31
Cody
Ever since Jude had found his dream house, the atmosphere between us had been strained, and I knew it was because of the words I’d said.
I can see you living here, Jude.
The way his face had fallen, his eyes shining with hurt as he turned away from me…fuck.
I knew I’d let him down. I was letting everyone down lately, myself included. My agent was probably on the verge of ditching me as a client, too, given the fact that I hadn’t replied to any of his recent messages.
When are you coming back to Calgary, Cody?
Do you want to sign with the Bobcats again, Cody?
Time’s running out, Cody. You need to make a decision.
I gritted my teeth, forcibly ejecting those thoughts from my mind. Jude deserved my full attention. Jude, and the guys who had somehow become my friends, against all odds.
Draping the Glevum scarf Jude had given me around my neck, I took my seat in the stands. I inhaled sharply as I took in the view in front of me, my worries temporarily forgotten. I was as close as it was possible to get to the pitch, seated in the front row next to an aisle, with an empty chair on my other side.The atmosphere was electric, with over twenty-five thousand Glevum FC and Aston Villa fans packed into the stadium, buzzing with anticipation as they waited for the first game of the season to begin. While I’d been to several of Jude’s pre-season friendly matches over the past few weeks, this one felt different.
This one meant something.
When the teams jogged out onto the pitch to begin their warm-up routine, my eyes found Jude immediately. I watched him laughing and joking with his teammates, the storm cloud hanging over him temporarily wiped away. This was where he belonged. This was where he was happiest.
He scanned the stands, and when his gaze connected with mine, he smiled, wide and genuine. My heart jolted, and I smiled back helplessly, completely fucking gone for this man who had turned my entire world upside down.
I couldn’t drag my gaze away from him, even if I’d wanted to. All through the first half, whether he had possession of the ball or not, I tracked his moves. Watching as he worked tirelessly, exhilaration clear on his face as he played the game he loved.
The crowd accepted him, too. When he managed to block a shot from the goal at the beginning of the second half, I heard them sing to him.
Hey, Jude.
I could see his eyes growing huge as he took in the chants. He swiped at his eyes, smiling more widely than I’d ever seen as the Glevum fans continued to sing.
When he’d given me a crash course in soccer, he’d mentioned that the fans sang and made up chants about players, but taking in the look on his face, it was clear he’d never expected to have them sing about him. He’d been worrying about the reaction to his signing, especially once theOffsidearticle came out, and this right here was proof that he was accepted by Glevum’s supporters. That they were glad he played for their team.
My own eyes filled as I watched him raise his hands to the crowd, so fucking happy. I scrubbed my hand across my face.Fuck. How was it possible to feel so much for one person?
Jude’s euphoria continued right up to the fifty-seventh minute.
Then everything changed.
It felt as if it happened in slow motion. Jude had possession of the ball, and he was running down the side of the pitch, darting around the Villa players as he looked to pass it to one of his teammates.
He kicked it across the field to Grant.
At the same time, one of the Villa players came sliding in from the side in a clumsy tackle.
There was no time for Jude to get out of the way. I watched in horror as his ankle twisted, his body flying forwards, collapsing to the ground.
“Fuck,” I breathed, immediately on my feet. My gaze was fixed on him, willing him to rise…but…he didn’t. He lay there, so fucking still.
Why wasn’t he getting up?
The crowd was roaring, and I—I didn’t think. I just acted. Every single one of my instincts was screaming at me to go to him, to make sure he was okay.
I ran, vaulting over the boards, and then I was on the pitch, heading straight for my boyfriend.
