Page 22 of Playing for Keeps
Udo stood.
“Thank you. Is there nothing that the assistant coach won’t do for us?”
“Not much.”
Once again, they stood close to each other.
“All in a day’s work then?”
“Something like that.”
Udo’s head blocked the sun so Steven saw directly into his eyes.
Suddenly, all the self-control that Steven prided himself on appeared to have disappeared. He cleared the distance between them and kissed Udo.
SIX
UDO
They stared at each other for a second. The moment had been exquisite.
“I don’t regret that,” Udo blurted out. “Before you say anything.”
“Udo…”
“Don’t ruin it,” Udo said. “Let’s get dressed and go.”
Steven nodded. The tears were rising in Udo’s chest. He meant what he said. Well, except for making Steven uncomfortable, which it evidently had.
They dressed and got onto the path.
“That was reckless,” Steven said eventually.
“I’m sorry. I should have asked. I assumed you felt the same way.”
They retraced their steps to the car park. The atmosphere between them thick enough to cut with a knife.
“Of course I do, but we’re in public. What happened then would be a tabloid editor’s wet dream.”
Whoa, wait a minute. Did he say that he felt the same?
He had a point though. Udo had worked very hard to keep hissexuality under wraps while playing soccer. Unfortunately, top league football was one place in society where being gay was absolutely not okay and was still newsworthy.
“You’re right,” he said. “I got carried away.”
Udo stole a glance at Steven. Was that sweat beading on his forehead?
“You know you just said that you feel the same way?”
Steven stopped. “I do. Not that it makes any difference. Nothing can come of it, Udo.”
The glimmer of hope that Udo had been holding since Steven most definitely returned his kiss evaporated.
“I know,” Udo replied, crestfallen. “Deep down, I know.”
“This isn’t a rejection,” Steven continued. “It’s a not now. We can’t.”
They carried on down the path to the car park. In some ways, Udo never wanted this to end. When it did, that moment where anything seemed possible would be over too.
