Jerrica grinned back, trying not to laugh.
I focused back on the game, knowing that Jude would be thrilled with the assist and goal, but I’d be more thrilled if he got to the end of the game without any injuries.
He did.
We all headed down to the lounge to wait for the players to come through once they’d showered, or before for some of them. Nate always found Amber and the kids before showering, mainly so he could embarrass Libbie with how badly he smelled.
Usually, I’d be with Jude for the games if he wasn’t watching from the bench, then he’d head to the dressing room to see his teammates after. Today was the first time it was different. I didn’t know if he’d get showered first or come and see everyone in the lounge.
It was the latter.
I heard him before I saw him, his laugh filling the hallway outside before he was the first player in the room, his eyes fixing on me and his smile growing even wider.
I wondered if I needed to play this cool. To be as enthusiastic for Nicky who was with him as I was for him. Most people involved with the club knew there was something going on with Jude and me, but not what exactly.
I didn’t thinkweknew exactly what anymore.
Jude headed straight for me, and as soon as he got there, I was pulled against his very sweaty body. I didn’t think to try and avoid it or consider what other people were thinking because it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he’d returned from injury, playing almost all of the game and had two assists and a goal.
“Are you in one piece?” I breathed the words into him. “Are you okay?”
His laughed vibrated right through me. “I’m going to ache like hell for the next couple of days, but my Achilles feels fine.” He moved me away a few inches. “Do I get a kiss for well done?”
I wouldn’t have said no even if my job depended on it. My arms went around his neck and his fed around my waist, holding me in place while his lips pressed against mine, giving me a sweet, hard kiss that had goose bumps prickle over my skin in the nicest way possible.
“You can have more than a kiss later.” I whispered the words so no one else could hear, but the look on his face probably gave away exactly what I’d just said.
Since Amsterdam, things had felt different between us, less prescriptive when we slept together.
“I’m looking forward to it.” He gave me another kiss, this one slightly less sweet.
“Are you going out with the team?” This was what would normally happen, although it had been less so recently with Jude meeting me at his or us leaving together.
He shook his head. “Nicky asked if we wanted to grab food with him and Kitty. Food sounds really good and then a bath. If I don’t seize up I’ll be fucking surprised.”
“You need physio first.”
He nodded. “Physio, shower, let the doctor check me over - ” he stopped, Genny standing on a chair and shouting loudly.
“An update on Ryan – he’s been checked over and released from hospital with a mild concussion and stitches. He could be back for the Boxing Day fixture. We need Jude, Nicky and Rowan out for media now please!” She stepped down and headed straight out, opening the door into the room attached where the media were set up for post-game interviews. Guy usually went first to give the players a chance to regulate. This was after a few classics from Rowan a couple of seasons ago where he’d still been high off adrenaline after scoring in the last minute and stealing the match which took us one win away from being league champions.
Since then, protocol had been for Guy to go first and players to be called afterwards.
“You best go.” I pushed him away lightly. “Then shower. You stink.”
He gave me a wink and disappeared to go and do his presser. I felt sorry for the reporter who’d be interviewing him – he definitely didn’t smell fresh.
Three hours later, washed, massaged, checked over and given orders to rest for the next couple of days and ice up, we were fed and back at Jude’s, heading straight up to his bed without even passing the kettle, just filling up our water bottles.
“I sound like an old man, but there is no way I could’ve gone out to a club tonight. Jesus, I don’t even think I felt like this after playing my first game.” He almost fell onto his back on the bed and groaned. “This is what it’s like to be Rowan Reeves after every game. Fucked. No wonder he’s retiring.”
“Don’t tell Rowan that.” Those were the wrong words to say.
Jude’s grin changed to wicked. He held his phone up and took a selfie, keying in a few things before turning it off and putting it by his bed. “I told him I knew what it was like to be him. I also mentioned I didn’t expect a response because I knew he’d be asleep already.”
“You live dangerously.” I pulled off my socks and sweater, slipping my leggings off too, leaving me in just a slip, bra and underwear.
Jude’s grin grew again, the look in his eyes a different sort of wickedness.
