Page 48 of Ordinary Girl

“What the fuck are we gonna talk about, exactly?” And, yeah, I’m irritated. What does she think is going on here?

“I don’t know, Joel. You tell me.”

I’m getting a little tired of this conversation now. And I think she’s finally starting to get that.

“So, what happens next?” She downs more water before lighting up another cigarette. “With the Hawks.”

“It’s not your fucking problem, Cady, okay?” I take a second; a deep breath, and I shake my head. “Sorry, again.”

“Sure you don’t want to talk about it? Whatever it is?”

“I’m sure. And as for talking to Skip, he’s not in the mood for listening.”

“He always listens to you.”

“Like I said, he’s been different, since Sofia died. I actually believe he loved her, you know? She really got to him.”

Cady throws me another wary look, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What about you, huh?”

I frown. “Whataboutme?”

“Has Ana got toyou?”

Her words are like a kick to the solar plexus. Because she’s hit a nerve…?

“I thinkyoumight be the reason she’s preoccupied.”

“You’re talking shit, Cady. She’s just a kid.” Except, she’s not. And I know that.

“She’s twenty-two, Joel.”

“What’s your point here?”

Cady smiles a slow smile, and it irritates the hell out of me. And then she shrugs, gets up, and walks away. I drop my head and drag a hand through my hair, this is so fucking messed up. And yet, I know, despite everything: the risk, the danger, the shit it could cause, I’m not going to do anything to stop it from happening. Not one fucking thing…

Twenty

Ana

He hasn’t spoken a word to me all night. I heard him talking to Freja when he came to pick me up, but he said nothing to me, just threw me a helmet before striding down the path to his bike. And as soon as we arrived here, at the clubhouse, he waited for me to get off the bike before he parked it up, but he didn’t come inside with me. He hung around outside, talking to Kasper.

“You okay?” Kit asks as I lean against the bar and look out at the crowd all gathered for whatever the hell this party is all about. If it’s about anything. One thing I’ve learnt in my short time here is that they need no excuse for a party, even though their idea of a party is very different to mine.

“I’m fine. Thanks.” I look at Kit, and I smile. I shouldn’t take my mood out on him, he doesn’t deserve that. Kit’s been nothing but kind to me.

“Do you want a drink?”

“Yeah. I’d love a beer, please.”

“Coming up.”

He heads behind the bar, grabs a beer from the fridge and slides it across the counter to me. I grab it and down a welcome draft. Anything to take the edge off.

“Thanks.”

“No worries.” Kit throws me a wide grin before making his way over to the pool table, where he’s welcomed by a couple of club girls I vaguely recognize but have never really spoken to, because I’ve always been wary of them, to be honest. I still don’t feel like I belong here, and that’s because I don’t. I never will.

“Hey, kiddo.”

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