Page 109 of Oar Than Friends

I stayed there, looking at him and waiting. A couple of the guys from training walked past us, but they must have sensed we were in the middle of a conversation because they simply nodded and left us to it. When Pete finally looked at me, it was like someone had carved deep sorrow into his features. Grief, almost. As he took a seat next to me, his face fell into his hands.

‘My parents are getting a divorce,’ he began, almost whispering. ‘They told me a couple of months ago, but they only told my younger sister at Christmas, because she’s been travelling, and they didn’t want her to fly home early. She came home, excited to be spending Christmas together, and they told her the morning after she landed. It was the only day my dad was in the house, because then he fucked off skiing.’

I waited to see if he had anything else to add, but he remained silent. I put my hand on his shoulder.

‘Oh, mate, I’m so sorry. That fucking sucks, I know. You should have told me sooner, especially as I know exactly what you’re going through.’

‘Yeah, thanks. I’m sorry I didn’t. I thought you’ve had enough on your plate and I didn’t want to add to it. At least my parents’ divorce hasn’t been documented in the international media,’ he laughed dryly.

‘You should count yourself lucky then.’ I smirked, making him laugh again, though we both knew there was nothing funny about it. ‘Seriously though, it’s shit. I get it and I’m so sorry. Did you know it was going to happen?’

He shook his head, ‘No, that’s the thing. I always thought they were totally in love with each other. But turns out they’ve been faking it since Sophie went to boarding school and they realized they had nothing in common but us. Fucking award-winning acting, I’m telling you.’

I put my arm around his shoulder and pulled him in for a hug. ‘This was the first Christmas without my dickhead father too. Not that it’s the same situation, but it will get easier, I know that.’

‘Yeah. I’m just so pissed at them both. I can see the logic in them waiting, but they should have just fucking told us when it happened. Instead of years of lies. I’ve spent the past couple of months trying to figure out what was true and what wasn’t.’ He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ‘I’m sorry I’ve been a moody fucker recently, I didn’t realize how bad it was.’

‘If it helps, I don’t think many of the guys have noticed. But I get to see your pretty face up close every morning, and it’s definitely not been as smiley.’ I nudged him hard,but at least I got a genuine laugh out of him. ‘You’ve also not been taking the piss out of Charlie quite as much. That’s what really made it obvious.’

‘Yeah. Thanks, mate.’

‘Any time, Marshy. Any time.’ I followed him to standing and grabbed my backpack, only to feel it vibrating.

Pulling out my phone it was the one person I never wanted to miss a chance to speak to. I looked at Pete, ‘Hey, I’ve got to take this. I’ll come and find you later though, I can bring some steaks over, and you can cook them.’

‘I appreciate that,’ he grinned. ‘But I can’t tonight, I need to finish my chem paper.’

‘Another time. I mean it, I’m here to talk about divorcing parents whenever you want it, I’m the expert right now. You can call me twenty-four seven.’

He offered me up a nod and a sad smile, and took off while I sat down on the bench again.

‘Hey! How’s my favourite girl?’ I asked as her face came into view, except she wasn’t smiling like I’d expected her to be. Wasn’t smiling at all. Her face was blotchy and red from what looked like a fuck ton of crying. ‘Katey, baby, babe! What’s wrong? What’s happened? Who’s made you cry?’

I could feel my heart pounding like I was back on the rowing machines, especially when the tears started up again after she gave a loud sniff.

‘Everything,’ was all she wailed.

‘I’ll call you back.’ I stood up and took off at a full sprint for home, more specifically my car.

I pulled the rim of my cap farther down and yanked the door open just as the girl on the other side swiped her pass to exit.

‘Thanks,’ she muttered, staring up at me, but by that point I was already running down the corridor for the stairs to the first floor.

Kate wasn’t much better than when I’d put the phone down two hours ago, though the surprise of me bursting through the doors did dry her eyes for a second. The eyes of the girl on the floor next to her – the one Brooks had a massive crush on, and I could never remember the name of – bulged wide, and her hand flew to her chest.

‘Christ. Make an entrance why don’t you?’

‘Sorry,’ I mumbled, compensating by closing the door as quietly as possible behind me.

‘Don’t worry,’ the girl stood up, collecting a pile of tissues next to her and throwing them in the bin, ‘I’ll be across the hall if you need anything.’

She bent and gave Kate a kiss on the cheek, whispering something as she did so.

‘Thanks,’ I nodded to her as she left, and I turned the lock behind her.

Kate’s tears started up again as soon as I pulled her onto my lap.

‘Hey …’ I wrapped my arms around her as tightly as I could without cutting off her air supply, ‘hey, tell me what’s wrong.’

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