Page 215 of Off the Pitch

“And did you?” Christian curled the ball around his boot, doing a clever little flick without even thinking about it. “I mean, I get it if you didn’t. I wasn’t sure you or Liam or anyone here would accept me. I was terrified about what you’d think about me, to the point that it almost destroyed me.” He was casual about it now, but I remembered his face that day when I’d sat on his sofa as he’d plucked up the courage to tell us. It was like looking at a completely different person. I believed him when he said it had nearly destroyed him, and I wished now that I’d known sooner because maybe I could have been there for him.

“No, I don’t think so. I mean Liam’s so relaxed and accepting, I didn’t think he’d care about that.” I snorted and my lips curled into a smile. “I think I didn’t tell him because I wanted to explore and be sure before I told him. Plus, I knew he’d make it his life’s mission to find me a boyfriend so we could double date with him and Ali.”

Christian laughed. “Yeah, I can see that. I think he’s desperate for me to come out so David and I can join them on that couple’s wine tasting thing he keeps talking about. I don’t even drink wine.”

“Félix drinks wine,” I said without thinking.

“Félix, huh?” Christian said with a teasing smile. I wondered if he’d figured it out, but surely there had to be more than one Félix in London.

“Yep, but that’s all I’m telling you.”

“You’re such a spoil sport. I promise I won’t invite you to couple’s evenings, but you could bring him to game night. I need someone who can beat Lily at Fluxx. She’s far too sneaky for her own good.” I’d played Lily King at board games before. She was the sort of woman who’d take you for all you were worth, but she’d do it so charmingly that you’d probably be grateful for it. I’d always thought she’d do well in Vegas.

“I’ll think about it,” I said. “So, how’re the engagement plans coming along?” Christian beamed, a huge grin spreading across his face as he began chattering away about his ideas. It was cute to see how excited he was, especially considering a year ago he’d been so unsure of himself. I got the feeling I was going to be dragged into helping him plan his engagement one way or another. Not that I minded. He and David deserved to be happy.

Christian was still chatting after training had finished, and as we were getting changed, he asked me if I’d be able to pop around to his to help him plan. Since Félix was busy all day with business stuff, and I didn’t have anything else to do now that Liam and I weren’t talking, I shrugged and said yes.

I followed his car in mine, winding our way through Greenwich and Blackheath to Christian’s house. Christian often shared the drive with Hugo, since they lived next door to each other, but Hugo and Kit had something to do in central London, so Hugo had headed off there after we’d finished up at the club.

Monika, Christian’s personal chef, was in the kitchen when we arrived, and she gave me a hug before shooing the pair of us out of the kitchen, giving Christian a stern look as he attempted to rummage in the cupboard for snacks.

“No biscuits,” Monika said sharply, pointing the knife she was holding at Christian. “I know David keeps sneaking them in for you. I’ve made you a plate of healthy snacks instead.” She indicated the plate of fruit and cheese and what looked like peanut butter and a couple of squares of dark chocolate.

“But Monika,” Christian said, opening his mouth to argue, but she just gave him a piercing glare. He sighed, picked up the plate, and headed for the living room, calling out a “Thank you” without looking back. I followed him, trying to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Christian’s ferocious sweet tooth was well known, but it seemed like there might be an all-out war going on in his house over it. My money was totally on Monika winning that one.

We sat on the sofa, eating from the snack plate and chatting generally about the club and what was ahead of us in the next few weeks, speculating about if and when the England calls might go out, when I heard the back door slam again.

“David’s home early,” I said, looking at my phone and seeing that it was only half two. “That’s gonna make it difficult to plan something.”

“It’s not David,” Christian said, his eyes not meeting mine.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing.” Christian’s voice was squeaky, and he’d become unusually fixated on the ceiling. “I just thought it would be best if you two talked to each other.”

Liam entered the living room, another snack plate in hand, mouth half-open in greeting. He saw me and froze.

Chapter Eighteen

#mybestfriendsareuseless #bestfriendsquad

Jordan

“Excellent, you’re here,” said Christian. He leapt to his feet, pointed at the sofa, and practically shoved Liam into the empty seat. “Now you two can talk your problems out like actual adults instead of giving each other longing looks across the training pitch.” He swiped the squares of chocolate off Liam’s plate before ducking out the door, closing it behind him, and leaving the two of us staring at the space he’d been in moments before.

There was silence. Liam and I pointedly looked everywhere but at each other.

I wanted to be mad at Christian for treating us like two five-year-olds and insisting we sit and make up, rather than allowing us to get to it in our own time. Then again, maybe we were the ones acting like kids by refusing to even look at each other.

The silence reached a strained, awkward point, as if both of us wanted to say something but weren’t sure where to start. I looked at Liam. He was looking at the plate in his lap and casually rearranging pieces of kiwi and mango. He looked up, his eyes catching mine. He looked miserable, and all I wanted to do was make him smile again. It had been four days since we’d last spoken. He was my best friend in the universe, and I missed him like crazy.

This was stupid.

“I’m sorry—” I started, but Liam opened his mouth at the same time, the same words falling out in a rush.

“You first,” he said.

“Nah, mate, after you,” I said, waving my hand at him almost ceremoniously. Liam’s mouth curled up in the corners.

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