The car started, the engine low and purring. “That sounds like something your gran would’ve said.”
He laughed. “She probably would've. She wasn’t one for luxury things. You live in Bramhall, right?”
“Just outside. Do you want to pick up McDonalds and eat it at mine? You can’t eat it in here.” That would be sacrilege to the new car smell.
Jude shrugged, manoeuvring the car out of the car park. “I’d like to lie and tell you I’ll never eat take out in here, but I’m not good at lying. Eating at yours would be good though. I’m wired. If I go home soon I’ll pace holes in my floor or something.”
“Okay, we’re best going to the McDonald’s near me then.”
He frowned. “Will you have something from there? Do you eat fast food? Ever?”
I laughed, totally amused. “Occasionally. If I really fancy it. I’ll have something tonight. I really love the chocolate milkshakes.”
“That’s made my fucking day.”
“What? Me liking chocolate milkshakes has made your day?” He was fun to tease.
“Totally. You have no idea how high a pinny-cully thing we have you on with diet. It’s like you only ever eat good stuff.”
I really was laughing now. “That’s not true. I just eat everything in moderation. It’s my job to nag you.”
His own laugh was another rumble. “I know. But I’m still going to sleep better knowing that you eat crap food sometimes. Can I get a photo of you with the milkshake?”
So it continued until we got to mine, discussing food, what he liked to eat, asking how bad it was for him – in truth, it wasn’t as long as the rest of his food intake was good – and him trying to dig out of me what I liked to eat that wasn’t on a diet plan somewhere.
I didn’t live far from the McDonalds, the bags of food given over so quickly that the server had no chance to identify who he’d actually given food to, so it was fairly warm when we walked through my front door.
My house was probably a tenth the size of Jude’s, but he didn’t say anything about it, just finding a spot on my sofa and stretching out his legs, opening his paper bag full of fast food.
I sat next to him, stretching out my own much shorter legs, my own paper bag not quite as full.
By a long stretch.
“Secret fast food with the food police lady. Didn’t expect this to be how my night ended.” He sent me a glance that made him look like a naughty boy trying to get away with some prank.
“You could’ve been in a strip club now, with a pair of tits in your face.”
He shrugged. “I actually prefer this option. Burger, fries, mozzarella fries and milkshakes. This is what dreams are made of.”
I started laughing. I seemed to laugh a lot when Jude was around. “You’re actually being serious, aren’t you?”
“Totally.” He nodded emphatically. “I’ve seen a lot of tits. Tits are good. Tits in a strip club carry the risk of your picture in the gossip column of a newspaper and a meeting in the 'guvnor’s' office. The highest risk from eating this burger would normally be thatyoufind out about it, but I’m sat here on your sofa while you’re eating your Happy Meal. What toy did you get?”
I was almost choking on a fry now, I was laughing that hard. “I hid the toy in your car.” I actually had.
“Really?” He lit up like it was Christmas Day. “Like a treasure hunt?”
“Like a treasure hunt. Just like that.” It was in the compartment between the two front seats. “You’re such a kid.”
He didn’t look offended. “Being a kid is magical. Or it was magical for me when I was a kid. The world was shiny and new and so fucking exciting. It’s still fun to enjoy really simple things.”
I’d never given Jude this much credit for depth before. I’d just taken him as being the kid on the team who came out with stupid stuff all the time.
“I get what you mean. Don’t take yourself so seriously all the time.”
He nodded, sticking another few fries into his mouth. “You know, everyone takes football so seriously, and I get it. There’s money involved, big money. Fame, fortune, the reputation, the chance to be some kid’s hero – but it’s just a game. We kick a ball around for ninety minutes, sometimes longer, and I love it. It’s the fucking best feeling and I’m so lucky. But I’m not a soldier or a doctor or even a teacher.”
I didn’t laugh, which some people might’ve done. He was deadly serious. “You make more of a difference than what you think though. Kids look up to you. You can influence them, make a difference to their lives. Be a role model to a kid who hasn’t got one.”
