pace, trying to look not even half as knackered as he felt.
After several slow reps, where he allowed his legs to wind down, he headed inside.
He reached the locker room feeling like he’d been given a secret golden key. With the rest of the reserve team gone, and being kept back to train with the first team players, he felt he’d sealed his place at the club. In every muscle of his body he felt he would soon be the one being cheered at from the terraces and he could almost taste the goals he felt destined to score for the Reds.
After pulling off his shirt, he wiped the sweat off his chest, feeling his heartbeat thumping beneath. He didn’t realize how alive he felt until he saw his wide, glistening eyes in the mirror. For a moment, he imagined himself on the TV screen, face lit up as he gave his rundown on how he played that day. He could imagine his mates from Blackmoor in the pub cheering him on as he sped about the field chasing the ball. If only his father was alive.
From down the short hallway he heard the shower jets and figured the others were still cleaning themselves off. He was just about to rid himself of his shorts and go and join them when he heard the studs of boots clacking on the tiles.
Jason Collier entered the locker room. A hulking man - six foot two, with broad shoulders and strong legs. A close crop of dark hair hid his receding hairline.
Seeing Todd, he lifted his scowling face a notch and stepped across to him with a ready hand.
“How you doing?” He smiled; his chiseled features softened. “How’s the training?”
Todd had become so used to meeting grade A football stars that he’d become casual about it. But Jason Collier was a player he’d known since he was in junior school, and he’d watched him progress at the Reds from sub to star striker during the last ten years.
“It’s great.” He grinned as he shook the man’s firm hand. “Still can’t believe it.”
Jason laughed, and his eyes, showing slight crow’s feet, twinkled.
“I know that feeling,” he said. “Even though I’d been at other clubs before coming here, it still felt nerve racking.” He squeezed Todd’s neck affectionately. “Don’t fret, you’ll do the club proud. It’s a special place. The club looks after you.”
“I know. That house is amazing; I have everything I need.”
“Aiden is the best.” Jason turned serious. “Not just the best at managing, but the best any player could want for a boss. He’s brought us all together and turned us into a force this country’s not seen since before you or even I were born.”
He pulled off his shirt and wiped the sweat off his chest.
For a man in his mid-thirties, his muscles looked chiseled onto his body. Todd watched as he wiped along each groove of his abs.
“Are you playing tomorrow?” Todd asked, wondering if his ankle was ready for another game.
“No, the boss is putting Wayne in my position,” Jason said. “And I think Gavin is going in defense. My ankle needs rest so I’ll be on the bench. Maybe I’ll get a few minutes in at the end.”
Todd slid his shorts off, and threw them in the pile that had heaped up on one of the benches.
“I’ll join you in the shower in a minute, we can talk some more,” Jason said as he sat down and carefully removed his boots.
“Sure.” Todd stripped out of his undies and made his way to the showers.
A short corridor led to the shower room on one side, while directly opposite was a large room with a thirty-two cubic meter bath. He figured he’d clean his body with a shower before dipping it into the hot bath. He hadn’t realized how tired he felt, and he was looking forward to relaxing his legs in a lounging soak.
Turning into the shower room, he saw Josh and Leo on one side, so Todd went to take his shower on the opposing wall. He’d made it two paces towards a showerhead, but stopped.
All the lads had been pretty tactile with him since he’d arrived, and he’d already seen there was
After several slow reps, where he allowed his legs to wind down, he headed inside.
He reached the locker room feeling like he’d been given a secret golden key. With the rest of the reserve team gone, and being kept back to train with the first team players, he felt he’d sealed his place at the club. In every muscle of his body he felt he would soon be the one being cheered at from the terraces and he could almost taste the goals he felt destined to score for the Reds.
After pulling off his shirt, he wiped the sweat off his chest, feeling his heartbeat thumping beneath. He didn’t realize how alive he felt until he saw his wide, glistening eyes in the mirror. For a moment, he imagined himself on the TV screen, face lit up as he gave his rundown on how he played that day. He could imagine his mates from Blackmoor in the pub cheering him on as he sped about the field chasing the ball. If only his father was alive.
From down the short hallway he heard the shower jets and figured the others were still cleaning themselves off. He was just about to rid himself of his shorts and go and join them when he heard the studs of boots clacking on the tiles.
Jason Collier entered the locker room. A hulking man - six foot two, with broad shoulders and strong legs. A close crop of dark hair hid his receding hairline.
Seeing Todd, he lifted his scowling face a notch and stepped across to him with a ready hand.
“How you doing?” He smiled; his chiseled features softened. “How’s the training?”
Todd had become so used to meeting grade A football stars that he’d become casual about it. But Jason Collier was a player he’d known since he was in junior school, and he’d watched him progress at the Reds from sub to star striker during the last ten years.
“It’s great.” He grinned as he shook the man’s firm hand. “Still can’t believe it.”
Jason laughed, and his eyes, showing slight crow’s feet, twinkled.
“I know that feeling,” he said. “Even though I’d been at other clubs before coming here, it still felt nerve racking.” He squeezed Todd’s neck affectionately. “Don’t fret, you’ll do the club proud. It’s a special place. The club looks after you.”
“I know. That house is amazing; I have everything I need.”
“Aiden is the best.” Jason turned serious. “Not just the best at managing, but the best any player could want for a boss. He’s brought us all together and turned us into a force this country’s not seen since before you or even I were born.”
He pulled off his shirt and wiped the sweat off his chest.
For a man in his mid-thirties, his muscles looked chiseled onto his body. Todd watched as he wiped along each groove of his abs.
“Are you playing tomorrow?” Todd asked, wondering if his ankle was ready for another game.
“No, the boss is putting Wayne in my position,” Jason said. “And I think Gavin is going in defense. My ankle needs rest so I’ll be on the bench. Maybe I’ll get a few minutes in at the end.”
Todd slid his shorts off, and threw them in the pile that had heaped up on one of the benches.
“I’ll join you in the shower in a minute, we can talk some more,” Jason said as he sat down and carefully removed his boots.
“Sure.” Todd stripped out of his undies and made his way to the showers.
A short corridor led to the shower room on one side, while directly opposite was a large room with a thirty-two cubic meter bath. He figured he’d clean his body with a shower before dipping it into the hot bath. He hadn’t realized how tired he felt, and he was looking forward to relaxing his legs in a lounging soak.
Turning into the shower room, he saw Josh and Leo on one side, so Todd went to take his shower on the opposing wall. He’d made it two paces towards a showerhead, but stopped.
All the lads had been pretty tactile with him since he’d arrived, and he’d already seen there was
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