Adam stared straight at him. “Hewas.”
“He?”
Adam shifted. “I don’t make a big thing of it.”
Udo thought he was going to have to manually pick his jaw up from the floor.
“I have so many questions.”
Adam burst out laughing. “Ask away. I don’t make a thing of it but it doesn’t bother me. The lads don’t know so I’m trusting you here.”
“It goes without saying,” Udo replied. “Did Jen know?”
Adam nodded. “And no, it had nothing to do with our breakup. Jen is better than that.”
“What did Howard do?”
“Ah well, he was pretty canny. He got in touch with Darryl and told him he had no proof. Which he didn’t, by the way. It would just look like someone on the make.”
“And he accepted that.”
“That and a hundred grand to sign a non-disclosure agreement.”
Udo was seeing the stalwart player in a whole different light.There were always rumours about gay players. No one had ever looked Adam’s way.
“You’ve done a much better job of hiding it than me,” he said.
“Which is bullshit,” Adam replied. “None of us should have to.”
He was right. Fear was ruining lives left, right and centre at the moment.
“I won’t be doing anymore,” Udo declared. “No matter what the press or the fans say. I love Steven and I’m going to be with him.”
TWENTY-FIVE
STEVEN
Steven watched the countryside passing by as Javier drove them to Newby Park. He was grateful for the care he’d been shown. Yet that was part of what had kept him awake most of the night.
It had only been a few days, but he missed his independence. Unfortunately, the drama surrounding Goran’s baby kept any Brockton FC stories alive in the press. They hadn’t even played a match yet. The next fixture was still twenty-four hours away. Every time he thought about it, an ache of dread lodged in his stomach.
Udo would be having it so much worse. At least Steven had the relative safety of the dugout. Udo would be in the middle of everything. At the mercy of the baying crowd.
There was only one thing to do that might alleviate the pressure on everyone.
“I’ve been thinking,” Steven said.
“I’m sure you have. About anything in particular?” Javier replied.
“I think it’s best all round if I resign.”
“No.”
“Hear me out,” Steven continued. “You’re under pressure from Jamie. Udo is under pressure from the team and the fans. All because of me. If I’m out of the equation, you can all move on far easier.”
Javier took all of five seconds to contemplate this.
“No,” he repeated.
