Chapter 17

We fucked several times, swapping positions and enjoying each other’s bodies. She was a game girl.

I snuck out of Natalie’s room in the early hours, feeling extremely fucked and extremely tired. Her idea of a threesome was still rattling around my head. I got back to my room and had a couple of hours of sleep on the sofa.

My alarm woke me at six, but I snoozed it until seven. Then I had a shower and headed down for breakfast. I had porridge and fruit, a mug of tea and a smoothie. I sat with Brian Carothers, who looked sheepish and smelled of whiskey and cigarettes. I did not mention it, as it was not my place.

There was no way he should be teaching that day; that was for sure.

He was not in a talkative mood, and that was cool with me. I had a head that was still spinning with Natalie’s offer for a threesome. I had another cup of tea and a croissant before getting up and cleaning away my gear.

Carothers was in a world of his own. Gazing into a mug of coffee. I was sure he didn’t even notice me arrive at his table.

Natalie was walking in as I was walking out. She wished me good morning and winked as she passed me. I headed back up to my room and made a coffee. I switched the television on and sat back to watch some crap American sitcom.

At nine o’clock, I headed down to the gym. I had a free period, so my first lesson was not until ten-thirty. I had decided to do some tidying up in the storeroom.

I dodged rain showers and the puddles in the car park; I opened the gym and fired up my computer. I completed some of my administrative tasks and checked my emails. Then I headed into the equipment store and gave it a good clean-up. Perhaps I have OCD or something, but I hate a messy room. I ensured that everything was neat and tidy, in its proper place. The previous rugby coach was not one for order and tidiness, which was obvious. I decided to make some labels and bring some order to the place.

I went back into my office and checked to see if I had any replies to my morning emails. There were none.

Then I got into my work gear, shorts, and a rugby shirt. I could hear the lads arriving, and they were soon changed and ready to go.

The lessons that day glided by, and I didn’t bother with lunch; I got a ham salad sandwich and ate it at my desk with a cup of coffee. The afternoon passed just as quickly. I was glad when the last lesson ended, I had a shower and got changed, then after the lads had showered and left, I did my usual clean up before heading up to my room.

I made some coffee, put on some music, and checked my emails. There were a few to be deleted and a few to be answered, including my agent asking if I fancied going on a TV sports quiz and a few from friends.

I ate my dinner at the same table as a few teachers, who had also chosen to go in early. Most of them I knew by sight but not by name. After eating, I headed down to the staff room and checked my pigeonhole. I had a few letters, a magazine I subscribed to and a few Amazon deliveries. I still bought CDs, call me old school, but I like a CD even in this age of Spotify and Apple Music. I had a collection of vinyl, but it was stored with my very expensive stereo system. I had spent a few summers going to record fairs and music shops.

I stopped and chatted with a few of the teachers and administrative staff whom I knew. There was a lot of talk about another curry night. I had enjoyed the last one, so I added my name to the list on the notice board.

I walked across to the gym and had a coffee while checking my work email and doing some admin. I printed out the training plans for the evening.

Jo turned up just before the lads, and we worked over the training plan for that evening. I wanted to work on fitness, as well as our defence that evening.

The lads came out of the changing rooms, and we did a series of sit-ups, press-ups, star jumps, squat thrusts, and burpees. Now, burpees are a killer, but they do build fitness. For the basic burpee, you stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms by your sides. Then you lower your body into a squat position and place your hands on the floor. Kick or step your legs back into a plank position. Jump or step your legs forward to return to a squat position. Return to the standing position and repeat. So, imagine a hybrid between a squat and a star jump.