“I agree. Javier would go berserk.”
“It’s not only that. You’re vulnerable at the moment. I would be taking advantage of you.”
“That’s nonsense,” Udo replied. “I won’t deny that this isn’t one my finest phases of life. I’m perfectly capable of making decisions. Bloody hell.”
Now Steven had annoyed him. How patronising.
“Are we having a row?” Steven ventured.
Udo shook his head. “Not at all. Don’t write me off as a timid footballer desperately holding on to his career.”
“I don’t see you like that at all.”
Sadly, the car park lay in the distance. The door would close on this conversation forever. Steven evidently would not entertain repeats.
“How do you see me?”
“Someone who’s been damaged by something and is fighting to come back. I find that very admirable.”
Udo found himself too choked to reply. For the first time in many months, he felt seen.
They were at the gate.
“I guess I’ll see you in the morning then?” Udo said.
“Bright and early.”
The next day, Udo sat in his car looking at the training facility. He hadn’t heard anything from Steven since they’d parted at the reservoir. He didn’t expect to.
You’re going to ruin your last chance.
He thought back to Rob’s words. He’d told him to keep a lid on things until he’d played out his career. Was that so hard?
But the feel of Steven’s lips on his had felt so right. Why did he have to choose?
Udo rubbed the bridge of his nose. The last thing he wanted was to leave another club under a cloud. It had been a miracle that they’d kept everything out of the papers the last time.
With a sigh, he popped open the door and got out. Rainclouds were forming. It appeared that their run of decent weather was at an end. Typical of northern England. Nothing lasted forever.
As Udo made his way to the entrance, the heavens opened. He jogged the rest of the distance and almost fell through the door. Growing up in Germany he was no stranger to wet weather. Even so, it was coming down in droves now. Training would be fun.
As he walked the corridors to the meeting room they used, he nodded at various staff members. He really must perfect everyone’s names if he was going to stay here.
That was the million-dollar question.
Udo opened the door. Steven was sat at the table with his laptop in front of him. Udo’s body instantly flooded with nerves when he saw his face. They needed to talk. How could Udo continue if they didn’t? He suspected that Steven felt the same way. That kiss had been on both sides.
Instead, he sat down and faced Steven.
Those lips. Those eyes. Fuck.
“I thought you weren’t going to show,” Steven said.
“I would never do that,” Udo replied.
The silence was deafening. Steven slid his laptop round so they could both see the screen.
“Today, we’re going to do some prep for the rest of the games we’ve got before the end of the season,” Steven said. “I’m sure you’re familiar with some of the styles of play. Did you do anything like this at Chelsea?”
