Page 45 of Pucking Obsessed

“But they were only sunbathing in the photo,” I protest.

We weren’t meant to be having scandals.

No bad press.

Shit.

“It’s my fault.” Eden sounds guilty and troubled. “I didn’t know how angry people would be to see the players happy. I don’t understand it. I’ve called security about the death threats. I accept responsibility. I’ll resign.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Captain’s Hall, Freedom

Eden

“Stop offering to resign.”Robyn points the spoon that’s coated in thick strawberry jam at me warningly. “Is that a reflex for you? Whoops, I let a virus onto the computer…I resign. I accidentally triggered the haters…I resign. What will it be next? I used too many yellow Post-its…I resign?”

I don’t reply.

Partly because there’s no such thing as using too many Post-its — ridiculous.

Mainly because the words burn my throat.

It’s been hard to speak, since I scrolled through the thousands of hate-filled comments online.

I caused those.

I didn’t speak until I was twelve. It took years of support from my twin and adoptive parents to put more than two wordstogether. Sometimes, my throat feels like it’s closing up, and I can’t force the words out.

Instead, I focus on boxing up the fruit scones that I’ve just baked.

It’s hard to bake with one arm in a sling. But I’ve become used to it by now and I won’t let any obstacle stop me.

One set of scones with the jam and cream that Robyn is already diving into are for dessert. The other set are to take with me, when I visit Cody in his cottage tonight.

That’s what friends do. Shay told me that. They take each other gifts.

He suggested beer. Cody and I are in a Bakers of Bay Rebels online WhatsApp chat, however, and he’s been asking about my mum’s special English scone recipe.

Cody will prefer the scones. I want to give him what he’s been hinting that he’s keen to try.

I don’t want him to stop talking to me. I think that’s how these groups work, if you keep your best cake recipes secret.

I’ve never been invited into a WhatsApp chat before. I’m surprisingly unwilling for Cody to kick me out of it.

Is this friendship?

Transactional chats online?

Visiting someone and taking them shit?

I don’t understand it but I’m trying.

D’Angelo is the first person to call himself my friend.

It may be true.

I don’t know why.

---