Now, there wasonly Oliver between him and the goal. Oliver was too far out,leaving the goal unguarded on the left. Stephen feinted right, andthen bent the ball around Oliver, striking the ball precisely wherehe wanted it—straight through the legs of the table toscore.
Jogging to ahalt, he said, “I’ll take that guinea now.”
Oliver and Maximlooked at each other and then back at him. “I didn’t know you wereso good at football,” Oliver said.
Stephenshrugged.
Oliver scowled.“Stephen, I’m trying to pay you a compliment.”
“Yes, a backhanded one.I didn’t know you were good atfootball,” he mimicked. “You don’t know much, do you? I playfootball most Saturdays, and train at least twice a week. Of courseI’m bloody good at it.”
“Youdo?” Maxim asked in surprise.
“What do I know?” Oliver snapped. “I’ll tell you what I know.I know you regularly attempt fraud against the Roxwaithe estate.These last few months I may have been distracted, but wewilldiscuss it.”
“Idon’tattemptanything.”
“Youtold me—to myface—you lie to receive funds.”
Stephen smiledthinly. “Like I said. I don’t attempt anything. You gave me thefunds, each and every time.”
Oliver gave hima look of disbelief and then, suddenly, threw the football at him.It hit Stephen in the chest and, stunned, he caught it. “What wasthat for?”
“What is your problem?” his brother shouted.
“Idon’t have a problem,” he shouted back.
“Youdo. You blasted well do. Just tell me!”
“Why? So you can lecture me?”
“Bloody hell, Stephen!”
Holding thefootball between his hands, he shrugged.
“Andthat’s another thing.” Oliver gestured at the ball. “Why didn’t youever tell me you played football?”
Stephenshrugged. “Would you have cared?”
“Ofcourse I bloody care! I would have come to your bloody games!”Oliver exploded.
Stephen shruggedagain.
“Fuck, Stephen, you are impossible!”
Stephen blinked.He’d never heard Oliver use such strong language. “You wouldn’thave cared, Oliver, and don’t pretend you would have come to mymatches. You decided a long time ago who I was, and there was noswaying you.”
“Younever bloody tried!”
“What would have been the point?”
“Thepoint? You’re my bloody brother and I bloody love you.”
He snorted.“Sure you do.”
“What do you mean?” Oliver said dangerously.
Stephenshrugged.
