“You can trust me. I won’t let you get lost in the wilds of London.” Bruno and Stefan started singing a football chant, trying to get the rest of the guys to join in. I had to cover my ear so I could hear what Morgan was saying.
“It sounds loud,” she commented.
“I just got on the coach. It’s the fucking peanut gallery you’re hearing.”
Alan tossed me a bag of crisps as he took his seat across the aisle.
“Who are you talking to? Is that Anna?” he asked.
“No. It’s not Anna,” I said to Alan before returning to the conversation with Morgan. “Look, I’d better go. If you run into any trouble, give me a ring.”
“Who’s going to run into trouble? Who is it?” Alan kept on, trying to snatch my phone. I punched him in the arm and gave him a warning look.
“Do you think I’ll have trouble?” Morgan sounded panicked. She had admitted she wasn’t used to travelling on her own much, so I knew she needed me to walk through everything with her step by step a few hundred times, but I didn’t have time for that. I had to get my head into the match. As much as I wanted to think about her, I couldn’t.
“You’ll be fine, love. I promise. I’ll see you this evening.” I tried to speak softly so Alan couldn’t overhear me.
“Who are you going to see tonight, Lukey?” Alan sang, trying to grab my phone again.
“Bye,” I said quickly before ending the call.
I shoved the phone into my pocket before slapping his hand away. “Back off,” I warned.
“Someone’s touchy,” Nolan piped up, taking a seat in front of me.
“Don’t start, Frenchie,” I said tiredly. It was too early in the morning for Nolan’s shit.
“Were you talking to Morgan?” Alan deduced; his face way too excited.
“It’s really none of your business,” I muttered, putting my earbuds in.
“I heard you telling the gaf you won’t be coming back with us on the coach. So you’re staying in London?” Nolan asked. Nosy bastard.
Alan made a sad face. “You’re staying in London? But I’m having a people over after we get back tonight.”
“You’ll live without my company for one night,” I told him, trying to find a playlist on my phone so I could drown out the muppets around me. I loved my teammates. Most of them anyway. We had become something like family. But that didn’t mean they didn’t drive me mad. Particularly when I was tired and grouchy and wishing I was making the trip to London with a certain beautiful American woman.
“Do you think Anna would want to come over?” Alan asked.
“Why do you keep talking about my sister? Is there something you need to tell me? Do I have to remind you that you will be swallowing teeth if you try anything?” I growled, feeling my blood boil at the possibility.
Alan Cole was a lad through and through. He was my best friend, but that didn’t mean I wanted him anywhere near my baby sister. She deserved better than Alan’s short attention span when it came to women.
Nolan snorted, clearly enjoying the exchange. I glared at him. Alan grinned, not bothered in the least by my warning. “I like Anna. She’s smart. And she doesn’t put up with any shit. But that doesn’t mean I want to shag her, Luc. She’s like family,” he insisted.
“Okay then. Sorry for jumping down your throat, mate,” I apologized.
“Who’s Morgan?” Nolan piped up.
“No one,” I replied quickly.
“The fit bird our boy met at the pub a couple of weeks ago,” Alan answered at the same time.
“Shut the fuck up, Alan,” I growled.
“Hmm. That’s interesting,” Nolan commented.
“Yeah why is that?” I countered a little aggressively. Nolan pushed my buttons. He knew it. He reveled in it. He probably liked how close I was to punching him in the face.
