Page 27 of Sweeper
Bin means trash, I think to myself before replying. “I, um…dropped something.” I fight against a cold sweat, hoping that sounds like a good enough reason for me to be diving in the trash.
“What on earth is so important you’d wade through rubbish?” Vaughn’s severe eyes make me feel about two feet tall.
“Um…my retainer?” I blurt out like an idiot because I remember as a kid mucking through a Pizza Hut trash can with my dad looking for my retainer that was, thankfully, never recovered.
Vaughn scowls at me. “Aren’t you a little old to have a retainer?”
I clear my throat and force myself to sound professional. “They say the longer you wear them, the better your teeth.”
“Well, surely we’re paying you enough to buy a replacement. Who wants to put something that’s been in the rubbish in their mouths?” (Apparently my dad) Vaughn scoffs. “Ask the gaffer for a dental referral if you need someone local, and for heaven’s sake, get away from that bin.”
I glance at the trash and resign myself to give up on the search for the bottle as I’ve already forgotten what it looked like. Sighing, I reply, “Will do, sir.”
On day four of Plan DNA Extraction, Link suggests I offer gum to Tanner, and this time, he and Knight will be on the lookout while I fish around in the trash for a chewed-up piece of candy. It’s fucking disgusting and horribly desperate, but the sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can get on with my life.
“Gum?” I hold a stick out to Tanner as he tosses a bag of soccer balls over his shoulder before we head out for practice.
He lifts his blue eyes to me and takes the stick. “It’s called chuddy in some parts of England.”
My brows lift. “That one has not been covered inBridget Jones's Diary.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” I smile awkwardly and hope I’m coming across as somewhat casual.
“How are you feeling, mate?” Tanner swats me on the shoulder as he chomps on the fresh piece of gum, stepping back to allow the team to file out of the locker room toward the training pitch.
“I’m feeling pretty good, actually.” I grip the back of my neck and exhale as I realize the heaviness that I’d been carrying around since I arrived in London is gone. Strangely enough, having an attack plan for my situation has really given me some mental relief. And I hope that the DNA test will reveal no genetic connection so I can get back to focusing on bloody football and nothing else.
Goddamn, I’m British as fuck now…even in my own thoughts.
“You’ve looked great on the pitch these last few days. You’ve really turned a corner,” Tanner points out. I straighten, standing a little taller at his compliment. “I don’t know if you’re getting laid on the regular or what, but you’re finally starting to adjust, so keep doing whatever it is you’re doing.”
“I’m definitely not getting laid,” I reply with a sad laugh as images of Daphney instantly invade my thoughts.
“Pity,” Tanner says, and then I see his throat move.
“Did you just…?”
“Swallow the gum?” he finishes my thought and smiles. “I did. I have a thing for sweets.” He pats his slightly protruding belly. “My sister, Vi, is an amazing cook. My wife, not so much. Luckily, we have these big family dinners on Sunday evenings at my dad’s. My sister always cooks, so I stock up on leftovers to sustain me throughout the week. Vi’s Swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam are to die for.”
I nod slowly as I see Link’s wide eyes in the doorway looking as disappointed as I feel. So much for gum DNA. For fuck’s sake, it’s as if the universe doesn’t want me to get on with my damn life. This is going to be trickier than I thought.
“Hey, why don’t you set up a time with Booker to do that team bonding thing you said Vaughn Harris wanted you to do,” Link says as we lay out on the grass and stretch before Coach Z begins to inflict bodily harm.
“I thought about that.” I glance over my shoulder at Booker, who’s stretching out in the net behind us. “I wondered if it was too soon to do the teammate bonding thing when I’m not even a starter yet? I mean, he hasn’t exactly reached out to me.”
“I think you’ll be starting sooner than you think,” Knight says as we glance over to where Vaughn, Coach Z, and Tanner stand with a clipboard, pointing at various players on the field. “I overheard Tanner say they were going to do some shifting around on defense today and look at Finney’s face right now.” The three of us glance over and Finney’s face looks like he’s smelling a really rancid fart. “I think he knows something we don’t.”
“Fuck, that would be awesome.” My voice rises with hope as a rush of adrenaline pumps through me. I’m ready to prove myself.
“So, there’s no better time to start your bromance with Booker.” Link shoves me. “Go invite yourself to his house after practice. You can get all sorts of DNA there.”
“Okay, okay. No need to manhandle me.” I stand, ignoring the nerves taking flight in my belly as I jog over to where Booker is sliding on his keeper gloves.
As I approach, he offers me a wide smile. “Zander! Well done the past few days. You’re looking fast out there.”
“Thanks…um…I’m trying.” I huff out a laugh, my confidence growing over another teammate recognizing my improvements. “Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to get together sometime and get to know each other or whatever…what your dad said, I mean. Bonding?”
