Page 126 of Playing the Game
“You’re a what?”
“Do you promise to follow me to mine?” Adam asked. “I’ve got a special person to introduce you to.”
Jonas nodded.
“You’d better or I’ll hunt you down.”
With what he hoped was a reassuring smile, Adam went to his own vehicle. As he sped out of Newby Park, he half expected Jonas to turn off toward his own apartment. To his joy, Jonas continued to follow him.
“He must still be interested,” Adam said. “He has to be.”
By the time they got to his, Adam’s palms were so sweaty he could barely grip the steering wheel. The gates swung open and they both went up the drive before parking.
A wary Jonas got out. Adam came over and went to give him a hug. Jonas held his hand up.
“If this is a goldfish,” Jonas said, “then I’m going to be really pissed.”
“Come.”
He led Jonas into the house. They found Paloma in the lounge holding Petar. Olive was fast asleep on the couch next to her.
Typical. She screamed most of the night.
“Here he is…oh. Jonas.”
“Hi, Paloma.”
“I’d better leave you to it,” she said.
Bless Paloma. She’d been a lifesaver over the last few days. She leapt to her feet with a babbling Petar.
“Don’t rush,” Adam said.
She kissed him on the cheek. “You don’t need an audience. I’ll let myself out.”
Jonas appeared to be rooted to the spot. He stared at the bundle of slumbering joy on the couch. Paloma had made a nest of cushions for her.
Adam reached out for Jonas’ hand, which he took. It was their first non-soccer related contact in far too long. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
“Jonas. I’d like you to meet my daughter, Olive.”
“Your daughter?”
“Correct. This is who I was cheating on you with.”
Jonas looked floored by everything. “I…I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Adam sat carefully next to his daughter. He certainly didn’t want her waking before he’d had a chance to properly explain himself.
Jonas took the opposite couch.
“Jen turned up out of the blue,” Adam said. “She’s in a bad way.”
“Where is she now?”
Adam sighed. “The media interest fucked her right up. She’s gone away for a while to get her head straight.”
“And left you holding the baby?”
