Page 63 of Playing for Keeps
“Are you a football player?” she asked.
“I am. I play for Brockton.”
She appraised him hard.
“I prefer cricket.”
With that savage burn, she skipped off into the garden.
“Ignore her,” Nina said. “She got on the team at school and she’s very excited.”
Udo nodded. “Cricket is a very noble game.”
Andrew still openly stared at him. It was beginning to get slightly uncomfortable.
“Ignore my husband too,” Nina whispered. “He’s a fan.”
“I gathered.”
He immediately warmed to Nina.
The rest of the party came out. A twenty-something woman with a face like thunder and a scruffy man of the same age. They were followed by Steven with his arms around the shoulders of a friendly woman who rested her head on his chest.
“Udo,” Steven said. “I’d like to introduce you to my mother, Diane Cox.”
“Hello, Mrs Cox. How nice to meet you.”
She shook his hand and beamed at him. “Call me Diane.”
Udo bowed his head.
“And this is my sister, Naomie, and her boyfriend, Kyle.”
Naomie came forward and shook his hand. “Lovely to meet you. Kyle?”
Kyle rewarded Udo with a low-energy wave.
“Can we get ourselves a drink?” she asked Steven.
“Of course.”
She led Kyle into the house. Andrew and Nina had already commandeered two of the sun loungers. Hanna was inspecting the meat.
“Don’t touch that stuff,” Steven hollered.
“Can I help?” she replied.
“I’d better go.”
He dashed over to the barbecue area. That left Udo and Diane.
“How are you finding Brockton?” Diane asked.
“It’s taken a bit of time to get used to.”
“A bit different to London, I expect.”
“You could say that.”
