Page 54 of Playing for Keeps
Steven took his hand. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about.”
The smile fell from Udo’s face.
“What?”
“Javier asked me about us today.”
“You’re joking?”
“Nope. Just right out of the blue.”
“What did you say?”
“I denied it. I don’t like lying. In fact, I hate it.”
Udo stared out of the window. The car park lay on the outskirts of town. An abandoned warehouse loomed above them.
“I wonder how he guessed,” he mused.
“God knows. We’ll have to be more careful.”
“Should we have been seen together today?”
Steven stroked his arm. “Of course. I work on nutrition with the other players. Why not you?”
“You’re not having sex with them.”
“If I pretend you don’t exist, that will instantly confirm Javier’s fears.”
Udo scrubbed his eyes and sighed. “I hate this.”
“Me too, hon. We knew there would be pressure. It’s not too late to back out, you know. I wouldn’t hold it against you.”
Udo wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
“Hey now,” Steven said.
“I’m sorry. Spending the afternoon with the lads the other day showed me how simple life is for some people. They can do what they want within reason.”
“There’s no point in wishing for things we can’t have.”
Udo turned to him. “I know its early days but I’m convinced this is something really special.”
“I agree,” Steven replied. “Hey, it’s the first of May today.”
“And?”
“The season ends this month. Then we can have some time off.”
Udo raised an eyebrow. “Are you propositioning me?”
“Absolutely. How do you fancy coming to the villa in the south of France. You and me for a couple of weeks?”
“That sounds amazing.”
Steven stole a kiss. “Then let’s stick it out for a few weeks.”
He fired the car into action and sped off out of the car park. Things were moving fast. He didn’t care and it appeared neither did Udo. They were going into the future together.
