Page 16 of Off the Pitch

With every word, I could feel Christian slotting back into my life like he’d never left, but at the same time, this wasn’t the same Christian as before. It was a new version—older, smarter, and sweeter. He was driven and determined and had a desire to know as much as he could and actually seemed interested when I spent another hour talking about my work. He talked non-stop about how proud he was of Lily and how much he loved her, and he was so endearingly serious and charming that I couldn’t help but be bowled over by him. And he was so disarmingly handsome that every time he smiled or chewed on his perfect, pink lips, the hot ball of desire in my chest burnt hotter and hotter until it felt like there was a supernova inside me.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this way about anyone.

It had probably been six years.

Chapter Eight

GREENWICH ATHLETIC VS VALENCIA

Greenwich look to repeat victory in Spain

The Independent

Christian

“Who’re you messaging?” Jordan’s face appeared at my shoulder, peering around the corner of my seat trying to read my screen.

We were on the team bus, making the short journey to the airport to fly to Spain for our Champions League match tomorrow. It was the final game in the group stages, and a win tomorrow would put us at the top of the group going into the next round. I wanted this win so badly. Not just for the good press it might get us, but also because it might mean a slightly easier team to play in the knockout stages. And maybe a chance of getting to the quarter finals.

“Just a friend,” I answered, trying to act as casually as possible. It was the truth. Sort of. David and I were still just friends, despite the fact that my brain and my heart were already getting dangerously attached again. I couldn’t help it.

I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him since he’d spent the evening at mine, and every time I did, something fluttered in my chest. Which was stupid because I was still sure that David had a boyfriend, although he never bought up Kit. I guessed that was more out of politeness than anything else. Still, despite the fact that David was highly unavailable, I just couldn’t stop myself from thinking about him. I was so close to already being in over my head feelings-wise, and yet I had no idea how to stop.

David had been so excited about the LEGO set that I couldn’t say no, even though I never usually let anyone else touch them, even Lily. But just sitting there, watching him carefully assemble it while I rambled on about the metrics of expected goals, had made me feel things I’d forgotten I could. Just remembering it made me smile.

Even now, reading the little messages he’d sent made my body flush with warmth because they meant he was thinking of me. And that made me want to smile until my face hurt.

“Oh really? Lemme see, then.” Jordan made a grab for my phone, but I’d lived with the world’s sneakiest twin sister since I was born, so I casually dodged and smacked his hand.

“No fair!” he grumbled, rubbing his knuckles.

“What sort of a friend?” Liam’s voice came from beside Jordan, and suddenly his head appeared over the top of the seat. “A girlfriend?”

“No.” I chuckled because they were as far from the truth as they could possibly get. Even though they were my best friends, I’d never told Liam or Jordan that I was gay. I’d never told anyone at the club.

“A friend with benefits?” Jordan added, trying to waggle his eyebrows suggestively and failing miserably.

“Nope.”

“Some girl you met on Tindr?” Liam said, although I could tell he was grasping at straws. “C’mon man, spill.”

“It’s just a friend, seriously. We used to play football together.” I laughed. “You guys are nuts.”

“A boyfriend?” The three of us turned in stunned silence to look at the person who’d spoken—my fellow striker, Hugo. The French international smiled, relaxing into his seat beside me. Hugo was a few years older than the three of us and had this charming air of self-confidence coupled with a very relaxed attitude. Nothing phased him. He was also very handsome with high cheekbones and piercing dark eyes. Not that I’d ever considered making a move. I’d never even considered that he might be anything but straight.

“Well?” he added. “Am I right?”

“No,” I said, trying to act normally and not spring into defensive mode. That was a surefire way to arouse suspicion.

“Nah, mate,” Jordan added, shaking his head. “Christian’s not gay. Are you?”

“You don’t have to be gay to like boys,” Hugo said nonchalantly. “You can like both.”

“That’s true,” Liam said. “My cousin’s bisexual.”

“Really? You can do that?” Jordan trailed off, his face wrinkled up as if he was concentrating.

“Mate, it’s 2018. There ain’t just straight and gay no more,” Liam said, patting him on the shoulder. “There’s loads of sexualities. People love who they love, man.”

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