Chapter 31
Jamie
“How are you doing today? You ready?”
“Fuck off, Ryan.”
“Running on ‘fuck off’ — that’s a solid fuel, anyway.”
“There’ll be no issues today. I’m here,” Ian says with conviction.
I snort and try to step away, but the brothers cling to me like a rash.
“Nervous?” Ian asks.
“Not a bit.”
“So… uh… It’s happening.”
“The only thing that’s about to happen is your knee giving out.”
Ian laughs. “You’re very sensitive about the subject.”
“And you’re a player who’s looking to end his career.”
“Maybe.”
I turn to him. Ian is no longer laughing.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means. But this isn’t the time for it; we’ve got a game to play.”
“And there’ll be many more.”
Ian gives me a faint smile. “You know the saddest part? Not playing side by side anymore.”
I try to hold back the emotion, but it’s a struggle.
“We’ll always be a team,” I tell him, keeping my eyes away from his, because otherwise I couldn’t get the words out. “On and off the pitch.”
“Are we sharing dirty secrets?”
Luckily, the most idiotic of the brothers steps in to ease the tension.
“Something you wouldn’t understand, Mr Muscle,” I tell him.
“I can see you’re already being influenced…”
“You piece of—”
“Coach is calling you, Ryan,” Ian cuts in.
“Safe for now,” he mutters, throwing me a look before he leaves.
“Don’t tell Ryan, okay?” Ian says as his brother slopes off. “He won’t take it well.”
I nod.
“Let’s go hammer some skinny arses.”
“How do you know they’re skinny? Seen them up close?”
Ian laughs before walking away, leaving me with this huge burden on my shoulders. I knew it would happen eventually, but I didn’t want to hear it out loud; I wasn’t ready to face him hanging up the boots. It won’t be easy for him to accept, and it’ll be even harder for me.
After the game, once the locker room celebrations and euphoria die down, we head to the blue room for the third half with the opposing — and losing — team, along with the VIP fans who are allowed to attend.
I take a seat at the bar and order a drink while Ian and Ryan debate a couple of alleged fouls involving two players from the other team.
“Jamie?”
I turn towards the voice.
“Liam!” I jump up and hug him. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“You’re right, but between the new album and the pub, I couldn’t make it to the last few games.”
“Well, I’m glad you made it today, man. Sit down. Let’s have a drink.”
He sits beside me and orders a beer.
Liam is the lead singer of Four Reasons To Die, a local band that has been making a comeback in recent years.
I’ve known him for a while, and he’s such a devoted fan of the team that he never misses a game.
When he’s not on stage, he and his friends run a local pub in Howth.
I’ve been there a couple of times. Though it looks like a hole in the wall at first glance, it’s actually a warm, welcoming place, and they still work the taps themselves despite their hectic schedules.
“Did you come alone?”
“Yes, the lads are at the pub, and Rain, you know, doesn’t like crowded places very much.”
“How is she?”
Liam smiles. “She’s grand, thanks.”
“I heard you’re heading off on tour.”
“Something like that. Nothing mad. Just twelve dates. Ireland, England and Scotland.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“You’ll have to swing by the local sometime. We play on Thursdays.”
“I’ll pop in, I promise.”
“What about you? The team is flying at the minute.”
“Can’t complain, to be fair.”
“Are we going to win the Championship?”
“Of course,” I say, but without much heart. I still have Ian’s words darkening my mind.
Just then, the idiot brothers come to the bar.
“You know this pair of dickheads, right?” I say to Liam.
“In name and nature,” he replies.
“Please don’t feed their egos.”
“How’s it going? I’m Ryan.”
“Liam.”
“Do we know each other?” Ian asks.
“He’s Liam O’Reilly from Four Reasons To Die.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ian exclaims.
Liam smiles, a bit sheepish.
“The missus adores you — I probably shouldn’t be telling you that, now.”
Liam laughs.
“Could you hide somewhere? Because she’s here, and I don’t think she’ll be able to contain herself if she spots you.”
Liam laughs again and shakes his head.
“Tell me the rest of the band isn’t here, too,” Ryan adds. “My missus dotes on the drummer.”
“I’m on my own.”
“Oh, thank God for that, I’m safe. You’re on your own with that one,” he says to Ian.
Liam laughs in amusement at the O’Connor invasion as I grab my beer and turn on my stool to scan the room.
When my eyes land on him, I’m sure there’s an earthquake going on, or a flood, or some kind of natural disaster.
Because my world has just been shaken to its core, and I can only hope that his magic hands can keep it together.