“I did and I meant it. Imagine if Goran comes out with awful news and we’re discussing my love life.”
Adam sat up. “It’s not about that. I need to ask you something. The lads want me to.”
Udo tensed. What the hell could this be?
“Go on,” he said, nervously.
“You don’t repeat any…well any negative shit you hear about the boss and Coxy?”
His body flopped down again.
“Of course not,” Udo replied. “We made a vow from the beginning not to do that. I told you, when Javier put me on the bench the other day, I was as shocked as anyone.”
Adam’s expression was unreadable.
“I hope you believe me,” Udo said. He was annoyed by this silence.
“Yeah I guess. Edi wanted to feed you false information to see if it got back.”
Udo laughed. “I think he’s been spending too long on social media. Do it if you like. When I’m with Steven, we have more things to talk about than Ewen’s opinion on the smell of the shampoo in the showers.”
Adam grinned. “You’re a decent guy, Udo. You know that? You don’t deserve the shit you’re getting from those rat bastard reporters.”
Thankfully none of them had bothered to follow the teammates to the hospital. They had colleagues stationed outside Udo’s home and probably assumed he would go there.
“Howard has told me to keep my mouth shut for now,” Udo explained. “I’m also banned from seeing Steven.”
“Really?”
“Yup. Only professionally.”
The words hung in the air. Both his and Steven’s professionalism was being examined under the harshest of lights by everyone.
“Do you love him?” Adam asked.
“I do. Very much.”
“He loves you too.”
Tears pricked his eyes once again.
“I know,” he stammered. “That’s all I can hold on to rightnow.”
“It’s fucking ridiculous,” Adam snarled. “The double standards of it all. It makes me want to puke. Forcing people to stay in the closet is barbaric.”
It was a surprisingly passionate response from the usually stoic captain.
“Thank you.”
“And stop thanking me. You’re my friend.”
Despite feeling the worst he’d ever done, Udo revelled in the warmth that statement brought to him.
He would get through this. And if Steven was waiting at the end, that made him all the more determined.
The door opened. An emotional Goran stood in front of them.
“I have a son,” he said.
