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madelinetess · 4 months

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"Oi, Montlaur, get your ass in here!" Roy's voice rang through the locker room as all of the players were changing after practice.

Jan looked over Colin's head at his best friend confused, and Richard looked back with an equally dumbfounded expression. Everyone else in the room seemed to share the feeling.

No one dared to speak up. That is until Jamie decided to be a prick as usual.

"Ooh! Someone's in trouble!" The Mancunian hollered "Whaddya do Dickie?"

"Not a clue. If it was about the jokes Jan and I made about your hair, Coach wouldn't have singled me out." Richard deadpanned quickly, sparing a glance at Jan before sticking his tongue out at Jamie who was already giving them both the finger.

After that the tension seemed to fizzle out and everyone except Richard got back to changing into their normal clothes. The Frenchman left all his things on the bench and went to talk with Roy still in his practice gear.

While everyone slowly trickled out of the changing room Jan stayed there waiting. Not only was he being a good friend, but he was also going to be the first person to, as the British say, get the tea, or as he would rather put it, hear the gossip.

After a while the Midfielder emerged from the coach's room smiling lightly. Jan stared at him expectantly, and once their eyes met Richard smiled devilishly.

"So?"

"One of Roy’s yoga friends, Linda, finally got divorced and took the house, so all the yoga moms and coach Kent are going out to celebrate and one of the ideas was a wine tasting, so my expertise was called upon."

"We both know that's not entirely true, you may be an expert, but Roy wouldn't ask you just for that."

"He asked me to make a few calls. He knows I have contacts and get special treatment in at least a few places. He couldn't get a reservation anywhere at the last minute."

They both smirked while the Frenchman was changing.

"I assume you are going with them then?"

"And I assume you are coming with me?"

Jan didn't even have to reply, he just smiled and gathered his things to leave hand in hand with Richard. He knew that the shorter man will simply text him the details and that will be that.

It wasn't really a new development. They clicked immediately the first time Jan Maas stepped inside Richmond changing room and said something snide with the most unbothered look on his face right out the gate. They became fast friends and quickly started meeting up every Friday to discuss the latest gossip by a charcuterie board and a glass of fine wine (courtesy of Richard's collection). By the end of their first off season together they already had keys to each other's places and would often drop by unannounced just because.

They talked a little more before reaching the parking lot where they parted ways. Jan allowed himself one last glance at his friend walking away before getting in his car and driving off to his house.

About an hour later he heard his phone ping with a notification and just as he expected, it was from Richard. The contents though were sort of surprising. Instead of stating the time and the place the message simply said

Be there in 10

He left it with no answer as there was no need for one. The text was sent simply out of courtesy, because if Richard wanted to, he could have just barged in as if he owned the place. He never did though. Always politely informing the Dutchman before his arrival.

Few minutes later Jan heard the sound of his front door opening, after that there was shuffling as the Frenchman was searching for his slippers and finally muffled footsteps walking further into the house.

“Upstairs!” He shouted from his room and soon his friend joined him in his room. Richard was wearing the same outfit as that day back at Amsterdam, the black shirt and light pants. The sight paired with a pair of pink slippers with pink fuzz made Jan smile. The slippers were a gag gift he got from Colin, but became widely known as ‘Richard’s slippers’ because of a team meeting that took place at Jan’s house some time after he got them. More people showed up than it was expected, and Richard arriving late had the honour of being the one to wear the pink abomination.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” Said Richard pointing to the clothes Jan had prepared beforehand. It was just a dark pair of jeans and a nice looking t-shirt, but he thought those would both suit him and the ocasion.

“That was the plan”

“Anywhere else this would be acceptable, but this place is a bit fancier. Let me pick something for you.”

The shorter man got to his closet before Jan could even think about stopping him, and was already rummaging through it. In the span of five minutes Richard managed to find articles of clothing Jan has long ago deemed lost. In retrospect, he really should organise his wardrobe one of these days.

“Try these on” Laid in front of him on his bed was a beige turtleneck long sleeve and a pair of brown pants.

“Will this be fancy enough?”

“Should be, it’s better than what you prepared before.”

While Jan took the clothes and disappeared inside a bathroom Richard sat on his bed looking through messages on his phone.

“How are we getting there?”

“I’ll drive, I know the way. We’ll meet with Roy there.”

“Won’t we get drunk?”

“Not necessarily, but I’m also not planning on drinking there.”

“Why?” Jan was genuinely surprised.

“The good places are booked months in advance, the place where we’re going is not.”

Jan only hummed in agreement and walked back into his room. Richard put his phone back in his pocket and studied Jan for a good ten seconds.

“Turn around” The Frenchman demanded and Jan obliged. He spun around slowly showing the outfit from different angles. “You look good.”

The compliment for some reason sat heavy in the Dutchman’s heart, but the other man didn’t seem to notice anything. The taller man then took the golden pendant that Richard had gifted him for his last birthday, along with a Jo Nesbø book he was incredibly excited about, to complete the look. It was a simple rectangular one, but it had a tiny football and Jan’s initials engraved.

“Shall we head out?”

Richard hummed in understanding and both men walked out the room, down the stairs and into the entrance hall where they exchanged the slippers for smart shoes and finally out the front doors and into Richard’s car.

The way over was mainly spent on talking a little more and blasting Adele through the speakers.

The first time Jan caught the Frenchman listening to her songs he was surprised to say the least. But now that they know eachother better it makes perfect sense to him. Not that he would be able to explain it, but there is something very Richard-like in her music.

Few years ago Jan would have never thought he would enjoy Adele songs as much as he does now, but as Richard sang along to the lyrics while tapping the steering wheel and driving at the same time he couldn't help but find the whole situation incredibly endearing.

Once they got out they immediately clocked Coach Kent standing by the entrance surrounded by middle aged ladies, so they made their way over. After greeting everyone and some quick introductions the whole group made their way inside. Jan stayed behind to talk a little with Roy as Richard was talking to the staff and confirming their reservation.

But he saw out of the corner of his eye as the hostess called for a sommelier to lead them to their designated area and seat them. As the waiter was escorting them to their seats he was animatedly talking about something with Richard and Jan felt his throat drying up slightly. The young man looked tall walking next to Richard, but not as tall as Jan, and that gave the Dutchman a weird sort of satisfaction.

Once they got seated the man left to bring their glasses and the first bottle of the night. Once he got back he started presenting the bottle he brought with himself. He also asked who the designated drivers were and explained to them how not to get drunk, but still enjoy their evening. After that he poured everyone their first glass. Richard, faithful to his word, refused the drink and explained to the sommelier that he would not be drinking tonight. No one seemed to notice though as everyone else was already immersed in the experience.

Conversations flowed smoothly. Linda talked about all the renovations she was planning to do to the house now that it was all hers, she also showed everyone the pictures of a cat she was thinking of adopting which turned into everyone showing photos of their pets. There was Luna the Beagle, and Snowball the persian cat, but there was also a bunny called Carrots, which was short for Ms Dulcinea, Destroyer of Carrots and not an allusion to the Disney movie Zootopia, obviously named by one of the lady’s kids. Then of course the pictures of the kids had to be shown as Kathy or Sarah or whoever really remarked that the two footballers did not know their kids.

They were talking, drinking wine and overall having a great time, but the sommelier would often linger by Richard and talk to him about wine, so even if Jan wanted to, he couldn’t really butt in, because he didn’t know much about the subject. He did scoot closer to his friend though, so that he could hear what was being discussed.

As the night went on the two footballers heard at least a few incredibly satisfying stories the yoga moms shared about Roy, but also told some of their own ones in return. They already went through four different bottles, each with a short presentation beforehand and with each new one Jan was getting more and more frustrated. The sommelier was annoying him by never leaving Richard alone, it was almost as if he was trying to flirt, but the worst thing seemed to be Richard not shooting it down. The most awful moment however came after the fourth bottle had been poured. The younger man was once again talking to his best friend, but the conversation seemed to be about something else.

“I only really drink red wine,” the sommelier said while leaning next to the Franchman. “And I was wondering what kinds of wines you drink. Is it white wine, red wine, both..?”

It was then that the Dutchman remembered the wine scene from some tv show that Colin had shown him once a long time ago that was using the exact same metaphor. He got angry, not only was this man shamelessly hitting on his best friend, but also doing it in such a lame and unoriginal way. Something inside him told him to get away before he made a scene. So he did. He got up and went in the direction of the restrooms.

Once inside he looked at himself in the mirror. Why was he getting so worked up? He didn’t even know if Richard was into men. They never talked about labels. He himself was only out to Colin, as it was still quite new to him. But now as he looked at himself in the mirror and thought about another man standing too close to his best friend he felt green with envy. And it hit him, he wanted to be the one that people saw by Richard’s side, he wanted to have his hoodies stolen by the shorter man and listen to him belt Adele songs semi-badly.

The sound of the door opening made him look that way and he saw Richard walking in looking straight at him.

“Are you ok? You looked unwell back there.”

“I’m…” He wanted to say something, but decided against it just yet, and started again. “Promise me that we won’t stop being friends if I tell you something.”

“I promise, now spill it.”

“Do you like red wine..?” He didn’t mean to ask that, why did he ask that. There were a million better ways to start this conversation.

“Are you also making an allusion to the show Colin told us about?” Jan hung his head in shame but nodded.

“I saw the waiter flirting with you and I… Do you?”

“I’m French,” Richard walked up closer to him and leaned on the wall next to him. “Let’s say I care more about the wine itself than the label. What wine do you drink?”

“I just realised it today, but I think I really like this one wine from Cordon…” He was always so straightforward, why couldn’t he just say all this outright? Why was it so hard to be open about it all with Richard?

“Yeah? What year is the wine?” Richard kept on pushing and now stood facing him so close, that he had to look up slightly to look at Jan.

“1994”

“And his name..?”

Jan leaned down and was now face to face with the shorter man. At the exact same moment as his hands found their way onto Richard's waist, Richard’s landed around his neck and they were kissing. They fit together perfectly and Jan was sure that Richard could taste the shitty wine on his tongue, but he didn’t seem to care as he eagerly returned the gesture.

Before this moment everything felt so complicated, but now, it was all so easy. Everyone else faded to the background and it was just Richard and him. No Roy, no yoga moms and especially no sommeliers.

They broke apart but still looked at eachother hungrily, and Jan thought to himself that Richard may soon be changing his mind regarding labels, because he is not going to leave this thing between them unsaid.

#Ted lasso #janchard #jan maas #richard montlaur #roy kent #Yoga moms #to be perfectly clear this idea was born while I was watching the iconic Schitts' Creek scene and it became this #I also know nothing about wine or wine tasting

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