Page 25 of Off the Pitch

DavidIf I wanted a fucking maple latte, I’d have asked for one

DavidI mean I got one anyway, but it’s not the fucking same is it?

DavidIs it petty if I tweet this?

DavidFuck it, I’m doing it anyway

I was already at the training ground, watching this saga unfold as I ate—second—breakfast with Liam and Jordan. I was biting my lip and trying not to laugh. I still wasn’t ready to tell them, and even if I had been, I wanted to keep this moment to myself. Each one was precious, and I wanted to hoard them away.

ChristianBabe, it’s just coffee

DavidJust coffee? Just coffee??

DavidYou’re lucky I really like you

A flush of warmth flooded my cheeks, and I hoped to God I wasn’t blushing, even though it was always horribly obvious on my pale skin. Every time he told me that he really liked me, my face turned neon pink, and my whole body glowed with happiness. I never thought I’d feel like this again. I never thought I’d meet anyone who could make me feel like this. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this happy. All I knew was that it had been a while.

ChristianThat’s good, because I really like you too.

DavidGood – pity me teaching freshers today while you have fun.

ChristianDo you deserve pity? I pity them having to put up with you and your grumpy butt.

DavidSo sassy today! Go kick your ball about and I’ll see you tonight xxx

The long dormant, dirty little part of my mind wiggled at the sight of those kisses. Did that mean I’d get more real kisses tonight? Logically, I knew it was just a gesture of affection, which was sweet in its own right, but I wanted it to be more than that. When David had kissed me on his sofa, it felt like my sex drive was roaring back to life. He’d been so sweet, so gentle, and so loving that I’d wanted more, and each time I closed my eyes all I could think about was those kisses and the way he’d made me feel.

“Christian? Mate, are you listening?” Liam’s fingers jabbed me in the ribcage, bringing an abrupt end to my daydreams about kisses.

“Sorry.” My fingers rapidly locked my phone, putting it face down on the table so neither of them could be nosey. “What did you say?”

Liam rolled his eyes and shot me a withering look, before taking a deep breath and looking down at the tabletop rather than at Jordan and me. “I need your help to pick out a ring. I’m… I’m gonna ask Ali to marry me!”

“Holy shit! Yes, man. That’s awesome!” Jordan’s grin was a mile wide as he pulled Liam into a tight hug. The two of them clung to each other in celebration, and it was so perfect to watch. They were so close they were almost like a couple themselves—kind of like JD and Turk fromScrubs. Honestly, I was surprised Liam was asking Ali to marry him, rather than Jordan, but then again, they already acted like a married couple ninety percent of the time.

“Congratulations!” I added, when Liam was finally released from Jordan’s grip. Liam’s face was flushed, and his hair was askew, but there was a bright look in his eyes that told me he was genuinely thrilled by our reactions.

“Thanks, guys,” he added, letting out a deep sigh. “It means a lot.”

I wasn’t surprised. For a bit of joker, Liam could be oddly serious in the most endearing way, and his main focus in life, aside from football, had always been Ali. They were the high school sweethearts who’d made it. When Liam signed his first contract, Ali was the one cheering from the sidelines. And when Ali had gotten into Oxford to study law because she’s that clever, Liam used to get on a train on every single one of his days off to go see her. Even when he was on loan up in Stoke for a couple of years.

Now she was a lawyer in central London, and she kept Liam in line. Ali was not only ridiculously smart and good at her job, but she was also the most genuinely lovely human being. And she seemed to accept that Liam pretty much came as a package deal with Jordan. Plus, her massive Indian family all loved Liam to bits. To be honest, I thought the whole club loved them in return because Liam was always bringing in snacks, leftovers, and extra food that Ali’s mum had made for us.

They were the most amazing power couple, and I loved them.

I was so happy for them, I thought I might actually burst.

“I can’t believe you’re gettin’ married,” Jordan said, rubbing his face.

“Well, not yet. She’s gotta say yes first.”

“She’s bound to do that. Ain’t no way she’s put up with your ass this long if she’s gonna say no.”

“Don’t jinx it. You don’t know that.”

I watched the pair of them bicker, suppressing a laugh. Somehow, I thought they’d actually be worse when it came to planning the wedding. I could see it now: the pair of them arguing with the florist over the exact shade of the flowers or debating with the venue over the fold of the napkins.

I wondered how Jordan would cope without Liam if he went on a honeymoon? Apparently they’d chatted every day during Liam’s last holiday, even after Ali threatened to throw his phone into the sea.

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