CHAPTER 38 #3
“Alright, alright, alright,” Eddie said. “That's TMI. I don't need to know what you two get up to in the bedroom.”
My face was crimson, especially as there were several people around us.
“She's my girl, Ed.”
Eddie gave his younger brother a fist bump. “I'm happy for you, Dave.” He looked to me. “Both of you.” Then he looked behind him. “I've gotta get back for the teams coming out for the second half, but... I guess... Welcome to the family, Ms Liu.”
Twin Knox Town kicked off after the break, adopting a more attacking mindset.
“I was mortified,” I started, “when he said you were supposed to be bringing Ashley home to meet him and your mother.”
David laughed, at me as much as the situation.
“Stop it.”
Town were deep into our final third.
“I can't help it, sweetie, you look so cute when you're nervous.”
“I hope he doesn't hate me.”
Crawford and McKay successfully closed down the attack.
“He doesn't, Sasha. He welcomed you to the family. Don't worry about it.”
I did, though. I couldn't help it. And my fair share of experiences had taught me to be cautious of the differences between what people said and what they did. “He didn't know Ashley was trans, did he?”
David took a second, then shook his head.
I rolled my eyes. “And the whole world knows I am.”
He took hold of my chin, turned me to him and kissed me in the middle of the crowded stand, slipping his tongue into my mouth.
I was short of breath when he broke the kiss.
“I'm proud to be your boyfriend, Sasha. Don't ever doubt that.”
I was light-headed and tingling from head to toe. “I think you just told me everything I needed to know in that kiss, David.”
“All good?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said, my eyes lighting up. “All real good.”
Town's centre-forward fired the ball past McQuillan, only to see his shot strike our crossbar and go out of play for a goal-kick.
“They're looking to add to their lead from the first leg,” David said.
Just one mistimed comment and my feelings could be so fickle.
Black won a ball on the right, swivelled in one swift motion, and set Martin free down the middle towards goal with Wilkesboro and two Town central defenders chasing back.
Martin ran on with the ball while Wilkesboro miraculously powered between the defenders, staying just onside as Martin released the ball in front of him.
The Town 'keeper was one-on-one with our player-manager on the edge of the box.
Wilkesboro punted the ball right and tried to run onto it.
The goalie dived at full stretch, reaching the ball with his fingertips and pushing it away.
He caught Wilkesboro too, bringing him down.
“PENALTY!!!” cried the home crowd.
The ref waved play on.
“How the fuck is that not a foul?” demanded a supporter behind us.
I wanted to yell out too, but I knew in my heart it wasn't.
Attention turned quickly to Wilkesboro. He was still down on the pitch.
“Oh my God, DeShaun!” screamed his dramatic girlfriend.
I stared at him lying there, clutching his ankle and grimacing so hard he was spilling saliva from his teeth.
The ref stopped play and Hilary Duncan ran onto the pitch.
“There goes our one chance of scoring,” David said.
Hilary tended to Wilkesboro.
Lee Browne prepared to make a change, sending Jimmy Dunlop to warm-up.
Hilary helped Wilkesboro to his feet, as the crowd began to clap their appreciation, but he was limping off towards the sidelines.
“I love you, DeShaun!”
I wanted to batter her.
Browne spoke to the fourth official as Dunlop tore off his training top, ready to take Wilkesboro's place on the pitch.
Wilkesboro barked at Browne as he neared the touchline, then pushed Hilary from him and insisted he could walk unaided.
“Tell me he's not gonna try to play on,” David said.
Wilkesboro picked his pace up to a jog until he was off the pitch and alongside Browne. He turned to Dunlop and told him in no uncertain terms to, “Put your fucking top back on!”
Play restarted without him.
Wilkesboro got up in the fourth official's face.
Browne tried to talk calmly to him.
“Shut the fuck up!” Wilkesboro told him. “I'm good! I can go! Let me back on!”
Browne looked to Hilary.
They nodded.
“That's my man!”
I indeliberately dug my fingernails into David's flesh.
He winced. “Sweetie, you can do that to me later, but now's not the time.”
I tried to relax.
Town were on the offensive again, with Broxburgh still temporarily down to 10 men.
Wilkesboro was trying to walk off his injury.
I looked for Dr Mustafa in the crowd, fearful he'd go down to the touchline and try to interfere. He hadn't moved.
Town's winger was on the edge of the box, looking to make a cross. Robertson cut the ball out for a throw-in.
Wilkesboro gave the fourth official the stare of death as he ran back onto the pitch, ready to help defend the latest onslaught.
“He looks alright to me,” I said.
David exhaled. “He needs someone to tell him he's not... He's gonna end his career out there if he's not careful.”
McKay spoke briefly to Wilkesboro.
Wilkesboro ignored him.
“Oh, DeShaun,” I muttered under my breath, wondering what I'd forced him into.