Udo, is it?”
“Nothing like that. Listen, Colin told me that some of the fans are forming a bloody protest group.”
There was no response.
“Steven?”
“I’m here. Shit. I’ll have to call Javier. Will Colin keep his mouth shut?”
“Definitely. He’s pretty upset.”
“Give me five minutes.”
Adam terminated the call. They’d barely begun the season. It enraged him that the players would have to face such nonsense.
He turned and almost leapt out of his skin. Jonas stood in the doorway of the restaurant.
“A protest group?” Jonas asked.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” Adam replied. “You shouldn’t eavesdrop.”
“I came to ask you what you want to drink.”
Adam struggled to meet Jonas’ hard stare. Ever since their tête-à-tête in the gym, he’d felt decidedly hot in Jonas’ presence.
The high street was quiet. Brockton had two states, either desolate or wild. Saturday nights were not for the faint-hearted.
Even so, anyone could be listening in on their conversation.
“Fine, only please don’t tell the others. Let them have a nice meal.”
He beckoned Jonas across the street. The wall overlooked the war memorial and gardens.
“I presume they’re protesting about a load of gays playing for their club?” Jonas asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know. But yeah, probably.”
Jonas dropped his head and took a step away.
“We haven’t even played yet,” he said.
Adam nodded grimly. Every player should be given the chance to prove themselves before a protest group leapt into action.
His phone ringing broke the moment. It was Steven.
“That was quick,” he said.
“Javier says tell them. It’s better they hear it from you than some twat reporter.”
“Fine,” Adam said. “I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
He switched the phone off.
“I’ve drawn the short straw.”
“Do you want me to?”
Adam shook his head. “No, I’m the captain.”
Jonas nodded. “And like I said, a good one from what I’ve seen so far.”
Despite the shitty task ahead of him, tingles swept down his spine.
“Thanks.”
They walked inside La Piazza. Once again, the conversations ceased as the customers tracked Adam and Jonas across the room. He tried to smile convincingly.
In the relative safety of the private room, Ewen had finished telling a story. The lads were in uproar. Adam just froze. He couldn’t even work out which seat had been left empty for him.
“Skipper?” Goran asked.
The words had left him. Then he felt a hand in the small of his back.
Jonas made out that he was pushing past him to take a seat. Yet, it had been more than that. As a grounding gesture, it worked. While Jonas sat, Adam took a deep breath.
“I’m going to give it to you straight, lads,” he said. “Some knobheads calling themselves fans have set up a protest group.”
He glanced at Jonas, who nodded.
“What the fuck?” Alain exclaimed. “About what?”
“Us,” Jonas replied.
“What will we do?” Jerzy asked.
“Nothing,” Adam replied.
He’d finally found a seat in between Udo and Noah. He slumped down in it. They’d had such high hopes for this season. Now the fans despised them.
“That’s weak,” Goran said.
“No, Adam’s right,” Jonas cut in. “Let them whine and wail. When we annihilate on the pitch, they’ll soon come begging for more.”
Adam scanned all the faces at the table. Some he’d known for years, others he was only discovering.
“We’re a team,” he said. “And fuck anyone else.”
They cheered.
Mercifully, Stefano came to take the order and broke the moment.
Adam turned to Udo.
“Okay?”
Udo nodded. “Just shit, isn’t it? So much for this season being easier.”
“We’ve everything to play for.”
“Was that a pun?”
Adam winked. “Certainly was.”
Things were settling down a little. Once they’d all given Stefano their order, the conversation drifted to their chances at winning the cup or the league.
“We’ll never manage the league,” Alain declared. “It takes way too much staying power.”
“Could do the cup though,” Tito replied.
Edi was opposite Adam. He noticed the young lad had gone very quiet.
“Edi,” Adam said. “You okay, mate?”
“Yeah.”
“Talk to me.”
Edi sighed. He glanced at Udo.
“I should never have repeated my father’s words,” he said. “I have been a bad person.”
“Edi, no,” Udo said. “You’re not bad, just confused, and that’s okay.”
Udo’s words didn’t look like they’d made much impact on Edi. He fiddled with his napkin.
“I will try harder.”
“Hey,” Jonas said. “You don’t have to try. Relax and be yourself.”
Edi forced a smile onto his face.
“Thank you. I don’t deserve it.”
“I have an idea. You can buy us all bottles of champagne when we lift the cup,” Jonas said.
This time the grin on Edi’s face seemed genuine.
“You have yourself a deal. Now we have another reason to make this happen.”
Adam caught Jonas’ eye. This man was becoming part of the team before their very eyes.
The meal passed without further incident. Stefano did wonders at lifting everyone’s spirits. As Jonas paid, Adam followed the others outside. He’d been so excited to play with their new teammates at the weekend. Now he would be watching everyone like a hawk.
They were used to abuse from away fans. That came as part of the job. Yet, when Udo had been forced out of the closet, their own supporters had turned on them. It had been tough for all the team.
Well most of them.
“I bet Shaun will be laughing his head off,” Udo said.
Shaun Riggs had been a striker at Brockton who had taken a stance against a gay player in their squad. Swapping him for Jonas must have been the final humiliation. It wouldn’t surprise Adam if Shaun wasn’t the president of this splinter group.
“Fuck Shaun Riggs,” Adam replied. “You focus on getting that ball in the net. We’ll show the whole footballing world that Brockton are not to be fucked with.”
“Who are you fucking?” Jonas asked as he joined them.
“No one, sadly,” Adam replied.
“I’m heading home,” Udo said. “Steven will be stressing out about this.”
“Udo,” Adam said. “You started to turn things around last season, remember? There’s no reason we can’t do the same again.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Udo walked toward his car, leaving Adam and Jonas. The other lads were on the corner, waiting for cabs.
“Adam Williams?”
There stood Lisa Donnelly. A local journalist who he’d had a fling with the previous year.
“Oh hi,” he said.
“How have you been?”
“Good. Yourself?”
He became acutely aware of Jonas watching him.
She bit her bottom lip. “Sorry to hear about you and Jen…again.”
Adam nodded. “Thanks.”
“Give me a call sometime.”
Without waiting for a reply, she swept off to join her friends farther down the street.
“A fan?” Jonas asked.
“Kind of,” Adam replied. “We had a few dates last year before I got back with my ex.”
Jonas watched her disappearing down the road.
“She’s very pretty.”
“Yes she is.”
Adam shifted uncomfortably.
“I remember reading an article that it didn’t work out with your girlfriend.”
“I’m afraid not,” Adam replied.
The late summer evening had a bite to it. Adam didn’t have a jacket and shivered.
“I’d better let you go,” Jonas said.
“Can you do me a favour?”
“Of course.”
“Check in with Tito and Noah,” Adam continued. “This is extra pressure for their first game. They’re more likely to talk to you than me.”
Jonas appraised him. “Am I being promoted to captain’s assistant?”
Adam held his hands out. “If you like.”
“I like. Of course I’ll speak to them.” To Adam’s surprise, Jonas’ eyes welled.
Adam squeezed his shoulder. “It’s early days, Jonas. Once they see you on the pitch, things will change. You’re fucking amazing.”
Jonas blushed. “Thank you.”
“Plus you have something no one else in the whole Premier League has.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m your buddy. What more do you need?”
They shared a look as a cab drew up.
“Jonas,” Tito shouted. “This is us.”
He waved. “I’d better go. We all need some rest before Sunday.”
“Bye.”
Adam watched him join the other two. He would do everything in his power to ensure they won on Sunday.
Why do I feel so protective of him? He’s old enough to take care of himself.
Yet the urge was strong. Jonas gave him one last glance before he got into the car. Adam waved.
Adam had spent his whole career playing with handsome footballers and none of them had ever raised any interest in him. He couldn’t argue that when Jonas was in the vicinity, he appeared to turn to jelly.
He seemed to diving headlong into dangerous waters and would bet anything that Jonas was willing to join him.
Javier would have my balls.
The media would annihilate them as well. Teammate love affairs was a whole new world of scandal for them. They’d had a taste with Udo and Steven.
Imagine what they’d do if they got hold of another couple.
So much for a quiet season. It appeared they were on another rollercoaster.