“Just another player leaving.”
“Don’t talk shit.”
I give a tight smile.“It’ll be weird not seeing his fuckface every day.”
“Yeah,” he says, softer now.
“But I’ll still have yours.I’ll make do.”
“Thanks a million.”
“That means I’ll be putting all my attention on you.”
“All of it?”He raises an eyebrow.
“Well, at least when I’m on the pitch.”
Ryan nods.“So… the Doctor, then.”
“Mess with me, and the barbell ends up your throat.”
“Am I supposed to like him?”
“I couldn’t care less what you think of the Doctor, Ryan.”
“As long asyoulike him, is it?”
“Something like that.”
“And you do like him.”
“Is that a question, or are you just havin’ a guess?”
“You can tell,” he says, shrugging one shoulder.“By the way you look at him.Not to mention the way he looks at you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I say, wanting to shut him up.
“Have you not noticed at all?”
“You’re talking shit.It’s not like that between us.”I stand and shrug.
“It’s not like that for you.”
“Is this more of your conjecture now?”
“You do know the Doctor is not a player, yeah?”
I close my eyes and pull in a slow, steady breath.
“He’s not like…”
“Me,” I finish for him.
“Honestly, I don’t even know what your game is.I only know what everyone else knows.”
“And what’s that?I like a bit of fun.There’s nothing wrong with that.It’s not forbidden.”
“No, it’s not, as long as the other person knows the rules.But I’d say the Doctor’s never played.”
