CHAPTER 29
On Saturday morning, Kian dropped Cate off at the Tavern before meeting up with his team-mates at the Rovers training ground to get the team coach to Elland Road. Rovers were playing a pre-season friendly that afternoon against Leeds United.
Nick was just opening up the Tavern when Kian pulled up to the kerb. Cate gave him a friendly smile and a wave.
“Good luck,” Cate whispered in Kian’s ear, gently nipping his earlobe, before she climbed out of the car.
“Wait,” Kian had noticed that Nick was watching them. He buried his hands in Cate’s hair, tilting her head back so he could kiss her properly.
“Mm,” Cate said breathlessly afterwards. “Where did that come from?” She rubbed at her tingling lips.
She quickly turned around and saw that Nick was waiting for her by the door to the Tavern. “Kian,” she frowned.
“What?” He tried to look innocent. “I’m allowed to give my wife a goodbye kiss.”
“That wasn’t a goodbye kiss, that was you marking your territory,” Cate smiled. “I don’t know why you’re so worried about Nick anyway; Chad’s much more my type.”
“I’ll see you at home,” Kian laughed. “Remember what we agreed.”
As it was an away game, Kian would be late home tonight and he wanted Cate to wait for him in their bed, naked. “We’ll see,” Cate said, not committing either way.
“Hey,” Kian pinched her butt as she got out of the car.
Cate laughed, “score a goal and we’ll see.”
“You’re so on,” Kian pulled his sunglasses down over his eyes.
When she got home that night, the first thing she did was check the score. Rovers had won 2-0 and Kian had scored the 2nd goal. Fair’s fair, Cate thought, checking her watch. Kian wouldn’t be back for a while so she took a long, hot shower. She dried her hair so it fell in soft waves down her back and then pulled on her purple, satin robe. It was already starting to go dark outside so she closed the curtains. She took off her robe, hung it up on the back of the bedroom door and walked quickly past the mirror.
She didn’t like looking at herself in the mirror. Her body was changing with pregnancy. She ran her hands over her fuller breasts, avoiding her nipples which were incredibly sensitive. Kian loved her breasts now, even in the middle of the night, he couldn’t stop touching them but she worried how he would feel about them after she’d given birth – would he still like them when they weren’t as big? She rubbed her rounded stomach. Even though she religiously applied cocoa butter, she still panicked that she’d get stretch marks.
Kian was attracted to her now – with her bigger breasts, hips and smooth skin but what would happen after she’d given birth, once the novelty wore off and her body changed again? Would Kian still want her if she went back to the skinny girl with small breasts and toothpick legs, only this time covered in stretch marks?
She wanted to feel secure with Kian but every day he didn’t say those three little words, more and more doubts started to creep in.
She pulled back the duvet and climbed into their bed. It had been a long day at work but she was determined to do this for Kian. To distract herself, she picked up her Kindle and tried to read. The sky kept getting darker and still Kian wasn’t home.
Cate tried to switch her phone on but the battery was dead. She wrapped herself up in the duvet and plugged it in to charge.
Where is he? She looked at the clock; he was later than he’d said he was going to be. Her heart started pounding in her chest.
Suddenly, she heard a car pull up outside the house, the engine cut off and the door slammed shut. She heard Kian’s footsteps come up the stairs and quickly switched off her Kindle and threw it in the top drawer of her bedside table. The bedroom door opened and Kian flicked the light on.
“Hi,” Cate said quietly.
He looked surprised that she was there and then he quickly came to the bed and pulled her to him, hugging her tightly. “What is it?” Cate asked. “What happened?”
“I’m so glad you weren’t there today,” Kian said. “So fucking glad.”
Kian shrugged off his jacket and tie, kicked off his shoes and climbed under the duvet with Cate. “You’re naked?” He said.
Cate blushed. “I said I would be if you scored.”
“With all the shit that happened today, I’d forgotten about that,” Kian sighed. He turned on his side and pulled her to him, so their bodies were pressed tightly against each other from chest to toe.
“What happened?” Cate asked softly.
“The Leeds fans don’t like seeing their team get beaten. After the match, our fans were trying to leave the stadium but there’s a pub across the road and a load of blokes had gathered outside waiting for them. At first, the police were going to let our fans out but they must have changed their minds because they stopped them, holding them behind the gates, while they tried to disperse the blokes waiting outside the pub. It was open-air, there was just a metal gate between the two sets of fans. Unfortunately, their fans started throwing things over the gate, whatever they could get their hands on really: coins, bottles, hubcaps.”
Cate had a sinking feeling in her stomach. “Did anybody get hurt?”
Kian’s frown deepened. “Erin got hit on the head with a hubcap.”
Cate struggled free, “is she OK?”
“She’s still in hospital, they wanted to keep her in overnight for observation because it hit her head.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Cate asked quietly. “I didn’t know stuff like that still happened?”
“Ben’s with her. I’m going to go and get Monty in a minute, I just needed to see you first.”
“Let me do it,” Cate offered. “You’ve had a rubbish day, why don’t you grab a shower and get changed?”
“Just a second,” Kian pulled back the covers and looked down at his beautiful, naked wife. “Fuck, I needed that.”
“Anytime,” Cate smiled and quickly got up. She pulled on some clothes and walked Monty back to their house.
When she came back, Kian had showered and got changed into a pair of pyjama bottoms.
Cate pulled on one of his old t-shirts and climbed into bed with him. “Angel,” he said softly. His hand slid underneath her t-shirt and he pressed the palm of his hand against her stomach. “You can’t come to the games.”
Cate covered his hand with her own. “I want to support you.”
Kian shuddered, “what if you’d been there today? What if you’d been hit by that hubcap or crushed against the metal gates? I can’t let anything happen to you and our baby.”
His protectiveness was so touching; Cate was glad she had her back to Kian and he couldn’t see the tears that pricked at the corners of her eyes.
“I’m fine,” Cate said. “The baby’s fine. But I won’t go if that’s really what you want.”
A couple of days later at training, Yoakey caught up with him as they were leaving the pitch. “How’s your sister-in-law, man?”
“She’s OK,” Kian replied. “She’s home now.”
“That’s good,” Yoakey nodded. “You bringing the missus to this “team bonding” dinner?”
Kian shrugged, “I guess, I hadn’t thought about it. Why?”
“You know the piranhas will eat her alive, don’t you?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“The WAGS man, they’re brutal. Why do you think Sara very rarely goes to any of these things? She doesn’t need to put up with their shit.”
When Kian got home, Cate was in the kitchen putting the food shopping away. “Hi,” she smiled brightly. “How was your day?”
“It was OK,” Kian said. He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Come upstairs with me.”
Cate felt his erection against the small of her back. “At least let me put away the frozen stuff first.”
“You do that,” Kian said, kissing the back of her neck. “I’ll help.”
He wrapped his fingers under the hem of her jumper and began to lift it over her head. “Hey,” she said.
Kian tossed her jumper on the kitchen counter and began to knead her breasts over her bra.
“I thought you were going to help?” Cate laughed, picking up the bags of frozen vegetables.
“I said I’d help,” Kian smirked. “I didn’t say with what.”
She walked across to the freezer with him still wrapped around her back. As she bent over to make space in the freezer, Kian unsnapped her bra and it slithered down her arms, dropping on top of the frozen vegetables. The cold air coming from the freezer made her nipples tighten uncomfortably.
“Okay, you win,” she said, dropping the bags on top of her bra in the freezer. She’d have to get it later.
“I think,” Kian nipped her earlobe, as his hands cupped her cold, hard breasts. “You should never wear clothes.”
“I think,” Cate smiled. “You won’t be saying that when I’m eight months pregnant and my stomach is out to here.”
Kian scooped her up into his arms and walked across the kitchen to the back stairs. “Think I will.”
Cate laughed, “knowing you, you probably would as well.”
He tossed her on the bed and immediately set to work removing her jeans and panties. “Aren’t you supposed to be exhausted when you come home from training? I don’t think they’re working you hard enough.”
Kian stripped off his clothes and joined her on the bed. “I’m not going to be doing any work this afternoon, you can do it all.”
He lifted her up so she was straddling him. “Hey,” Cate swatted him, “this was your idea.”
Kian ran his eyes up and down her naked body. “I know, I think it’s one of my best.”
Cate made to climb off him. “I’ve got food to put away and a frozen bra to retrieve.”
Kian caught her, picked her up and threw her back down on the bed. He straddled her, pinning her wrists above her head. “I win,” Cate said cheekily.
“You didn’t play fair,” Kian pouted, parting her legs with his knee.
Afterwards, they lay tangled up on the bed, sweaty and out of breath. “A pleasure as always, Mrs Warner.”
Cate swatted him on the chest. “You’re weird.”
“So,” he said, more seriously. “There’s this thing on Thursday night, it’s this team bonding dinner. It’s bullshit but the gaffer thinks it’s a good idea so…”
“I’m supposed to work Thursday night,” Cate frowned. “I can ask Nick if I can change shifts?”
“No, don’t do that,” Kian said. “It’ll be really boring. Sara’s not going.”
“If you want me to go, I’ll go,” Cate said. Although, the idea of going out with Kian’s team-mates and their wives and girlfriends brought her out in a cold sweat.
“Nah, it’s cool,” Kian said, trying to hide his relief.
Kian followed Yoakey across King Street to the restaurant where the “team bonding” meal was being held. As they got nearer the door, a couple of photographers jumped out in front of them. Kian hated this part of his job.
“Where’s Alice?” they shouted, still thinking that he was dating Alice Devereux.
Kian just ignored them.
A car pulled up to the kerb just outside the restaurant – Stephen Locke, the Rovers’ team captain and his wife, Kelly got out. The photographers quickly turned their attention to the new arrivals. “Kelly, is there any truth you’re going on Big Brother?”
“Aw, they don’t love me anymore?” Yoakey joked, pulling open the door.
“You’re too ugly,” Kian jabbed.
“Maybe if I got my tits out?” Yoakey looked across at Kelly; her silicone breasts were barely covered by the plunging neckline of her J-Lo style peach dress.
“Ste might as well get his money’s worth?” Kian said, turning his back.
“Do you think it was his idea?” Yoakey mused. “Sara would cut off my balls so fast if I even suggested it. Not that I’m complaining, I told her any more than a handful is a waste.” He ran his tongue over his lips. “Mm.”
“Shut up,” Kian laughed. “I don’t want to hear about your fucking sex life.”
“Aw,” Yoakey grinned. “Is poor Kian not getting any?”
“I’m very happy with what I’ve got,” Kian smiled, thinking about his wife. “Very happy.”
“What are you two boys grinning about?” Kelly asked, linking her arms through theirs.
“It’s guy stuff,” Yoakey shrugged. He tried really hard not to look at Kelly’s boobs, fuck they were big.
“Oh,” Kelly sagged with disappointment. “Where’s Alice? I was looking forward to catching up with her tonight.”
Before Kian could answer, he heard someone call Kelly’s name from the front door. It can’t be. He spun around quickly, coming face to face with his sister. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Sinead smiled sweetly. “Kelly invited me.”
“What a small world,” Kelly smiled, showing off her expensive dental work. “Sinead and I met at Cut. I didn’t know she was your sister, Kian. Really, you look nothing alike. She’s an absolute godsend though; she has the best taste in clothes. She found this dress for me, isn’t it fabulous? Now Sinead darling, where’s Fabrizio gone? I want to introduce the two of you?”
Kian managed to avoid Sinead while they had drinks but when they sat down for the meal, he was seated right across from her. Yoakey was at the other end of the table.
After the waiters had cleared away the plates from the entrees, the table fell quiet for a moment. “So Kian,” Sinead said, ensuring that her voice could be heard by everybody at the table. “Where’s your wife?”
“Your wife?” Kelly’s ears pricked up. “I didn’t know you were married, Kian.”
“Shh,” Sinead giggled, “he doesn’t like to talk about it. It was a shotgun wedding. He had sex with this girl, a friend of the family and a month later she tells him she’s pregnant. He married her in Vegas.”
Kelly giggled, “men are so stupid, why do they keep falling for that trick?”
“Who knows?” Sinead shrugged. “Some girls will do anything to snare a footballer.”
Kelly put her hand on Kian’s arm. “Sweetie, please tell me you’re going to do a paternity test?”
Kian quickly shrugged her away and looked daggers at his sister, “I need to speak to you outside.”
“I haven’t finished my drink yet,” Sinead smiled back at him.
Kian stormed outside. He wanted to fucking kill his sister. “Hey,” Yoakey said quietly. “You OK, man?”
“No,” Kian growled. “I’m going to fucking kill her.”
“I hate to say I told you so,” Yoakey grinned widely, “but I told you so. They’re piranhas, man and I’m afraid to say you’re sister’s becoming one of them.”
“I’m just glad Cate’s not here,” Kian winced. “She doesn’t need to hear that shit.”
“Again man, I told you so,” Yoakey laughed. “You think they don’t say shit about Sara cause she’s black? Of course they do. That’s the whole reason why I don’t bring her to things like this. This isn’t my life, it’s my job. At the end of the day, I go home to Sara, my life is with her.”
“Who’d have thought, relationship advice from Mr Yoakam?”
“Don’t knock it,” Yoakey laughed. “You coming back inside?”
“Do you think the gaffer would notice if I snuck off early?”
Yoakey checked his watch. “Unfortunately, I think he would. Give it another 15 minutes?”
As they walked back inside, Yoakey said quietly to Kian. “It could be worse, you know. Imagine waking up to that every morning.” He gestured towards Kelly.
Kian laughed. “Ugh, think I just lost my appetite.”
“The sooner we eat, the sooner we can get the hell out of here.”
Cate was asleep on the sofa when Kian got home, her Kindle on standby on the floor. He picked it up and switched it off and then scooped Cate up in his arms. “Hey,” she said sleepily, as he lifted her up. “Did you have a good time?”
“It was work,” Kian shrugged.
“Wait,” Cate blinked open her eyes. “We need to christen the lounge.”
“That can wait,” Kian smiled. “Tonight, I want to make love to you in our bed.”
“Mm,” Cate kissed the side of his neck, “I like the sound of that.”
As he carried her up the stairs, he pressed his lips to hers. “So fucking glad you’re not a piranha.”
Cate shook her head. “You’re weird.”