Raoul reddened. Carmine resisted the urge for a victorious grin. They were regressing twenty years. All three siblings had played one-upmanship where their parents were concerned since birth. Old habits died hard.
“Besides,” Monica said. “Famous people aren’t exactly new for Carmine, are they?”
“That’s right,” Stefano added. “Can’t you invite a few of your American friends over? It would be great for the restaurant.”
Maria threw her hands up. “Always the bloody restaurant.”
Carmine sat in one of the armchairs in the conservatory. Monica took the sofa beside him. They’d always favoured this spot at family parties. It gave a perfect vantage point to clock everything going on and pass judgement on the outfits.
“I wouldn’t say anything,” she whispered. “You can trust me.”
He squeezed her leg. “I know. Sorry. Raoul winds me up.”
“Pah,” she replied. “Ignore him. He’s threatened by you coming home.”
“All the more reason to keep my mouth shut about me. He would have a bloody field day.”
The family time passed without any further hitches. Maria changed her focus and started grilling Donna about when a grandchild would make an appearance. Luckily she’d been a member of the family long enough to know how to deflect such questions.
By the time Carmine got to his apartment, he desperately needed some non-family company. He took his phone out and dialled.
“Hey, sexy,” he said. “Want to come over and get naked?”
“I can’t,” Noah replied. “I need to rest.”
A stab of rejection lodged in Carmine’s chest.
You’re being ridiculous. He’s a sportsman.
“Okay,” Carmine said. “Perhaps we could do something soon?”
“It’s a tough week with training and stuff. I’m free Friday afternoon?”
“Friday it is.”
He finished the call and flopped down on his bed.
Why was it that the more sex he had, the more he wanted? When he was single, he’d have the odd hookup. That sort of thing didn’t really interest him. Now he felt like a bloody teenager with raging hormones.
Friday seemed light years away.
At least Samantha would take his mind off things at work. Once he’d told her off for giving his secrets away to his sister.
His thoughts rested on Monica’s words. Maybe it was time to tell his family. He had no chance of living a full life in the UK if he continued to hide it.
Then Raoul’s leering mug popped into his mind.
Besides things were too new with Noah. He certainly wasn’t about to inflict his whole family on the poor guy.
Not yet.
NINE
NOAH
As Noah had predicted, it had certainly been a tough week. Now the team had focused entirely on the FA Cup, they were training like they’d never done before. Javier remained convinced they could win this. His enthusiasm spilled into the team. Everyone was fired up.
The focus wasn’t just the urge to win. The club chairman, Jamie Walter, had made it clear that if there wasn’t some silverware in the cabinet at the end of the season, Javier and Stephen would be sacked. He’d also hinted that it wouldn’t end there.
