Page 134 of The Home Grown
“Nice of you to come and support Betts—where is he?” He stretches himself up, peering around the room like a meerkat.
“I think he’s just stepped out,” Danny says. “Shouldn’t be long.”
“Right, well, make sure that you get yourself something to eat,” Brett says. “There’s a buffet table at the back there and there’re several waiting staff dotted around if you have any special dietary requirements. Owens, get the lady a drink, will you?”
A cheer from the back of the room grabs Coach’s attention and he excuses himself.
“Did you want a drink? Sorry, I should have asked.” A smile tugs at his lips. “How’s your headache?”
“Head—oh, yeah, better thanks. Strong painkillers. So, no booze for me.”
He nods. “Got it.”
We head towards the bar,but I’m busy surveying the room as Danny orders for me, handing me a diet Coke a few moments later.
“Well, I don’t know where his is. He disappeared to use the bathroom around twenty minutes ago and when he didn’t come back, I went to look for him but…” he shrugs before continuing. “No idea.”
“I should probably call him,” I say, abandoning my drink and pulling my phone out.
“I’ve already tried that but—” He pauses, and an uneasy feeling settles in my stomach.
“But what?”
“Nothing,” he says sharply.
“No … you were going to say something, but you… what’s going on?”
But Danny doesn’t reply. His eyes flick over my shoulder and I twist on the spot to see Rick striding towards us, stopping a few feet away.
I inwardly groan.
“Ellie—what’re you doing here?” he says. “Is everything okay with Kathryn and Greg and?—”
I shrug. “No idea?—”
“Mate, you haven’t seen Bettsy, have you?” Danny asks Rick.
He snickers. “Bettsy? Why would I care where he is?”
“Ellie’s looking for him. Just wondered if—” Danny says.
Rick narrows his eyes as he turns towards me. “And why do you care where he is?”
“You know they are married, right?” Danny says.
Rick’s jaw hangs open. He blinks several times, looking between Danny and I like this is some kind of ‘in joke’ between us, but since neither of us are laughing … he gets the message.
“You and Bettsy?” he says.
Before I can stop myself, I say, “Yeah. Childhood sweethearts. We reconnected recently and?—”
“What the?—”
“Oh, that reminds me actually—while I’ve got you. I’m not going to be Kathryn’s maid of honour anymore, so there’s no need to include me in any of the big day plans.”
Rick’s sour expression takes a sharp turn toward confusion.
“Really?” he says.
