Page 116 of The Home Grown
“Here, come and take a seat,” she says, stepping over the bench and settling down.
I do the same, perching right on the edge of my seat, ready to spring up at a moment’s notice. Jen, on the other hand, is clearly a natural in this environment. She’s calm, unfazed, and positivelyin place.And she chats to me like she’s known me all my life. It’s comforting.
“Have you met any of the other guys yet?”
“Just Hutch,” I say.
Jen nods. “That’s Danny there, and that’s Johnny—the captain. And that’s … my husband, Ryan. Gosh, I still can’t get used to saying that.”
“Have you been married long?” I ask.
“Long enough for me to be used to it by now. We had a quick wedding, and see Liam there,” she points. “That’s Ryan’s twin brother. He’s due to get married in four weeks’ time and Vicky—his fiancée is hoping we can have a joint party or something.”
“Oh, wow. That sounds incredible,” I say, beaming at her.
“Yeah, well—oh,” she claps her hands together and turns to face me “I hear you’re a hairdresser. You must come and do trials for Vicky and me. Honestly, I’m crap with things like that. And Vicky had a falling out with her stylist over God knows what?—”
“Kitch,” Mike’s voice booms through the air, causing Jen and I turn towards the ice. “Kitch—what are you doing here?” He skates over to the bench, beaming as he glides. He comes to a stop, leaning over and plucking a water bottle from the space below. “Is everything okay?”
I hesitate, looking between Mike and Jen for a second before she stands and shimmies down to the end of the bench, busying herself by rooting through the box she brought.
“I—I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye,” I say. “I was going to wait outside for you but?—”
“Wait. You’re going?” he says, pulling off his helmet.
“Well, yeah. I know I was going to stay for a little while, but I did a lot of thinking this morning and I figured I can’t hide from my situation forever. I need to talk with Kathryn—make sure she knows I’m not going back and—” I lower my voice. “—and I need to ask her for my money back if I’m going to go at it alone.”
Mike’s eyebrows knit together. “Money? What money?”
I open my mouth to answer, only to halt on my in-breath, because what seems to be the entire roster swarms in behind him, all casting curious and slightly too interested glances my way.
This is what I was afraid of.
“See, I told you,” Hutch says.
“Yeah, you’re right,” another voice says. “She’s too hot for you, Betts.”
My face flames red.
“Hey, move along boys, move along.” A blond guy—Johnny, I think—freshly de-helmeted, swings open the access door to the ice.
He ushers the guys off, one by one. They step off in turn, each of them casting me a glance as they go; creepy smiles on all their faces.
“Don’t mind them,” he says. “They don’t get out much.”
“Oh.”
“I’m Johnny,” he says. “Nice to meet you. I would shake your hand but … yeah, anyway.”
“Great to meet you,” I say. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Yeah? I guess you know Kel, right?” he says.
“Yeah. It’s been a while, but I’m looking forward to catching up with her.”
Johnny looks towards Mike. “Yeah, Betts. We’ll have to set something up.”
I nod, trying to be enthusiastic but deep down I know that if Kelly knows, then Judith will know. And if Judith knows, she’ll also realise that I’ve been lying to her.
