Page 8 of Legend

“You mean you want to make sure we’re not pricks to him ‘cause he’s gay,” Robbie Sexton—AKA the superbrat—cuts in. He’s a phenomenal player and unfortunately has the ego to match. Every time he opens his mouth I have to remind myself decking our star winger is a bad move for the team.

“Exactly,” I grumble, glaring at the little shit.

“No problem,” Davey Carlisle, a little speedster in the centre, says with a shrug. “My uncle’s gay.”

“I too know a gay man,” Koen Vizser, our Dutch goalie says sagely.

“You’re from Amsterdam, Viz,” Robbie says with an eye roll. “Pretty sure you know more thanonegay man.”

“Actually, I’m from Rotterdam.”

“So?”

“So, it’s an hour away from Amsterdam,” Koen shoots back, glowering at Robbie.

“Is prostitution legal there?”

“Yes…”

“I rest my case.”

I share an exasperated look with Alex and am about to jump in when Sean Fisher, Alex’s partner in the backline, speaks up. “Does this mean we have to keep our undies on when we’re changing now?”

I roll my eyes, but the look on his face is full of so much bafflement it’s impossible to take offence. “Contrary to some narrow-minded views out there, gay guys don’t actually spend their lives ogling every single man they come across.”

“I mean, do you guys check out every woman that crosses your path?” Alex says reasonably.

The boys exchange some puzzled glances before conversation erupts from various corners of the locker room.

“I do.”

“All the time.”

“Girls love it when I look at them,” Andre declares.

“If we don’t check out all the birds we come across, how are we going to know who the bangable ones are?” Robbie asks, prompting a chorus of agreement.

I rub a hand over my forehead and send a frustrated look toward Alex. “Youreallyhad to ask.”

“Enough!” Alex calls. “Okay, we get it. You lot are a bunch of creeps. But what Tom said is right. You don’t have to be worried about Archie checking you out.”

“He can look all he wants as far as I’m concerned,” Davey says with a shrug. “It’s nice to feel appreciated once in a while.”

“Trust me, buddy, no one wants to look at you,” Koen jokes, giving Davey a playful nudge.

“Are we done here?” Robbie asks. “I’ve got a kaolin mask waiting for me.”

“Wait, bro, do those things work?” Sean asks.?

“Absolutely. Draws out all the impurities. How do you think I keep this beautiful mug looking so fresh?” he adds with a grin, gesturing to his admittedly very attractive face.

And suddenly there’s a cluster of guys surrounding Robbie, all wanting to know the name of his facialist. Because apparently that’s a thing.

I glance at Alex. “Uh…so is that over? Did we get the message across?”

He offers a wry smile and lifts a shoulder in a helpless shrug. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Chapter four

---