Page 60 of The Alternate Captain
I pause and decide to try to lighten the mood.
“Huh. Random, but I’d probably be a vet,” I chuckle to myself before giving her my actual answer. “Nah, probably a chef.” She gives me a weak smile, and I figure now is the time to bring up Dad. I ask her if he’s called and told her about visiting with his new girlfriend.
“When is he coming?” she asks.
“Not sure yet,” I say.
“Excuse me, can I—” a voice to the left of us says.
“Sure, do you have a pen?” I turn on autopilot, but it takes me a second to realise that it’s not my autograph she wants.
“What? Sorry, I was after the salt, may I?” She reaches over and grabs the shaker from the centre of the table.
“Are you done?” I ask Vicky, eager to get the hell out of here. And we shuffle out of the coffee place onto the busy street. “Vic, could you not mention that? I mean, you know what the guys are like.”
“Fine, you keep quiet to Liam, and I’ll keep quiet to everyone about that,” she says.
I tell her I’m heading into the bookstore before going home, and she replies that she’ll see me later, before strutting out of view.
I’m about to walk away myself, when the door to the coffee place flings open and someone calls my name.
I lock eyes with the girl who asked me for the salt, as a familiar face steps out from behind her. What are the damn chances?
“I thought it was you, Johnny.” Charlotte beams. “I spotted you once Lyla grabbed the salt but didn’t want to interrupt, in case that was a date or whatever. I didn’t want to assume that you and Kelly are still together. I mean, she has a poor track record for relationships.”
“That was my sister,” I say flatly. Slightly pissed off that Kelly’s so-called friend would have such a negative outlook on her.
“Oh, my gosh. That makes sense. I mean, I was worried about it after the stuff with Darren and her trust issues, but—oh, sorry, I’m rambling.”
Kelly told me that she planned to nip this whole thing in the bud at the next opportunity, but since Charlotte’s shown her vote of no-confidence in Kelly’s dating ability, I have no choice but to keep the torch burning.
“Yeah, we’re doing good.”
“I’m so happy for you guys, honestly.” Her reaction sounds fake as fuck, but I let it go. “Listen, I’m in the city for a few nights. Long story, I won’t bore you. Do you fancy a double date? Or shall I text her and check? I know what you guys are like with social calendars.” She nudges me with her elbow, a smirk slipping across her face.
I must have an out-of-body experience because I see myself nodding in agreement. “Yes, we’d love to.”
“What’s your schedule like?” Charlotte asks, pulling her phone out.
I surprise myself by knowing that Kelly always works on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I tell her we’ll be free tomorrow night.
Now all I need to do is tell Kelly.
When Johnny said he’dcall me, I wasn’t expecting him to actually call me.
I’m setting up my cello when my phone buzzes in my pocket, and when I see ‘JK’ flash up on the screen, my heart pounds a little harder in my chest.
“How’s it going?” he says.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but his phone voice sounds exactly the same as his regular voice. We talk about our mornings briefly, then Johnny tells me he bumped into Charlotte.
“So, here’s the thing. We’re going on a double date.”
“A double date?”
“Yeah. Charlotte and her girlfriend are in town and—”
“A double date?” I ask again, then I’m stunned into silence.
