Into The Team (13 page)

FULL TIME: Westhampton Rangers 2 – 3 Manford Reds

Although the boss hadn’t given a congratulatory speech, it was clear from the distant smile as the team vacated the pitch that he was pleased with the result. Preventing the home team from winning was always a victory in itself, so a draw would have been adequate. But beating them on their home turf was just taking the piss, and as Todd had seen on many of the Reds away wins over the years, Aiden Marshall kept his joy concealed. Perhaps he knew that a cool victor looked better than a gloating one.

By six pm the team were back on the bus and heading home. Todd had wondered if they’d be able to stay overnight, perhaps occupy one of the many London hotels and check out the clubs. But the team was content to come, win, and go.

On the way back up the M1, word got around that the boss had authorized a free Sunday for everyone. Soon after that, a party was planned at Sean Thompson’s house.

Sean lived in a mansion in Cheshire and, according to Luke, was in the process of divorcing his TV star wife. So he had the place to himself while she had moved back to New York to focus on her growing career.

The lads seemed eager to blow some steam, and Todd saw his first proper chance to socialize with them all; he was looking forward to getting to know the lads he hadn’t yet spoken to.

As they arrived back at The Valley, he checked off a list in this head. He’d make an effort with Daryl - he wanted to ask him about that film Miles Dixon had taken, what he thought of Todd’s moves on the pitch, and find out what it was that made him decide before the others that Todd should be brought in for a trial.

But he also wanted to break the ice with Kieran, Eduardo, and perhaps even Sean himself. That guy had hung around in the background over the weeks, and although Todd had played with him over the last few days, he’d not uttered more than a few polite hellos.

The weather down south had been fine all day, but up north, the wind had picked up with a harsh, stabbing chill. A few players went straight for their cars. But Sean, Jason, Kieran, Wayne and Craig hung about in the car park. The lads from the house hung with them, expecting a lift.

Todd noticed Daryl had climbed into his car with Leo and Josh.

“Parties at Sean’s are great,” Luke said. “Since his wife fucked off he’s had a small gathering every time the boss gives us a day off.”

“Ok,” Jason shouted, his eyes coming to rest on Todd. “You’re with me, erm, yeah…” He noticed Luke next to him. “Luke and Marco too.”

It took twenty minutes of flying down a duel carriageway before they reached a small lane that led to a high wall with steel gates. As Jason sped his car up the long driveway, Todd looked ahead at the house and counted twenty windows on either side of a large, white, wooden door.

Attached to the house was a garage with five doors, which opened automatically as Jason sped up to it. A Porsche convertible, a BMW, and a bright green Jaguar were parked inside along the back wall.

Jason parked beside the Porsche and they climbed out.

“Nice cars,” Luke remarked casually.

“Yeah.” Todd stared at them. All three would have cost in the hundreds of thousands, maybe up to a million.

Sean and Wayne’s cars sped up the driveway and came to rest with a minor screech. In the house, the hallway floor was white marble. A huge palm tree sat in a copper tub in the center. Todd didn’t think it was real, but after stroking its bark, he changed his mind. At the far side of the hallway, a double banister stairway led up into darkness.

Sean guided them down a short corridor to a back room where four sofas circled a table and faced a forty-inch screen on the wall. A bar sat on one side of the room near patio doors which led to a terrace with tables and chairs and an outdoor swimming pool, sheltered under a marquee.

“Amazing…” Todd muttered, wondering when he’d be able to afford something like this.

The television came on and they were just in time for Match Night. The lads spread themselves out on the sofas, while Sean and Wayne grabbed a tray full of beers from the bar.

Looking around, Todd saw no sign of Kieran or Daryl.

“Is anyone else coming?” he asked Jason, who sat next to him.

Jason glanced around, looked up at Sean. “Who we waiting for?”

Sean dished out the beers. “This is it,” he said. “Kieran might be on his way. I think he had to stop off at home first.”

“What about Daryl?” Todd asked.

Sean glanced at him and shook his head. “He won’t come.”

Todd took a beer, had a small swig, and nursed it against his chest. Although it was time out for the team, he wasn’t planning on drinking.

“I saw him getting into his car with Leo and Josh,” he said to Sean, hoping for a way into a conversation with the guy. But Sean sat down on the other side of Jason and fixed his eyes on the screen.

“He might come then,” he said while not looking at Todd.

The TV presenter talked through the night’s program. For a moment, Todd felt Sean had given him the cold shoulder. He remembered the odd time Sean had glanced at him on the pitch last week, giving him a look that said little, and always turning away whenever Todd met his gaze. He supposed that right now, the striker was just keen to see which moments from the game the nation was about to see, but Todd couldn’t help sense something negative in his manner.

“What’s happened to Gary these days?” Gavin asked over the table. “He’s gone quiet lately.”

Sean sneered. “Him and the missus are trying for a kid. Hope he knows what he’s getting himself into.”

“What about Eduardo and Adam, are they not bothering?”

Jason took a few long gulps of beer and leaned forward, his eyes appeared to shine for second.

“Eduardo’s just started seeing that blonde bird in that soap opera,” he said. “You know the one based in….” He pointed in some general direction with his thumb. “Staffordshire, I think. She’s called….”

“Nancy Travis.” Trent laughed. “She’s the one with the fifty-thousand pound tit job.”

“And the rest.” Craig grinned. “The ass, the lips, the fucking legs.”

“Adam’s trying to behave.” Sean leaned closer to the TV, as if not into the conversation. “His wife’s got him under the cosh.” He told everyone to shut up.

The match highlights came on and a synchronized stiffening of backs and hushed breaths filled the room.

A few first half near misses were shown, along with an awkward tackle from one of the opposing players.

“Fucking Darren Vine,” Sean Thompson growled. “I felt that fucking man’s boot right on my calf.”

Jason’s hand rested on Sean’s back and slowly rubbed.

The TV presenter gave a somber review of the first half: “No goals scored, and it looked like it could have been a disappointing match for both teams.”

“Shut up, you knob!” Gavin shouted. “Get the second half on.”

The presenter’s tone picked up as the second half highlights came on, and the first of the goals thundered into the net.

“That was a fucking hammer.” Sean grinned after seeing his shot.

Footsteps down the hall alerted Todd. He looked up to see the short, dark, spikey hair of Kieran Lewis. Kieran caught his eye straight away.  Todd lifted his head and smiled. It seemed to trigger a grin from Kieran and, unexpectedly, he walked straight to Todd, nodding and greeting the lads as he stepped through the room.

“How you doing lad?” He squeezed Todd’s shoulder softly and sat on the floor in front of him. Todd felt a little nervous as the midfielder leaned back onto his leg and stared at the screen. He’d been watching Kieran closely today and had seen some good moves on the pitch. At times he’d felt confident about having him as a partner, and Luke had mentioned him a few times this afternoon, almost throwing hints.

Looking around the room, he noted the closeness of bodies. Craig and Wayne sat together at the far end of one sofa, arms around each other’s backs. Trent sat on another sofa with Gavin sprawled out next to him, head resting in his lap.

Todd decided it was a good idea to show Kieran a friendly touch, and when a speedy tackle from him played out on the screen, he leaned forward and placed his hand on Kieran’s neck.

“Class move,” Todd said.

Kieran’s smile grew and he shifted his butt on the floor and draped an arm across Todd’s thigh.

“Goal!” Sean lifted his arms as Jason scored. He dropped his arm over the man’s shoulders and gripped him tight.

Boos filled the room when the screen showed two consecutive goals from the opposing team. A few claps followed Daryl’s final goal.

After the cheers died, Sean stood up and glanced at each person in the room, seeming to take a head count. Looking down at Kieran, and appearing to note his closeness with Todd, he clicked his fingers at his face.

“Come and help me sort out this food I’ve got in the kitchen,” he said.

Kieran frowned, making the spikes of his hair move forward. “Get yourself some servants, man.”

Sean reached down and grabbed him by the arm that rested against Todd’s thigh. After resisting for a second, Kieran pushed himself up and followed Sean to the kitchen.

As the TV presenter smiled at the camera and ran through the next set of highlights, Jason sat up and looked at Todd’s bottle. Within a second he had reached over to the table and grabbed another bottle, shoving it into Todd’s free hand. “You can drink tonight. No training tomorrow.”

Todd took the bottle and began to drink the one he already had. He supposed he could drink a little more than usual, but he also wanted to stay clear headed while he sussed out his new mates.

A sudden scent of roast chicken wafted through the room as Sean and Kieran walked in carrying trays piled high with drumsticks. No sooner had they placed them down on the table, hands darted in and half the drumsticks were gone.

“How you finding it?” Kieran asked as he returned to his place on the floor.

Todd had a mouthful of chicken and took a second to swallow. “Can’t believe it’s happened,” he said.

Kieran gripped his thigh. “You’re playing for the best club in Europe.”

After Match Night, Sean flicked over to the sports channels and found a game between the other two top clubs. More drinking, eating, and shouts at the screen followed. Finishing his first bottle, Todd felt relaxed and began swigging his second just as Leo and Josh arrived. Glancing behind them, Todd didn’t see Daryl.

“Did you see the highlights?” Gavin asked, helping himself to beers and food.

“We watched it at Daryl’s apartment,” Leo said.

“Oh yeah, young Blondie’s got a new place,” Sean mused. “What’s it like?”

“I thought it’d be bigger, but it’s sort of modest.”

“Is he coming?” Jason asked.

“Yeah.” Josh nodded to the door. “He’s outside talking on his mobile.”

Todd lifted his head up and straightened on the sofa. Kieran turned to him.

“Do you think you’ll be ready for the charity game?”

“Course he will,” Jason cut in. “He’s already impressed Aiden, and me.”

“Two more weeks and you’ll be walking out onto the pitch for the first time.” Kieran winked. “I’ll be playing too, so we’ll get some one on one practice before then.”

Todd saw a glint in his eye and nodded back.

Daryl walked in, his blue eyes twinkling as he looked around the room. He said nothing.

“Hey, Blondie, how’s that new place of yours?” Sean shouted as Daryl stepped over Leo, appearing to head to the table for one of the few remaining drumsticks.

“It’s alright.” Daryl nodded.

A few of the others asked him about it, and he gave simple, short answers as he settled on the floor next to Josh. Todd watched him eating slowly. He appeared uncertain about being here.

“Kieran, go and get more beers,” Sean said. “Daryl needs one.”

“Are you alright for a beer?” Jason asked Todd.

Todd looked and saw he’d only drank a third from his second bottle.

“I’m alright,” he said.

“Get one for Todd,” Jason shouted. Todd was about to object, but decided to relax.
Fuck it then, may as well get a bit drunk. Just a bit.

As he began to knock back his second bottle, the room became active. Gavin and Trent were on their feet and motioning to Sean, who made his way over. They left the room after a brief, bright-faced mutter. Another beer was in Todd’s face as Kieran came back.

“You’re good on attack,” Kieran said as he retook his place at Todd’s feet. “It seems your natural motive on the pitch.”

“I used to be striker on the team back in Blackmoor,” Todd said.

“We know all about your amateur team.” Kieran laughed. “Dixon’s got a good eye. He spotted me playing for college six years ago.”

“So you ditched college?” Todd asked, not quite remembering how Kieran landed his place at the Reds.

“Yeah.” Kieran nodded with an obvious look. “I was only there because my parents pushed me. Thank fuck they had a decent football team….”

As Kieran talked of his college days, Todd nodded and drank his beer and glanced occasionally at Daryl. Every now and then Daryl caught his eye. It made Todd wonder if he should strike up a conversation with him.