Page 10 of Pitch Prince

“A good-yes, it’s a great time to talk. Fire away.” I was shivering in just my wet boxers but I needed to hear those magic words.

“Well,” said Wesley Peterson, Wales head coach, “I’ve been very impressed by your performance in the last few weeks and in your quick recovery. Training camp for the Six Nations starts in a week. Are you ready for it?”

“Yes, I am. Thank you so, so mu-“ I started, but the line had gone dead.

“You got in?” asked Finn.

I lowered myself back into the tub to still my heart a little. The second dip wasn’t as bad as the first.

“I got in,” I confirmed. I threw my arms up in the air and screeched as it really hit me. “I got in! Oh my fucking God!”

“I’ll request a room with you,” said Finn. “Break you in gently.”

“As if,” I muttered. But smiled to myself. There were a couple of Cardiff Old Navy players in the regular Wales starting line-up, but most of the people there I’d be playingwithfor the first time after years of playing against. I grinned and let myself sink further into the icy water. I better get used to these, there would be many more to come.

I reached for my phone to text my newest friend.

Rhys: I got in.

Callum: No way, that’s awesome! I told you you’d do it.

Rhys: Well I wasn’t expecting it. So thank you for believing in me.

Callum: Well I look forward to being your worst enemy on the field again.

I snorted reading his message, feeling familiar butterflies attempting to escape my stomach through the cold water.

“Who’s got you looking so happy?” Finn asked.

“I’m just happy that I’ve gotten into the national squad,” I replied, letting the phone drop onto the towel next to the bath.

“Have you texted your mum?”

“Shit!” I reached back down for it and typed out a quick text letting her know. “Done.”

“Then who is it you were texting in the first place?” Finn was looking at me quizzically. “Who’s the little Prince hiding?”

“No-one!” I said. “No-one. It was just Callum asking whether I’d heard anything.”

“Anderson?” Finn asked. “How long have you two been mates?”

“Since he stayed on my sofa,” I replied as nonchalantly as was possible.

“Well you better get out of the habit,” said Finn. “No friends in international rugby whilst the Six Nations is on.”

I laughed at his stupidity and levered myself out of the bath. I’d be getting a call from my mother soon enough, and then the inevitable text and call from every auntie, cousin and random holiday acquaintance I’d ever met.

I bent over to pick up my towel and phone and Finn wolf whistled. “I’d watch out if I were you, Prince.”

“What?” I spun, wrapping the towel around my waist.

“Stop wearing thin white boxers in the ice bath. I might not mind seeing your arsehole when you bend over, but it’ll shock the other members of the team.”

I felt my cheeks flush, and as I walked past him and toward the exit, I pushed his head under the ice with one hand.

“Twat!” he called after me.

“You love it, “ I replied, flipping him the middle finger over my shoulder.

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