Page 108 of The Alternate Captain
“It’s no big deal, it’s speculation. Now come here,” he says, scooping me up into his arms as if I weigh nothing. “I think I can stall for another fifteen minutes before the guys come knocking for me again.”
“Johnny—”
“Okay, okay. Well, I’ll get a shower and then we’ll figure out how we’re going to get you home. But you’re coming in with me.”
My dad texts meon the drive over to Kelly’s, telling me he and Jayne have split up. And he has the audacity to blame me.
I don’t reply, because I’m so fucking angry at him. I end up putting my stereo on loud, and driving to Kelly’s at a speed I should reserve for the highway.
I spot the cardboard covering Kelly’s window as soon as I pull into the street. You can’t miss it. It’s taped over where a single pane of glass should be and it looks like whoever did it rushed the job.
Parking up, I hop out of my car, giving her front door a quick knock before it swings open to reveal a girl I’ve never seen before carrying empty shopping bags.
“Can I help you?” she asks, raising a brow.
“I’m looking for Kelly,” I say.
The girl’s eyes widen slightly as she studies me before she turns her head and shouts down the hallway.
Kelly’s bedroom door swings open a moment later, and she pads out, wearing her hair up in a messy bun, and my damn hoodie.
Fuck, she’s cute.
“Johnny?” she says. “I wasn’t expecting you tonight.”
“I, uh...”
“I was just heading to the shop,” her roommate says. “Do you need anything picking up, Kel?”
“I’m fine, thanks, Sally.”
Sally squeezes past us, leaving Kelly and me alone.
“What happened to your window?”
“I got home from uni earlier and the glass had literally fallen inside. I’m not sure if it was deliberate damage, or if it had lost the will to go on. But anyway, I called my landlady, and she sent someone over, but they covered it until they can get a replacement pane.”
“The whole damn window needs replacing,” I say, raising my tone.
“Well, I agree, but it’s not my call to make.”
“You can’t sleep in there like that,” I say.
“It’s fine, Johnny.”
“It’s not. It’s too damn cold in there as it is. You’ll freeze,” I say.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Get your stuff. You’re coming back to mine.”
She widens her eyes, then bites her bottom lip.
“We’ll be careful. I promise,” I say, trying to reassure her.
“Are you sure? I mean, I could ask Mike, I guess. Or stay in Tom’s room.”
“Kelly—”
