Page 87 of Playing for Keeps
Kyle leapt up and followed her.
“Laters.”
“Laters, Kyle.”
Once they’d gone, Steven came and flopped down on his lounger.
“I don’t like him,” he said. “Not one bit. He’s shifty.”
“Agreed. What is she doing?”
Steven shook his head. “Who knows? Maybe this is her rebellious phase. Mum hates him. He lazes around her house all the time.”
“I wouldn’t trust him,” Udo replied.
They lay in silence for a second. The birds were cheeping away.
“Do you want a drink?” Steven asked.
He got up. Udo grabbed his hand.
“Are you okay?”
Steven sighed. “I guess. It’s the first time I’ve said no to her. Maybe I will send her some cash. I’d rather know what she’s doing than not. Like you said, that Kyle is a sly twat.”
Udo felt a rush of love for Steven. He cared for his family. Udo hadn’t really known what that was like.
“Kiss me,” he said.
Steven leant down and obeyed.
“I think you’re a very special man, Steven Cox.”
“That’s handy. Because I think you are too.”
Hours later, they had moved indoors. Music played as they lay on the couch.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” Steven asked.
“In a bit,” Udo replied.
He was so comfortable with his head on Steven’s chest. It had fast become his favourite place in the world to be.
It was perfect. Until Udo’s phone began to ring.
“Is there no peace?” Udo asked.
He got up and frowned at the caller ID.
“It’s Howard.”
“What the hell does he want on a Sunday?”
Whatever it was, Udo was willing to bet it wasn’t anything good.
He pressed Answer.
“Hello?”
