Holding up a pink shirt, he wondered if he should go for that instead.
“Fuck. I should have asked Tito to help me.”
The doorbell ringing forced his hand.
“Oh well,” he said to his reflection. “He’ll have to take me as I am.”
Noah bounded through the flat to the intercom. His stomach flipped when he saw Carmine on the screen.
“Come on in,” he said. “I’m on the first floor.”
He pressed the button and exhaled.
His mother would have said he had a case of the collywobbles. She’d said that every time he had an important match and the nerves were getting to him.
Noah opened the door as Carmine was walking down the corridor. He looked a knockout in black trousers and a black wool coat. His dark hair slicked to the side and a hint of stubble.
I’ll have to buy Tito something. Thank God I changed.
“Hi,” he said beaming.
“Hi,” Noah replied. “Come on in.”
Carmine followed him into the apartment. Noah glanced behind to see Carmine clocking everything.
“Don’t judge me on this place,” Noah said, flicking the coffee machine on. “It’s club furnished. Nothing is mine. That’s all in storage. Here let me take your coat.”
Carmine took it off and handed it to Noah. He could smell Carmine’s spicy cologne. God it was good.
“Glad to hear none of this is your choice,” Carmine said, leaning against the counter. “You had me worried for a second.”
Just having Carmine in his home was making Noah’s temperature skyrocket. He gestured to the stool Tito had recently vacated.
“Shall we review your designs in here?” Noah suggested.
“I can see you’re eager.”
“Always.”
They shared a look before Carmine made a big deal of getting his laptop out. Noah couldn’t hide his amusement. Carmine seemed to be easily spooked. It was charming. It also gave Noah confidence to be himself.
When Noah had been with people in the past, they’d always expected him to take the lead. He was a footballer after all. Usually, he came as a disappointment. Tito fitted the mould much better than he ever had.
Noah set about pouring coffee.
“Milk? Sugar?”
“Neither thanks.”
Something else they had in common. Noah handed him a mug and settled on the stool opposite.
“You take it black too?” Carmine asked.
“Do you know how much fat there is in milk? I do dairy only when I have to.”
Carmine raised an eyebrow. “How very disciplined.”
“That’s me.”
