Page 65 of The Home Grown
“I don’t even remember the last time I played a scratch card,” I say, peering at the cards.
“I don’t do them often—for the record. My roommate, Hutch, got me one as a celebration thing for getting selected for the preliminary roster and it was a winner.”
He plucks another penny from the coin compartment of his wallet and gets to work scratching, and I do the same, brushing the silver dust off my lap as I go.
“Nothing here,” he says after a silent minute. “Anything for you?”
“Two ‘£2’s’ and … nothing,” I say, handing him back the winners.
“Keep them,” he says. “Maybe you’ll get a bigger prize next time.”
“I—”
“Keep them, Kitch. See it as a thank you for returning my wallet.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it,” I say.
Mike leans forward, reaching for a bar of chocolate.
“Which one do you want?”
My stomach rumbles with excitement, but I shake my head.
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“I’m on a wedding diet,” I admit. “For my sister’s wedding?—”
“I fail to see what that’s got to do with you. You don’t need to diet, anyway.”
I can feel my face growing hot, so I switch up the conversation, wondering if I can shift the topic away from me—desperate not to give anything away.
“How’s this week been at camp?” I ask.
Mike scoffs, swallowing before he answers. “Fine, I guess.”
“Okay, good,” I say.
“Your boyfriend didn’t turn up until Wednesday, but I guess you already knew that.”
The way he says ‘boyfriend’ has me snapping my head in his direction.
“He’s not my?—”
“Yeah, yeah.”
But he shifts uncomfortably in his seat, moving his attention to a plastic carrier bag drifting across the forecourt in the breeze as he stuffs his empty chocolate wrapper into the pocket of his hoodie.
Something definitely isn’tright.And I have a feeling it’s nothing to do with Rick Langdon.
“Are you sure everything’s okay? With camp and?—?”
“The outcome is tomorrow,” he says, turning his attention to his nails this time.
“Well, that’s good, right?”
“Yeah, I hope so. They typically don’t make a final roster decision until after the playoffs but Coach said they’re doing things a little differently this year.”
