Page 120 of Playing for Keeps
Of course this made the lads whoop all the more.
“I’m going,” he said. “Seriously, go and have a ball this summer. You’ve worked hard this year. Next season is where it’s at. The boss has a feeling about it.”
He left them with that comment and crossed the corridor to the office. He was surprised to find Jamie and Howard inside with Javier.
“Everything okay?” he said, flopping down in one of the easy chairs.
“I was saying to Javier,” Jamie said. “This crazy scheme of his is getting positive attention. It’s certainly taken the wind out of your story. The press can’t be seen being catty now we’re the rainbow club. Shame you didn’t think of this, Howard.”
Poor Howard appeared flustered. “It’s a different story on the socials.”
Steven shuddered. He could well imagine. He made it a pointto avoid social media like the plague. Something he was very glad about at that moment.
“The fans will come round,” Javier said. “Look at the way they celebrated with Udo today.”
“They’re the hardcore fans,” Jamie replied. “There are others that won’t like this. Brockton is a tough town.”
Steven knew what he meant. He’d lived there long enough. Yet most of the people he’d met in the town had been friendly and kind.
“We can win them round,” he declared. “With results. It’s make or break, I guess.”
Jamie glanced at Howard.
“More than you can imagine,” he said.
Steven and Javier snapped to attention.
“After yet another heated debate with Daddy Dearest, we’ve come to an agreement and you’re not going to like it.”
Steven’s heart sunk.
“I planned on telling you after summer. Fact is, if we don’t win a piece of silverware next year…well, you’re both out.”
Fuck!
Steven glanced at Javier. For a second he looked shocked. It didn’t take Javier Tosar long to compose himself.
“Who exactly is this coming from?”
To be fair, Jamie did appear uncomfortable at delivering this news. Steven didn’t for a second believe it had come from him.
“Father got to the board,” he said.
“I’m sorry if this is out of line,” Howard interjected. “Jamie fought hard for this. The one-season deal was the best he could get out of them.”
“Why fight for us?” Steven asked.
Jamie sighed. “When I took over from my father, the whole world expected me to fuck it up. We’ve done all right but I want to do something that changes the face of football. If we pull this off, we’ve made it.”
Javier turned to Steven with that cocksure grin of his.
“Then we’ll have to deliver, won’t we?”
The car journey had been excruciating. Being so close to Udo and still not able to hold him close. Steven yearned to rediscover every inch of Udo’s exquisite body. To claim it once and for all.
The hotel was a rambling manor house deep in the New Forest National Park. The seclusion washed over Steven as they got out of the car. Javier had chosen well.
Inside the reception was lined in dark oak wood and red carpets. It wasn’t exactly to Steven’s taste. Even so, it instantly enveloped them.
