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When Kieran called an end to the exercise, they were both out of breath, glaring at each other. Rationally, Alex knew it hadn’t been anything outrageous—it had been testy, yeah, but Lee hadn’t deliberately tried to injure him.
And yet.
“You do realise,” he told Lee, “that we’re supposed to be on the same team now. Right?“
“On the same team?” Lee repeated slowly, with a strange twist to his tone, and yes, whatever, Alex got it—he was a privileged brat who hadn’t quite shaken off his pompous accent when they’d first met.
“You might want to downsize that shoulder chip before it starts charging rent, you know?”
Lee scowled. “I’ll trade it in for a slice of your privileged pie, how ‘bout that?”
That was rich coming from someone who’d dismissed Alex the moment he’d mentioned that his father was a Peer of the Realm. Alex tilted his head and let the corners of his mouth tug upwards. “How about a bake-off? My privileged pie against your oversensitive cupcakes.”
“I’ll bring the popcorn,” Jeff said from right next to them, and Alex realised that they were starting to attract attention. Lee seemed to draw the same conclusion because he turned away, grabbed the ball, and trotted off without another word.
Prick.Alex needed a second to wipe the frown off his face.
“Whatisit with you two?” Jeff asked as they moved towards where the rest of the team had gathered around Kieran and some water bottles.
‘He was mean to me when we were little’ sounded childish, so Alex lifted a shoulder. “He just rubs me the wrong way.”
“Maybe you should show him how to rub you the right way, then.” Of course Jeff would take it as an engraved invitation to inject some innuendo—he had yet to meet a conversation he didn’t want to steer into the gutter. “Seriously, though,” he continued right after. “I don’t think he’s that bad. Just a bit awkward at times, more of an introvert.”
The polar opposite of Jeff, then, and they would have spent a fair amount of time together during the last World Cup along with other national team engagements since.
“That’s because you’re not the enemy,” Alex told him.
Jeff snorted. “The enemy?”
“Aristocratic background, fancy education, received pronunciation.”
“Ah, yes.” Jeff pursed his lips. “You do sound like a bit of a prat whenever you talk to your father. Must be either genetic or contagious.”
“Thanks ever so much,” Alex said dryly.
“It’s what I’m here for.” Jeff bumped their arms together, stopping a few steps away from the others. “Anyway, just saying—think Lee’s family background isn’t the greatest. Might be why he’s a tad sensitive.”
“Hardly my fault, is it?” Alex asked, and Jeff shook his head.
“Nah. But just try to get along, yeah? Politely ignore each other if you have to. Just not on the pitch, what with how we’re all on the same team now.”
Jeff had a point, but… “Takes two to tango.”
“Takes one to change the music.”
It was mildly concerning when Jeff, of all people, sounded like the sensible one. Alex glanced at where Lee was talking with Oliver, both of them swigging water, and yeah, all right. Alex could try a little harder—or maybe even just try at all.
He turned back to Jeff. “Fine. I won’t actively aggravate him.”
“That the best you can do?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
Jeff’s laugh carried. “What was it Kieran said—behaviour and attitude?”
“I’ll improve both once Lee stops calling me pretty boy.”
“But” —Jeff treated Alex to an exaggerated leer along with a bottle of water that he handed over— “you really are so very pretty. He probably just can’t help it.”
