Page 24 of Untouchable Player

Jesse spots me and his cheeks tint. He rubs the back of his neck as he says hi.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Katie says.

“You’ve already met.” I remind her.

She looks straight at Jesse as she talks, “yes, but you were chugging beers last time.”

Jesse looks down at his feet.

“I don’t feel like we really got a proper introduction.”

I introduce her to Jesse and Justin and Jesse reaches out to shake her hand.

“That’s a strong grip you’ve got there.”

Jesse looks like someone just punched him. “Shit, sorry, did I hurt you?”

“No, I was just saying it’s strong.”

“Come on man,” Justin slaps Jesse on the back, “let’s get back, the guys are waiting.”

Katie watches them leave with a look I don’t like on her face.

I duck into the store and pretend to be studying the labels of ramen packets when she comes to stand beside me in the isle.

“When he’s not chugging beers, he’s actually kind of hunky.”

I snort. “How old are you? Even my mom doesn’t say ‘hunky’.”

Katie pokes my cheek, “is that a blush I see there Jones?”

“Don’t call me that,” I frown, “that’s Harrison’s nickname.”

She laughs.

“Did you hear how worried he was that he’d hurt me?”

“So?”

I move down to the freezer isle and start studying the tubs of ice cream and packets of cookie dough.

“I like people who surprise you, you know. People who aren’t who you think they are.”

“Like serial killers.”

She punches me in the arm. “Yes, like serial killers. Asshole.”

We buy the industrial-size cookie dough and two litres of coke and head back to Katie’s apartment where we watchPretty in PinkandYou’ve Got Mailfor maybe the hundredth time.

I drive home at around midnight, telling myself I might be able to get a little studying in before bed, but by the time I park mom’s car up in the garage, I’m yawning my head off.

I’m about to head straight upstairs when I realise the TV is still on in the den and go in to check if mom fell asleep on the couch again.

I don’t expect to find her crying, and we’re both embarrassed when she sees me standing there.

“What’s wrong?”

She wipes her face and forces a smile.

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