“Let your body get used to it,” Udo replied. “My mother used to take me to a lake near our house. It’s great for your circulation.”
Steven had heard all about the benefits of wild swimming. He’d never tested them out. His body soon became accustomed to the temperature.
He swam over to Udo. Udo’s skin glowed as he trod water.
“What are Shaun’s problems?” Udo asked. “If I understand him, I’ll be able to handle him.”
Steven stared up at the sun. He might be a convert to this wild swimming lark. He felt more awake than he’d done in years.
“As you know, you replaced Jimmy Fryer,” Steven continued. “Well he and Shaun were good mates. I guess he’s taking it out on you.”
“Taking what out?”
“Jimmy failed a drug test,” Steven explained. “We agreed to keep it quiet if he went.”
“So that’s why he retired out of nowhere?”
Steven nodded. It hadn’t been a nice period for anyone on the team. It had happened a few weeks before Christmas. Of course, Shaun had leapt to Jimmy’s defence. It had been a futile gesture.
“That’s right. The official story is that he wanted to focus on his family. Howard did a great job keeping everything within the club.”
Howard Clooney was the Head of Communications at Brockton FC. An excitable Texan, he controlled the press fairly well. He was also openly gay. Something that Steven envied.
“I’ve only met Howard once,” Udo said.
“Pray you don’t need to,” Steven replied. “Because that means the media are leaving you alone. He’s a good man to have on your team if they aren’t.”
Udo swam closer to Steven.
“Is he gay?”
“He is. Is that a problem?”
Udo burst out laughing. “Of course it isn’t.”
“Good. He got some grief when he first came.”
“Don’t tell me. Shaun and Jimmy.”
“Got it in one. They soon changed their tune when he saved Jimmy’s reputation.”
They were close now. The sun making the water sparkle.
“We should go in,” Steven said. “It can’t be good for you to be in this for too long.”
Udo nodded. They waded out of the water.
“Let’s dry off in the sun for a while,” Udo said, perching on a rock.
Steven took the one next to him and they stared out at the water. The trials and tribulations of a topflight soccer team seemed a long way away.
“I’m gay,” Udo said.
Steven thought his heart had stopped beating for a second.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
