He looked so young compared to the rest of them. They all treated him like a kid brother. Udo wondered if that ever upset poor Colin. After all he was earning more than most people in the country and on the pitch was every bit as good as the others.
“Here he is,” Ewen said, clapping Udo on the shoulder. “So glad you came. Now how about I thrash you at pool?”
“Give him a chance,” Adam said. “Anyway, we can’t start until Edi gets here. We’re playing doubles, remember.”
Ewen shook his head. “He’s always late, that one.”
They all sat down on the couches. Udo took the room in. Adam went over to the wood panels and opened what appeared to be a secret door. It revealed a mirrored bar area.
“Don’t get excited,” Ingvar said. “It’s a non-alcoholic bar.”
“I think that’s a good thing for you,” Udo replied.
Ingvar reddened. “Will I ever live that down?”
“Unlikely,” Colin said, sitting next to him. “Even I’ve never been sick.”
Ingvar knuckle-rubbed Colin’s head. “That’s because you can never get served, little one.”
“Coke, sparkling water or Fanta?” Adam asked.
“Sparkling water, please,” Udo replied.
He’d been into nutrition since his teenage years. He didn’t only avoid stimulants, he also treated sugar like the enemy.
“Very good,” Adam said. “Ten Skipper points to you.”
“Ten what?”
Goran groaned. “Adam thinks he’s hilarious giving Skipper points when we’re good boys.”
“Sad thing is they don’t convert into anything,” Ewen added.
“Except the glory of being my favourite,” Adam replied, sniggering.
Ewen caught Udo’s eye and shook his head. Udo laughed.
“So you seeing anyone, Holtmann?” Goran asked.
The inevitable yet embarrassing question that Udo dreaded in every interview.
“Nah,” Udo replied, almost truthfully. “I’m not that bothered. I want to see my career out on top first.”
“Very wise,” Goran said.
He had married soap star Paloma Prince the year before. Their wedding had been on every form of media imaginable. When the worlds of football and television collided, it was a tabloid editor’s dream.
Udo frowned. “I thought you were the love story of the decade?”
Paloma was pregnant, which meant the spotlight remained firmly on them.
“Oh we’re happy, don’t get me wrong,” Goran said. “I hadn’t expected the amount of foot rubs I’d be giving.”
The others all sniggered.
“Poor Goran,” Adam said, handing Udo his drink. “It’s not all about him. Wait until the baby comes. You’ll be third in your own house.”
Goran beamed. “And I can’t wait.”
