Page 120 of The Alternate Captain
“Is everything okay?” I ask, confused. “Is this about you coming to a game this weekend? I mean, it shocked me to hear it, but I’m excited.”
I’m unsure of how much time we have to talk since the entire team is buzzing around in the area—and if someone spots me having a private conversation with Bettsy’s sister, it’ll lead to many questions that I’m not ready to answer.
Kelly fidgets with the drawstring of her hoodie, eyes on the floor for a moment before she sets her gaze on mine.
“No, nothing about that—though, that’s another story. But listen, remember when you were on your double-header road trip? I met up with Charlotte—she told me that Lyla is pregnant and, never mind that, but I bumped into Sarah and she—”
“Sarah? Wait, what? Lyla’s pregnant?”
I’m confused. Probably more confused than I should be, but Kelly presses on with her point.
“Don’t worry about that for now. But yeah, Sarah. She wanted to tell me all about you. But I just wanted you to know, I don’t believe what she said—I mean, I’ve heard your side of the story.”
I take a few seconds to process what she’s telling me. Because Sarah hassling me is one thing, but seeking out Kelly is another. That familiar heat starts creeping up through my body and I tense my jaw.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I was trying to find the right time, but it’s been chipping away at me.” She places her hand on my arm before retracting it quickly. “But try not to worry. You’ve changed your number, so I’m sure she won’t bother us again.”
“What did she say to you?” I ask.
But before Kelly can reply, the door to the coffee shop opens and in walks my sister and Jen.
Shit.
“I’ve got to go,” I say, rushing towards my sister.
She’s staring at me with mild confusion on her face, and I stumble over what to say, blurting out the first thing that pops into my head.
“Did you know Bettsy had a sister?”
“No?”
“Well, that’s her. She said she’s coming along to the home game this weekend.” I’m digging myself into a hole here, so I cut myself loose. “Anyway, gotta head out.See you later.”
Back on the street, I pull my phone out and see a few messages in our group chat, telling me they’re in a pub a little further up the street. So, I let my legs carry me there while I pull up the latest message I received from Sarah to my new number. God knows how she got it, but right now, that’s not the issue.
Johnny
Okay. Let’s talk.
I head into the pub, finding the guys in a corner near the bar, full beers in front of most of them, chatting excitedly about the upcoming Ladies’ Night.
I order a water and occupy myself with conversation, all while I wonder how long it’ll take Sarah to message me back.
“I think this year will be decent,” Ffordey says, shifting into a ramble about the change of venue and how many tickets they’ve sold, but I’m not listening. I’m way too tense and fired up.
I pull my phone back out to message Kelly, asking if she can give me a full rundown of what Sarah said to her, but just after I hit send, I get a reply from Sarah, giving me the name of a bar across town where she said she’ll meet in twenty minutes.
“I need to head off,” I tell Ffordey, pushing my way through the crowd of people now filling the bar area.
He calls after me, but I’m out on the street and hurrying away before he can stop me.
I make it tothe bar in fifteen minutes, thanks to a cab that drove past as I was debating calling for one, and I’m annoyed that Sarah’s here already, giving me zero chance to prepare myself in the new setting.
She gives me a small wave as I head inside, and I meander through the empty tables over to where she’s sitting.
“Hi, Johnny,” she says, her lips curving into her best fake smile.
