CHAPTER 38 #2
Willie McGlinchey was red-faced as he grabbed hold of Drew and dragged him out of the row. He half-turned to Kyle, pointed to him and yelled something.
Kyle looked down in shame, then followed like a lost puppy.
Willie towered over the two of them, and pushed Drew along with more ferocity to the steps.
Kyle knew better than to lag behind and risk the same wrath.
Fergus Graham gave away a corner.
Willie, Drew and Kyle disappeared out of sight.
I shivered as Town took the corner.
“Go, DeShaun, babe!” shouted our player-manager's girlfriend.
Wilkesboro headed the ball out for a throw-in.
“You're okay, Sasha, I'm right here,” David said, wrapping his strong arm around me.
I melted into his hold.
“We're gonna win.”
I wished I could see how.
Town continued to dominate possession, slowing the game and shushing the crowd.
My eyes flicked between Wilkesboro and the bench. “Our front line has been decimated by injuries, David. Where are the goals are gonna come from?”
He pointed to our lone forward. “DeShaun.”
I turned my head slightly to look at him.
“I can say his name, Sasha.” He squeezed my body. “I know I've got you now.”
I leaned my rump into his crotch. “Yes, you do, lover.”
Black intercepted a stray pass on the halfway line.
I slipped my hand into my purse and pulled out my mobile.
Black was closed down by two players before he could find a man.
I saw I'd a new unread text.
WILLIE MCGLINCHEY – They've been ejected ma'am
“So, Willie likes his new job then?” David asked.
“We'll see,” I said, smiling.
The fourth official indicated there'd be 1 minute of injury time.
A Town winger surged past Robertson deep in our final third. Robertson hauled at the sleeve of his shirt.
Joe yelled out his protests, then waved his arms at the fourth official.
The ref had already blown for a foul.
Joe wouldn't give up.
The referee showed Robertson a yellow card.
Broxburgh's assistant manager, Lee Browne, exchanged a number of choice words with Joe.
Meanwhile, the Broxburgh defenders got back to make a wall in the box as McQuillan directed them where to stand. Wilkesboro looked slow as he was the last to join them.
“This is dangerous,” David said quietly in my ear.
I could feel the tension in his groin.
Two Twin Knox Town players stood behind the ball.
Several more tried to give them options in and around the box.
The first player ran over the ball, startling our defence when he, perhaps indeliberately, caught it with his heel.
It rolled only a few inches. The second player reacted quickly, curling it at an angle, trying to send it around the wall.
Crawford's thigh deflected its path.
Wilkesboro picked up the loose ball and tried to see if the break was on.
The ref brought the half to a close amid a chorus of boos from the crowd.
“Fancy getting something to eat?” David asked.
I could feel the heat of his sex between the denim-clad cheeks of my ass. “I do, yeah.”
There were more than a few quizzical eyes upon us as we queued for hot dogs in the car park.
I wasn't ashamed to be seen with him, and proudly held his hand.
“I've a confession to make,” he said, squeezing my palm, as he paid for the food with his free hand.
I cringed, fearing he was embarrassed to be seen with someone so much older. “Oh God, what is it?”
He passed me my hot dog.
I had to let go of his hand. “You'd be best telling me now, David.” Before things got more serious.
He smiled, looking as innocent as he did young. “I have a bet on this match.”
“A bet?” I asked, between bites. “There's nothing wrong with that... Unless you put your money on Town. You didn't, did you?”
He shook his head.
“Broxburgh then, yeah?”
“I put it on you, Sasha... Streaking if we win.”
I threw him the fakest of evils.
“Sweetie, at two hundred and fifty to one, it had to be worth a punt.”
“David, I'm sorry,” I started quietly, leaning into his ear, “but you're gonna lose your money... My body is strictly for your eyes only.”
He chomped into his hot dog, chewed speedily and swallowed. “That sounds pretty win-win for me.”
I crossed one foot in front of the other, drawing his eyes to look at the denim lining of my crotch, then distracted him further by seductively slipping an ample amount of the hot dog into my mouth.
But David's eyes weren't on me. He was looking over my shoulder.
I turned around to see what he was looking at.
Eddie Mayne was stood behind me, arms folded, staring at us.
“Eddie,” I said, surprised.
“What's going on here?” he demanded, looking at his younger brother.
David seemed lost for words.
“Eddie, it's okay,” I insisted. “We're to-”
“Ms Liu, I'm talking to my brother.”
I reluctantly nodded, giving him respect.
“David, I asked you a question,” Eddie said.
David stepped beside me, then put his arm around me. “It's like Sasha was about to tell you, Ed, we're together.”
Eddie blinked. “You're kidding.”
I slipped easily into David's strong arm, and smiled.
“I'm not kidding,” David said.
Eddie looked shocked. “I can't believe this, since when?”
David and I looked to each other.
“I thought you were with someone called Ashley? Mum said we were gonna meet her.”
“That's over,” David said. “I've wanted to be with Sasha from the first moment I set eyes on her.”
“Ms Liu?” Eddie asked.
I nodded, my own smiles impossible to hide. “It's true, Eddie. We're in a relationship, I guess. It's official, right?”
David nodded.
“Your brother's the nicest gentleman I've ever met.”
Eddie looked perplexed.
I watched him, waiting for his next reaction. I didn't want to come between two brothers – two good brothers – but I couldn't let David down again. I had to be adamant about my feelings. “I'm sure this has come as a surprise-”
“Not really, Ms Liu,” Eddie said, scratching the back of his neck. “I had an inkling... He never shuts up about you, but still...”
David rubbed the bare flesh of my arm. “You've no idea how much I care for Sasha, Ed.”
Eddie nodded his head, then started to grin. “An older woman, Dave?”
“Yeah, Ed.”
“Eddie, we're serious about each other,” I said. “We know there's an age difference. We know it'll be challenging, but, yeah, we really, really care for each other.”
“Ms Liu,” he said. “As long as my bro's happy, that's all that matters to me.”
“I am,” David said.
I touched David's hand on my arm. “And I'm gonna keep making him happy, Eddie.”