Chapter 7
SEVEN
ADAM
The sky threatened rain as Adam jogged to the halfway line. Brockton were playing toward the goal with the protestors behind.
They had coasted the first half, leaving the pitch with a score of nil-nil. Javier had given an impassioned speech in the locker room. They might be focusing on the FA Cup in the new year, but they had to gel as a team first.
There was a lot of braying from the crowd now the team were facing them. Adam hadn’t expected quite as many hostile fans. There had to be a hundred with faces like thunder.
He ran past Jonas.
“We’ve got this,” he said, under his breath. “Track me.”
Hawkstead had possession. Noah was doing everything in his power to shut this down. He swept up the ball and passed immediately to Adam.
“Go,” Adam said.
Jonas fell in behind him, effectively blocking the enemy. Adam tore up the left wing. The supporters, only feet away, were screaming his name. Thudding footsteps were approaching.
Adam scanned the pitch. Ewen already had two defenders on him. But Tito had made himself free. Adam focused and booted the ball with all his power. It was a beautiful pass, landing in front of its target.
Instantly, Tito took command and charged into the penalty area. The goalie had his arms stretched. Ready to face him.
Adam watched. Panting and transfixed.
In a second, Tito lined up his shot and fired. The ball went so close to the goalie’s head he must have felt the wind from it. Then it smashed into the back of the net.
The crowd were on their feet. Screaming and hollering.
Adam ran over and threw his arms around Tito.
“As far as debuts go, that’s pretty fucking awesome.”
He looked at the team and caught Ewen glaring at him.
What’s his problem?
Adam took Tito to the other side of the goal to cheer with the fans. In the heat of the moment, he forgot entirely that the ridiculous protestors were there.
“Back up,” Adam said when realisation dawned on him.
Tito must’ve worked it out.
A sea of faces scowled at them.
What kind of supporters are they? Can’t even cheer a goal.
Adam pushed Tito toward his teammates, who were waiting to congratulate them both.
“You don’t belong here,” one woman shouted.
The high of the goal disappeared. Shaking, Adam doubled back.
“Who are you to say who does or doesn’t belong here?” he snarled.
“Come on now, Adam,” a man closer to him shouted. “Surely you can’t defend this.”
Adam thought he might explode.
“Defend what?” he shouted. “There’s nothing to defend. Now get over yourselves.”
“Woke bastard,” another yelled.
“Fucking twat,” Adam replied.
Then Alain was by his side.
“Come on, mate. This isn’t a good idea.”
Alain’s hand on his arm brought him out of his rage. Javier would probably kill him for having a go. He allowed himself to be dragged away.
“You call yourselves fans?” he shouted over his shoulder.
In a daze, Adam followed Alain to the halfway line. The others were watching him in shock.
The referee came up to him. Edd Baker had always been a decent guy.
“I know that things are heated at the moment, Adam,” he said. “You can’t do that. Whatever they say.”
Adam glanced over at Javier and Steven in the dugout. They were watching. Like everyone else in the stadium.
“Edd, come on now,” Adam replied.
To his horror, Edd raised a yellow card in the air. If Adam put another foot wrong, he would get a red card and be sent off.
The injustice of it burned.
“You shouldn’t have sworn,” Edd replied. “You’ve left me no option.”
Deep down, Adam knew he was right. His picture would be everywhere before they left the pitch.
He nodded. “I get it,” he said.
There was no use arguing and making things worse. They were one goal up.
He jogged to his position in the middle. A concerned Jonas waited for him.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Adam nodded. “At least I’ve got you three out of the spotlight. A captain’s work is never done, eh?”
For the rest of the match, Brockton defended their lead brilliantly. Following another goal from Alain, they secured a convincing win. Mercifully, Javier had sent Alain to speak to the reporters.
The rest of the team were in the briefing room they usually used for pep talks rather than post-match autopsies.
Adam sat between Goran and Udo.
“I’m going to get a public bollocking, aren’t I?” he said.
“Maybe not,” Udo replied.
“I deserve it.”
Ewen came and took the seat on the other side of Goran.
“What a fucking match,” he said. “Now you’ve got us in the shit and we’ve got a bloody detention.”
Adam leant forward. “What’s your problem?”
Ewen was red. “Why did you pass to Lopes?”
Is he for real?
“Because he found a decent position and you didn’t,” Adam explained. “Don’t do this shit. Your play, your problem.”
“Okay, I’ll take that,” Ewen replied. “I suppose getting yellow carded is enough punishment. First of the season has to buy us all a present. Remember?”
Adam was about to respond when he saw a glint in Ewen’s eye. They’d initiated this a few seasons back. Adam rarely got carded so it came as a double blow to him.
“This club is costing me a frigging fortune this year.”
I’ll order a load of dildos. That’ll team them. Well some of them. Actually who the fuck knows?
The conversation came to an abrupt halt when Javier and Steven came in. Neither of them appeared to be in the mood for squad banter.
Javier stood in his usual place in front of them. He cleared his throat.
“Well done on the win,” he began. “We’ve started as we mean to go on.”
Adam braced himself.
“I won’t keep you long,” Javier continued. “I know you’re under pressure—”
“Can I speak, Boss?” Adam interrupted.
“By all means.”
Adam stood and joined Javier at the front.
“I was bang out of order today,” Adam said. “Let’s get that out of the way first off.”
A ripple of chatter went around.
“No doubt I’ll get some shit online. As captain, I should be leading and I allowed those knobheads to get under my skin.”
“You’re only human, Skipper,” Colin said.
The young lad seemed to be finding his confidence and it was a lovely thing to see.
“Thank you, Colin,” Adam replied. “Fact is I’d come down hard on any of you who did the same thing, so I need to be honest. Today would have been about us winning if I’d kept my head.”
Howard came into the room. The PR man usually had some doom and gloom to share with them.
Adam sat down.
“He’s right,” Javier said. “Reacting is not the way to solve this. Howard?”
“It’s not so bad,” Howard said, glancing at his ever-present iPad. “The newspapers are baying for blood, of course. Calling you unprofessional. On the socials, it’s split.”
That wasn’t too bad. Adam had been on the rough side of the English media many times before. It blew over eventually.
“I had planned on doing some events with our three new players,” Howard added. “I think we’ll give it a miss for a while because it’ll be given a negative spin. In the meantime, get out and about. Show the world we don’t care.”
The lads all cheered. That was an easy assignment indeed.
“Okay,” Javier said. “I’m sure you want to get home. See you all on Tuesday. Enjoy your day off.”
Everyone got up and began to disperse. Jonas came up to Adam.
“For the record. I thought you were amazing.”
Tingles swept through Adam.
“Thanks. Unfortunately I think I’ve made shit worse.”
Jonas frowned. “I bet not in the long run. As a straight man, you’ve shown you understand what we’re facing. That’s a powerful message.”
“Maybe I understand more than you know.”
Jonas took a step away.
Shit. Get the hell out of here.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’d better get going.”
Panic setting in, Adam made for the door. Udo stopped him.
“Are you okay?”
Adam’s heart hammered away like a drum machine.
“No,” he replied.
“Follow me.”
In a slight daze, Adam obeyed. They collected their stuff and walked to the car park in silence. A few people congratulated them. Adam managed to stay professional.
Better late than never.
Although his own car was here, Adam got into Udo’s.
“Where to?” Udo asked.
“Let’s drive for a bit.”
“Sure thing, Skipper.”
Udo fired the car up. As they got onto the main street, Adam groaned. There were a group of the same neanderthals he’d argued with.
“Let them wave their banners,” Udo said.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going for round two.”
They drove in silence until Udo got out of the small Lancashire town and into the countryside. Adam exhaled.
Brockton lay in a stunning part of the country. It made it easy to find some alone time when needed. Adam had his favourite spots to visit to simply think.
“Want to talk now?” Udo ventured.
“You might want to pull over.”
Udo did and turned to Adam.
“Spit it out.”
Adam steeled himself to say his thoughts out loud. Always a big step that could either sound ridiculous or create snowball that grows and grows.
“I think I have feelings for Jonas,” he blurted out.
There. He’d said it.
“Wow,” Udo replied.
“Is that all you can say?”
Udo seemed lost in thought.
“When I think about it, I’m not that surprised. There’s definite tension there. Have you slept with him?”
“No!”
They sat in silence for a moment. Adam’s heartbeat going hell for leather.
“How far has it gone?” Udo asked.
“I told him I understand homophobia more than he thinks. Then I bolted and you saved me.”
“Good job you’re not being dramatic about it.”
Adam covered his face with his hands. “It’s complicated enough at the moment. Me and Jonas jumping into bed is not a good move.”
Udo gently removed Adam’s hands. “I am in no position to lecture,” he said. “I followed my cock and then my heart.”
“And it worked,” Adam replied, quietly.
“It brought me more than I ever dreamt possible.”
“So you’re saying I should throw my boxers off in wild abandon?”
“Feelings are indicators,” Udo said. “Listen to them.”
“Oh fuck.”
Udo started the engine. “This calls for ice-cream. I saw a van about three miles ago.”
Adam really respected Udo and never more so than at that moment.
“You’re a nutter,” he said.
Udo spun the car round and set off up the road.
“Do you think he feels the same way?” Udo asked.
Adam stared out of the window. “You know what? I do.”
“Yeah, me too,” Udo replied. “And before you ask, no I don’t know anything concrete. He buzzes around you.”
They were driving past a country pub.
“Sod it,” Udo said. “Let’s have a shandy.”
He stopped in the car park.
“What should I do?” Adam asked.
“I think you ask him out. He doesn’t seem the type to use it against you if it goes wrong.”
Use it against me?
“Maybe I should leave it.”
Udo stopped.
“Come on. You’re buying.”
Adam got out of the car and shut the door. Suddenly the locks went.
He spun round as Udo opened the window.
“What are you doing?”
“No time like the present,” Udo said with a wicked grin. “Call him and say you’re stranded and in distress.”
“Udo!”
Slowly the window closed.
“Good luck,” Udo mouthed.
“Fucking idiot.”
Adam watched Udo reverse then speed away.
Of course, Adam could simply call a cab. Yet the challenge had registered.
It would make for an interesting proposition.
Did he have the courage?