It's nearly tea time when I get to Liverpool Airport with my best friend Colton, who's originally from Texas but was signed by Everton at the football camp as I was.
When I first saw Duncan at the camp I immediately asked him if Russ sent him.
He chuckled loudly. "Son, I don't care that your Russ's little brother. I'm here to watch you play, yeah?" He tells me in a serious tone. "Oh, and FYI Russ doesn't even know am here" he adds.
Well, okay then.
"I'll be in touch," he says then walks away.
Two days later me and Colton were offered a three-year contract with Everton, naturally, I jumped at the chance.
Duncan ensured me he'd keep the announcement of my signing quiet until I saw my family, Colton was a foster child but his foster mum had helped him get where he is now...
Getting our suitcases we leave Liverpool airport and hail a cab to my brother's without telling him I'm coming...
It's a good twenty minutes before we reach our Russ's and I ring the bell...
"I've just got the kid asleep for fuck sake" I hear him rant before he opens the door
The door opens and our Russ is stood there with a shocked expression.
"What up shitbrick" I chuckle to him.
"Your ma" he snips back.
"She's your ma too" I chuckle. " you gonna let us in or what fucker?" I ask him.
He shakes his head. "Well, I'll be fucking damned...baby, look who's decided to knock on our door" he says loud enough for Amber to hear but quiet enough to not wake TJ.
"I swear Russ if this is just another one of your ploys to fuck me in the downstairs bathroom," she says as she appears around the corner to the door. "I'll kill yoooooou" she whispers looking at her phone then looks up dropping her phone and squeals. "OH MY GOD!! Craig is that you? What the fuck's happened to you? Your all buff!" She grins and runs into my arms .
"Excuse you woman, your man is standing right the fuck here" Russ growls pulling her from my arms.
"Oh behave you, you daft bastard...as if I'd hit on your little brother" amber chuckles rolling her eyes and then notices Colton behind me.
"Well, helllllooooo there, and who might you be?" She asks Colton winking at me and Colton she's trying to piss our Russ off!
"I'm Colton M'am, please to meet you" Colton croons in his heavy Texan accent lifting his cowboy hat
"Ooooh, a cowboy...this is a first" amber giggles as Russ's eyes narrow at her
"Bro, damn good to see you yeah...but it seems I've gotta remind my woman who she belongs to" Russ growls and throws amber over his shoulder and spanks her on the arse
Amber giggles gleefully and waves at us as Russ walks away
"Shut the door after you bro" Russ shouts over his shoulder
Then amber shouts in a sing-song "You might wanna go to club Circo tonight Craig" she tells me before I hear the bathroom door shut and amber giggle moans
Annnnnd...that's our Q to leave...
"Right come on man," I say to Colton as we leave Russ's house and shut the door
"Lovely welcome back that man" Colton chuckles
"That's my brother for ya man! He's a fuckin caveman when it comes to amber" I chuckle I remember being the same with Catherine
"What did amber want you to go to club circo for? And what is it? Am assuming it's a nightclub" he asks
"Yeah man, we'll go if you want...we'll just stop at my house first and get a shower-change," I tell him and ring a cab
The way amber said for me to go to club Circo was cos she knew who'd be there...Catherine!! Fuck I've missed that girl something fierce! I can't wait to see her... Amber's sent me pictures of her, but I need to see her
Arriving at my mum and dad's house I knock at the door...
"Who the fuck is knocking on my door like that?" I hear my mum's distinct snarl before she answers the door...it opens and she sees me.
She screams loud holding her hands to her cheeks "Oh my god! My baby! My baby boy has come home" she sobs "Chris" she shouts as she rags me in the house and Colton follows "Chris it's Craig! It's our boy...he's come home" she squeals happily then starts slapping me with a cloth "and why the fuck didn't you tell us you were coming home?" She snarls slapping me some more with her cloth as Colton chuckles behind me
"Ow ma!" I flinch chuckling "it was a surprise," I tell her laughing
The woman's a fucking crank!
"Well colour me surprised you little bastard shocking me like that" she teases and hugs me tightly to her chest "Oh how I have missed you my sweet boy" she croaks
"It's okay mum" I croon "am home now, for good!" I tell her with a grin
"Well I'll be damned if it isn't my gone rogue son" dad teases as he appears "you get signed," he asks
I nod "3yrs with Everton...so did Colton," I say gesturing behind me to where Colton is
"Oh my god! I am so sorry! Where are my manners! Pleased to meet you Colton" mum says hugging Colton tightly
"Please to meet you M'am" Colton squeaks
"Oh, good lord... I love that accent! Where are you from?" Mum coos at Colton "Oh and a cowboy hat, I love cowboys" mum giggles as she notices his cowboy hat
"Catherine!" Dad growls
Mum rolls her eyes at him "oh behave, Chris, he's Craig's age for god sake" she admonishes him "You are Craig's age aren't you?" She asks with a wink
"Woman!" Dad growls "you wanna a refresher course?"
"Am kidding...but I'll gladly take that course" mum purr giggles at dad
Oh, fuck no!!
"No! No!" I shudder "can you's at least wait until me and Colton have eaten and had a shower and a change of clothes...am gonna take him out to town, show him around," I tell them
Mum's eyes light up "Oh you might see Catherine there then...she's at that club, what's it called again Chris," she asks dad
"Club Circo" Colton guesses in his heavy Texan accent and smirks at me knowingly fuck!!
Colton knows everything about Catherine and how she decided for us to break up so I could Pursue my career
"Yes! That's it..oh Craig you'd of been so proud of your girl today, she graduated with honours today" mum says proudly
My girl! She graduated? She did it? We did it!!
"Any chance you can cook us something to eat Ma? We're starving and the aeroplane food was shite," I ask her avoiding mum's statement
"Oh yes! I've got some leftover cottage pie in the oven, I could warm that up for you" she says already walking into the kitchen
"Thanks, Ma" I shout after her shutting the front door behind us all...
"Thanks, Mrs Berkeley" Colton shouts after her.
"Oh, you are welcome" mum shouts as she gets to work
"We're gonna go upstairs ma okay? Get a shower and change our clothes?" I tell her "is it okay if Colton stays here for a bit until we get our apartment?" I add
"Yes yes! Go baby boy...I'll have your food ready in a bit" mum shouts back "and of course it is..." she adds
An hour later were showered, changed (Minus Colton's cowboy hat cos that shit'll get you knocked out quick here) and fed waiting for a cab to take us into town
I'm coming for you Kitty Cat!!