Page 92 of Playing for Keeps
They pulled up in the car park. It might still be early yet half the bays were already full. Steven didn’t know whether to take that as a good sign or a bad one.
He got out and silently followed Javier inside. He’d walked this path countless times. Never did he think he would be doing it in this position.
“Go to the office,” Javier instructed. “I’ll get them.”
Steven ran up the stairs and straight into Javier’s office. Thankfully he didn’t encounter anyone. He was not ready to face Jamie. He winced when he thought about that inevitability.
Steven paced the floor in front of Javier’s desk. Then stopped. He didn’t want to look too nervous. They would never respect him then. He went over to the sofas and sat down. First crossing his legs, then sitting with them sprawled out.
Why can’t I use my body?
The door opened. There stood Adam, Ingvar, Goran and Ewen. There was no sign of Javier.
“Can we come in?” Adam asked.
“Of course you can.”
They filed in. Goran and Adam sat on the sofa opposite. Ewen next to Steven and Ingvar perched on the arm of the sofa.
“You wanted to see us?” Goran asked.
Steven composed himself.
“I’m not going to piss you around,” he began. “I am in a relationship with Udo.”
The teammates exchanged glances. They had every reason to be wary of this new setup.
“It is a relationship,” Steven continued. “Not just sex or anything like that.”
“Do you love him?” Ewen asked.
Steven was taken aback by the comment. He didn’t suspect Ewen of having such depths of emotion as that.
“I do. So much so that I’m prepared to walk away from this place if that’s what it takes.”
Adam nodded. “A bit dramatic but I get what you mean. To be clear, you had our support before we came through that door.”
Steven froze. Had he heard that correctly?
“What?”
“He’s right,” Ingvar said. “You’re one of us. It’s a simple as that.”
“Some of the other lads might need a bit more persuading,” Goran warned.
Even so, that these four were on his side meant the world.
“Thank you. All of you.”
Adam winked. “Naughty boy. Alain will be pissed that you’ve bedded someone from the club and he hasn’t.”
They all roared with laughter.
Suddenly, the door burst open. The smile instantly fell from Steven’s face when he saw Jamie standing there.
Fuck.
“Out!”
