Chapter 33
ALEX
The rain hit the roof in slow, steady taps now, the sound almost soothing.
I’d always liked the rain. Ideally I would’ve liked my coat too, but still - there was something calming about it.
I took a slow drag of my cigarette, the smoke warming my chest as my back pressed against the cold brick of the changing-room building.
Most of the football lads drifted past toward the car park, laughing, shoving each other, eager to get home to warm houses. I watched them go, the glow of their headlights cutting through the grey, and tried to figure out what I was going to say to Alfie.
I wondered if he was okay.
Callum was a big guy, and I definitely wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of him - or any of the Belrose boys, really.
Thinking back to yesterday, to how bubbly and loud Callum had been, it was hard to imagine him fighting at all.
But Alfie had a way of bringing that out in people.
Even Rach found him irritating, and she’d only met him for a few minutes.
I wondered what Alfie had said to Kai to wind him up like that. I mean, sure, he’d slide-tackled Callum, but it looked like there were words exchanged too. Something sharp. Something personal, maybe.
I hoped Kai was okay. I didn’t see him get hit, but that didn’t mean he didn’t. Everything happened so fast, and the rain blurred half of it. My thoughts kept looping, circling the same points, never settling.
And the more I thought about it, the more I realised… I didn’t actually know Alfie.
Not really.
He didn’t seem violent, but then again, what did I know?
He’d been snappy with me before - little comments, little digs - and half the time I didn’t know how to take them.
It was like he had a switch. Something that reminded me of my brother more than I liked to admit.
Not in the physical way, but in the way he could use words like weapons.
The way he could talk to you like you were nothing, especially when other people were around.
I took another drag, the smoke warming my lungs even as the wind cut through my soaked hoodie.
Maybe I’d been wrong about him.
Maybe I’d been wrong about a lot of things.
“What are you doing here, Goldie?” Kai’s voice chimed as he stepped out of the changing-room building, bag slung over his shoulder, grey Nike tracksuit hanging loose, white trainers already muddy, water still dripping from the ends of his hair.
“Thought you hated football. Now you can’t seem to stay away.
” He stopped a few steps in front of me, eyebrows raised.
“I, uh, told a friend I’d watch him play,” I said, taking another drag of my cigarette and exhaling slowly, trying to look casual even though my pulse jumped when he looked at me.
“Alfie Preston?” he asked, shaking his head as he adjusted the strap of his bag.
He definitely disapproved.
I nodded, staring at the wet ground. “I don’t know if he’s who I thought he was.” I shrugged, my shoulders lifting helplessly.
“Who did you think he was?” Kai asked, leaning his shoulder against the wall beside me.
“I dunno,” I said, shrugging again. “Nice?” My voice came out smaller than I meant it to.
“Nice?” He huffed a laugh and ran a hand through his damp hair. “Yeah, he’s definitely not that.” He scratched the back of his neck, shifting his weight as he came to stand properly under the shelter with me.
“And you’re not just saying that because you hate him?” I asked, looking up at him. Just to be sure.
Kai laughed. “I promise I am not just saying that because I hate him.”
“Hmm,” I said, taking it all in. “Are you okay?” I found myself scanning his face for any sign he’d been hurt.
“Who, me?” He let out a short laugh and spread his arms slightly as if to show he was in one piece. “I’m fine.”
“And Callum?” I asked, flicking ash off the end of my cigarette.
“He’ll be alright,” Kai said, rolling his eyes fondly. “Honestly think it’s good he got it out of his system. He’s been talking about fighting him ever since that whole egg thing at your work.” He shook his head like he still couldn’t believe it.
“So has Alfie,” I said quietly. “But not about Callum.” I shifted my weight, suddenly aware of how close Kai was standing.
“No surprise there.” He chuckled, nudging the toe of his trainer against the concrete. “I told you he hated my guts.”
“Yeah, you did say that,” I murmured, dropping my cigarette and stamping it out with the heel of my shoe.
“So he’s been talking to you about me?” Kai asked, tilting his head, watching me carefully.
“I, uh, don’t think he likes that we’re friends,” I said, rubbing my hands together for warmth as the wind cut through my soaked hoodie.
“Are you like, going out with him?” Kai said smoothly, his voice steady as he shifted a little closer, his eyes fixed on mine.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.” I rubbed my palms against my damp jeans, suddenly aware of how cold my fingers were.
“You don’t think so?” Kai repeated, confusion flickering across his face as he angled his body toward me. “How can you not know?” He frowned slightly, like he was genuinely trying to understand, not judge.
“I haven’t really had a boyfriend before,” I said shyly, my voice dipping as I looked down at the wet concrete. “So I don’t know if what we have is that.” I shrugged again. “I dunno. He hasn’t asked me, but I don’t know if that’s something that happens with two guys.”
“Oh, I imagine that’s definitely something that happens.” He said, leaning his head back on the wall.
“Oh, well, we haven’t really spoken about it.” I shifted my weight, feeling small under the weight of the admission.
“I can’t imagine him talking about anything other than himself.” Kai laughed again. He shook his head, running a hand through his still-wet hair, the corner of his mouth lifting like he couldn’t help himself.
I had to admit. It seemed that Kai really knew Alfie. I had thought the exact same thing when he dropped me off at home before. He was completely wrapped up in himself. I mean, I don’t think he’s asked me a single thing about my life. Not really.
Usually, I liked keeping to myself, but standing under this roof with Kai, I liked the idea of that less and less.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Alfie’s voice sliced through the air as he rounded the corner, his footsteps splashing through a puddle. The sudden bite in his tone made me flinch.
“You just couldn’t wait, could you?” He stormed toward me, jaw clenched, eyes blazing, rain dripping off his hair, streaking down his already bruised face.
“You’re supposed to be here for me, not him.” He jabbed a finger at Kai, his split lip pulling as he spoke, making him look even angrier.
“We were just talking,” I said, pushing myself off the wall, my heart thudding hard.
“Oh yeah? Like you were just looking at him in the stands?” He stepped closer, voice rising, and I found myself stepping back. “You think I’m stupid, don’t you! You think I’m an idiot!”
I jumped at the shout, the sound echoing under the shelter.
“Don’t talk to him like that,” Kai said, stepping forward, his eyebrows drawn tight, shoulders squared.
“Do me a favour and fuck off, Fields,” Alfie snapped, turning on him with a glare sharp enough to cut. He took another step, fists clenching at his sides.
Kai didn’t move. He didn’t even blink.
“I think you’re the one who ought to be leaving.” Kai folded his arms, planting himself like he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’m talking to my boyfriend, so mind your business.” Alfie’s voice cracked on boyfriend , like he was daring me to correct him.
My stomach dropped. So in Alfie’s head… that’s what we were?
“Then talk to him,” Kai said, calm in a way that made the air feel tighter. “Don’t shout.”
“Fuck off, and I will.” He bit back.
“No.” Kai leaned back against the wall beside me, arms crossed, completely unbothered. “I think I’ll stay right here.”
Alfie let out a sharp, humourless laugh. “Of course you will.” His eyes flicked between us, something sour twisting in his expression. “Fuck this,” he snapped. “Come on, Alex. Let’s go.”
Kai’s eyes flicked to mine, steady and searching, as if he needed to know whether I wanted to go with Alfie.
I shook my head.
“Come on, we can talk about this,” Alfie insisted, grabbing my arm and yanking. It wasn’t hard, but his fingers dug right into my burn, and the pain shot up my arm before I could stop the sound that escaped me.
Kai shoved him off me instantly.
“He doesn’t want to go with you.” Kai stepped between us, shoulders squared.
Alfie’s face changed - not anger, something colder. “You know what? I should’ve known.” His voice dropped, quieter but razor-sharp, spitting venom at me. “That you’d turn out just like the rest of your family… A waste of space.”
I couldn’t help the shock on my face. I didn’t think he knew anything about me.
“Oh, come on,” he scoffed. “You think I didn’t know? The whole town knows about your whore of a mother and that mistake you call a brother. It’s no surprise that you’re the same. But I have to say, I’d thought you’d be less frigid.”
He jabbed a finger toward my chest - but before I could even form a reply, Kai’s fist cracked against the side of his face. Alfie staggered, clutching his cheek, eyes wide.
“Leave,” Kai said, stepping in front of me, voice low and shaking with fury. “Before I make you.”
I felt the breath catch in my throat - not from fear, but from the sudden, overwhelming relief of not being alone in this.
Alfie’s shock twisted into something uglier. His gaze snapped to mine, then back to Kai, then to me again, like he was piecing together a story he’d already decided he hated.
He jerked his finger at Kai. “You want him? Fine. Take him. Let him deal with whatever mess you’ve got going on.”
My chest tightened so sharply it hurt.
“And don’t bother showing up to work,” he added, stepping back. “I don’t need you there. I don’t need you anywhere.”
He turned away, shaking his head like I was something he’d stepped in, and my breath left me in a shaky exhale.