Page 249 of Well Played

“Alice! Wait!” She didn’t stop, and he didn’t chase.

10

Ryan

Watching Alice leave,Ryan felt his life energy leave with her. He slumped down to sit where he’d stood. What was the point of telling Sam he’d ruined it again? He closed his eyes.Maybe Jake was right. I can’t take advantage of her vulnerability.

“I tried to tell you this would happen.” Sam scoffed. Ryan’s eyes flew open and fixed on his cousin.

“What? That you would do something yet again? What did she hear?”

“I only said what’s true. You’re fixated on her. Look what you were like the last time.”

“Shut up, Sam,” Ryan growled.

“Look, I might have been part of the problem last time. In my defence, when I called you, I knew nothing about what you were planning to do. Hell, I hadn’t even heard Alice’s name.”

Ryan’s eyes fixed on the ground, his hands clenching around the grass and pulling tiny bits up.

“Come on. Let’s get a drink.”

“No, Sam.”

“What?”

“Alcohol won’t solve the problem. Not this time. You’re right. If I hadn’t been covering for you, I wouldn’t have been sent home from that cadet camp, and Alice wouldn't have thought I stood her up.”

“But …” Ryan stood and stared into Sam’s face.

“And if you hadn't been shouting your head off just now, she’d still be here.”

“I’m trying to protect you. I mean, last time …”

“Sam, I’ll always love you, but I can't spend the rest of my life digging you out of trouble. You need to grow up.”

Sam kicked at the ground. Ryan sighed; he realised lashing out at Sam wouldn’t help. And yet the truth remained: he had to let Sam stand on his own feet.

“Well, I'm going for a drink,” Sam announced.

“Remember, we have playoff matches tomorrow.”So much for not mothering him.

Ryan considered going back to the tent to wait for Alice.What if she is still angry? Well, I can’t go home. I need to try.

Instead, he wandered aimlessly through the eclectic collection of tents, searching his brain for an answer. Despite being plenty of people to talk to, none of them was the one he wanted. He needed to speak to Alice.

His Mother had always said flowers might not make things right, but they would give you the time to explain.A bunch of flowers is not going to work in a tent.

So here he was in the middle of nowhere on a Saturday night, trying to find a way to get Alice to listen to him. Finding himself opposite his truck, he climbed inside.A drive might help me work this out.

The only place open was the 24-hour garage on the main road. He filled up with fuel and used the car wash, cleaning both the exterior and interior. In the shop, he picked out a couple ofhuge blocks of her favourite chocolate. After he paid, he made his way out the door, spotting a pile of cute things reduced on the bottom shelf. He found crazy drink cups, funny sunglasses, and blankets, all decorated with cats. Alice loved cats. Perhaps he could make her laugh. Ryan filled his arms and paid again. He would try anything.

Driving back to the tournament, his father's words ran through his head. ‘Ryan, I want to trust you more; hell, it's time for me to step back, but how can I, when you continue to behave like a teenager?’

It had been too easy to stay the irresponsible, fun-seeking guy he thought he wanted to be. He lived at home, where his mum looked after him. Why rush to move out and take on more responsibility? And yet, from the comments this weekend, no woman would want to get serious with him, let alone Alice.

He'd arrived on Friday night, ready for a laid-back weekend, simply happy to be here with Sam and the prospect of playing some volleyball. Twenty-four hours and some quality time with Alice had shown him he was ready to change. For her, he could change.

Back at the festival site, he looked around for what to do next. He reconsidered going to the bar, like he would usually do. He shook his head and closed his eyes.And I can't wait in her tent. That would be creepy.As he opened them again, he spotted Christa walking towards him carrying an antique leather holdall.

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