Sunday, 20th November 2022
Jamie woke up at 3:45am, still curled in Roy's arms. Roy was either awake or woke with him because there was a kiss pressed to his shoulder.
"It's morning."
"I know," Roy told him. "Decided you needed to sleep more than you needed to go back to your own room."
"I should go now."
Roy nodded. "Try and get some more sleep there, we're heading to the stadium at 1pm so meeting for food at 11am."
"I'll be there."
Roy kissed Jamie against the door for several long minutes and then pulled back. "Go, before I drag you back to bed."
Jamie grinned and reached behind him to open the door. He kissed Roy one last time and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door, before heading back to his room – face still tingling from Roy's beard.
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"Yes!" Jamie said, falling to his knees with the final siren…they'd drawn – 2-2 and it was over. He'd felt like City were on the precipice of scoring another goal and beating them without time for Richmond to claw it back.
Sam came over to him. "Are you okay?"
"Just fucking glad they didn't have more time to score."
Sam nodded and reached out to pull Jamie to his feet. Jamie hugged him and then moved over to his old teammates and walked around congratulating them on their draw, checking on families for the ones he was still friendly with. Finally, he turned and headed back to the tunnel and the team. Roy was waiting at the entrance to the tunnel for him at the edge of the pitch. Jamie went over and said hello to Pep and then went back to Roy and the team. Roy was looking at him with pride and Jamie smiled at him before heading into the tunnel. Roy coming in at the back of the team.
"Well done everyone," Roy told them. "We're heading back to the hotel in thirty minutes."
When they were on the bus, Roy pushed Jamie into the seat next to Isaac and then continued further down the bus.
"Me and the boys were talking," Isaac told Jamie.
"Yeah?" Jamie asked, trying very hard not to turn around and look at Roy.
"We think you should stay in Manchester for a few days…miss Tuesday training and spend the time with your Mum."
"Yeah?" Jamie looked across the aisle at Cockburn who nodded back at him.
"Definitely," Sam said, clapping him on the shoulder. "I've booked you on a flight home Tuesday night."
"Thank you, mate," Jamie said, blinking.
"We want you to be happy," Dani told him.
"Have you checked with the coaches?" Jamie asked.
Isaac huffed out a laugh. "Roy said it was fine."
"Thank you all," Jamie said, tearing up.
Isaac wrapped an arm around Jamie's shoulder and squeezed him. "Have a good two days with ya mummy."
"I will," Jamie said, smiling already thinking about going home when they bus returned to the hotel.
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Jamie walked into the hotel and felt a hand brush his elbow, he turned to find Roy there. Roy leaned in and whispered in his ear the number of the room they'd slept in the night before. Jamie nodded, letting Roy overtake him and turn to look at the team.
"Back on the bus in ninety minutes," Roy told them all. "And you better all have showered, we have a long bus trip in front of us."
The team all mumbled their agreement and headed off to their rooms and the promise of room service. Jamie followed behind them, saying he'd take the next elevator and then heading for the secret hug room…maybe Roy would be interested in turning it into the secret sex room. Jamie let himself in and saw that Roy hadn't made it yet so he jumped in the shower and laid out on the bed, naked, watching something stupid on TV until the door opened and Roy walked in.
"Are you sure it's okay for me to stay in Manchester for a few days?" Jamie asked Roy, smiling at him softly.
"Very," Roy said, striding over to the bed. "You look fucking delectable spread out on the bed for me."
Jamie grinned. "I'm yours, thought I'd make it even easier for you to debauch me."
Roy nodded, leaning over and pressing a kiss to Jamie's lips. "Sorry I can't stay here with you."
"Me too," Jamie said, realising that even though he hadn't known it was a possibility he really wished Roy had been able to stay in Manchester with him.
"Going to miss you," Roy mumbled into his neck, pulling his shirt off and getting comfortable next to Jamie.
Jamie nodded, holding Roy close.
They laid together for several long minutes before Jamie pressed another kiss to Roy's shoulder and the older man lifted himself up to kiss Jamie properly. Roy left with ten minutes to get back to his room, make sure he had everything packed and get down to the bus. He could smell Jamie as he did it, happy that he'd get this even if he wouldn't see the younger man for the next two days.
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Jamie climbed out of his childhood bed and snuck downstairs.
"Are you okay, my sexy little baby?" his mother asked.
Jamie jumped, letting out a slight yelp. "Mummy?"
"Sorry," Georgie said with a giggle.
"What are you doing up?" Jamie asked, coming over to sit next to her.
"The baby is being very active tonight and I can't sleep."
"Can I feel?" Jamie asked.
Georgie took his hand and pressed it to her tummy where the baby was being active. "Why are you up?"
Jamie yawned and rested his head on his mum's shoulder. "Can't sleep without Roy there being a warm, grumpy, snoring pillow or octopus."
"How do you sleep when you're at an away match?"
Jamie shrugged. "Roy keeps renting an extra room for us to have sex…or sometimes just snuggle."
"Snuggle?"
"If it's the night before a match…we just slept together last night."
"Did you really?" Georgie asked him, voice trying to hide her amusement.
"What?" Jamie asked, looking up at his mum.
Georgie shook her head. "How's Platypus Green going?"
Jamie smiled. "The cellar conversion and expansion is going well. Walls are in, pool is in, the house is now being supported by the actual ground again which is comforting. They are working on the tiling next week and then the fittings for the sauna Roy decided to put in. It should be finished by Christmas."
"I look forward to seeing it all done."
Jamie nodded. "My brother or sister can learn to swim in the pool with me in the summer."
Georgie nodded. "They can, you're going to be a great big brother."
"I wish I was going to be here more for them and for you."
"You're always here," Georgie said, tapping her heart, "and this baby is getting the best big brother in the whole world."
"I love you, Mummy."
"I love you too, my sexy little baby."
"Are they going to be your sexy little baby too?"
Georgie paused. "I don't know."
"I don't mind if they are."
Georgie pressed a kiss to his forehead. They sat in silence for several minutes, the house quiet around them like it had been when Jamie was little.
"Dad asked for a ticket to the game."
Georgie let out a breath. "Just one?"
Jamie nodded. "He said he was clean and sober so he didn't want to go with Bug and Denbo."
"You talkin' to 'im?"
Jamie shook his head. "Not really, once or twice since he showed up at me place and Roy moved me into Richmond Green. Don't know what Roy's mate did to him. Don't really care. He said he got into trouble and had to go to rehab. He's not making a nuisance of himself and that's all I really want."
"But he asked you for a ticket?"
"He did."
"And did you get him one?"
"Yeah," Jamie said. "Spoke to a mate at City to get him in their section."
"Did you see him?"
Jamie shook his head. "Nah, had no interest in seeing him and he didn't try."
"What did Roy say?"
Jamie let out a breath of a laugh. "He wants to lock Dad in the Tower of fucking London and leave him there to rot like the man in the mask."
"That was in France."
Jamie shrugged. "Yeah, but that's what Roy-o said."
Georgie smiled. "Roy's a good man."
"He is."
"And are you still only casual?"
Jamie sighed. "Yeah."
"And living together and working together?"
"I know it's going to be a fucking clusterfuck when he wants to end it and breaks my heart, not knowing I'm in love with him," Jamie said. "But…for now, most of the time, it's fucking glorious. I don't think I'll ever be able to find someone who I will love like I love Roy…like I love being with Roy."
"You have to tell him, Jamie-baby."
Jamie sighed.
"You have to."
"I know."
"And if he can't love you like you love him, you have to get over him."
Jamie closed his eyes and turned his head into her neck. Georgie ran her fingers through his hair, content knowing both her babies were safe in her arms even if she wished she could fix this for Jamie.
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