I hold up my hands in surrender.
‘Say less. I would risk it all for Tchaikovsky in any key. Unless …’ I look over at Mia, needing confirmation. ‘Unless it’s a date situation?’
‘It’s a group hang situation,’ Alice says before she can speak. ‘You should definitely come. It’s at the Goldbeck Theatre, starts at seven. We’ll meet you there.’
‘You’re sure it’s okay?’
‘It’s okay,’ Mia answers this time. ‘I guess we’re all going to suffer together.’
I pound the rest of my Coke and she shakes her head when I take out my card to pay.
‘On me,’ she says and I’m relieved. She can’t be that mad about me crashing her date if she’s paying for my drinks, even if it is just a soda.
A quick glance at my watch says it’s twelve-fifty, time for me to head to practice.
‘I’ll see you both tonight,’ I say, sliding my arms into the straps of my backpack and pulling tight. And, yeah, I know exactly how they make my biceps bulge against the tight sleeves of my T-shirt, but more importantly, unless I’m mistaken, Mia is totally checking me out. ‘Seven p.m.?’
‘Seven p.m.,’ Alice confirms. ‘Don’t be late.’
And risk missing out on even one more minute with Mia?
‘Wouldn’t dream of it,’ I reply, watching as my roommate wipes down the bar, completely oblivious. ‘I’ll be there.’
29
Ethan
‘You’re going where?’
‘To the Goldbeck Theatre. It’s this real big building, kind of a yellow colour, been around for a couple hundred years? You can’t miss it.’
Assad squints at me like I’ve been replaced by a pod person. Maybe I have.
‘You’re truly telling me you’d rather go and watch a load of boffs play Beethoven than raise a jar with your teammates?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you call yourself our captain.’
If he wasn’t standing in the middle of the locker room completely naked, maybe I’d be able to take him more seriously.Maybe.
‘I’m not the only one trying to improve my cultural diet,’ I say, pointing at Michael as he strips in front of his locker. ‘My dude is going too.’
‘Yeah, but Michael is a weirdo.’ Assad looks over at our goalkeeper who continues peeling off his sweaty practice kit. ‘No offence, mate.’
‘It’s a compliment coming from you.’
‘Then you’re welcome,’ Assad says before turning back to me. ‘Come on, ditch that bollocks and come to Members. It’s team building, we need you there.’
‘On the topic of bollocks, you should get yours looked at.’
I can’t help but chuckle when Michael whips Assad’s bare ass with a towel as he strolls towards the showers. ‘Is it my imagination or is one much bigger than the other?’
‘Didn’t bother your mum last night,’ Assad quips back but Michael keeps on walking, satisfied smirk on his face, his work here complete.
‘I’m going to the concert.’ I fish my washbag out of my locker, mind made up. ‘Sorry, dude. Next time.’
Assad is still pouting and yes, still naked, in spite of the fact he was in and out of the shower before I’d even finished my five-minute catch-up with Clive.
