Page 134 of Playing the Game
“What’s that?”
“The media. They’re going to have a field day.”
TWENTY-FIVE
ADAM
Nearly two weeks later, they were jogging into Newby Park after a particularly gruelling training session. Javier was working them hard for the first FA Cup match after Christmas. He’d lit a fire in the squad Adam hadn’t seen before.
“I reckon we can do it, you know,” he said to Jonas as they headed for the locker room.
“Imagine lifting the cup,” Jonas replied. “What a year.”
Adam grinned. “It’s almost too much to hope for.”
They walked past Javier and Steven, who were deep in conversation.
“What’s put that smile on your face, Adam?” Javier asked. “You missed three opportunities.”
Adam fought the urge to roll his eyes. They’d all played really well and Javier knew it. Yet, he had another job to do and it was time.
“Can I talk to you, Boss?” Adam asked. “You too, Steven.”
Javier looked at Steven. “Oh fuck.”
“It’s nothing bad.”
Jonas squeezed his shoulder before heading into the locker room. Adam faced Javier and Steven.
“We should probably go to your office,” he said.
Adam followed them through the building until they got to Javier’s office. It made a nice change to be coming here without a major drama.
He sat on the couch and waited for Javier and Steven to settle opposite him.
“Okay,” Javier said. “Out with it.”
“Jonas and I are back together. I also have a child with Jen and we’re going to co-parent her.”
This was met by a stunned silence.
“Are you okay?”
“Fuck,” Javier said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Here we go. You said you wouldn’t cause drama. Now we have a bloody baby on our hands?”
“What are you proposing?” Steven asked.
They’d spent the last few weeks discussing this. Adam was determined that Jen would be completely in control of what happened. He owed it to her.
“Jonas and I will stay under the radar,” Adam said. “Jen thinks we should probably do an interview together. Set everything all out in one go. Then, hopefully the media will get over it quickly.”
Steven nodded. “I can see that. If Udo and I had made a statement in the first place, there wouldn’t have been a story as much.”
Howard had advised them to say nothing. That had been the worst thing he could have said. Adam hoped Howard had learnt some lessons from that.
“You’ll have to meet with Howard,” Javier said. “He’ll come up with a plan.”
“I want to bring Jen in,” Adam replied.
