Page 13 of King of Hearts

How did Nan notice when I had absolutely no idea. It was near impossible to keep secrets from Queeny but surely this was something I would know. The table fell silent, the sound of the television in the living room the only noise.

“It’s really nothing,” she tried, but Nan was having no bar of it, standing from the table abruptly.

“Pssh. I’m putting the kettle on and you’re going to tell us everything. What else will I have to tell Thelma and Nancy tomorrow over coffee?”

Putting her head into her hands and running her palms down her face Marlee peered at me in anguish.

“I was going to tell you.” She tried and I glared at her in response.Sureshe was.

“You better start talking, Marlee Rose Harting, or I will not be telling you anything about any future interviews. I can’t believe you’re seeing someone and you haven’t told me.” Nan rushed back and placed a tin of biscuits on the table, the glee of her discovery written all over her face.

“Don’t start without me. Firstly, I want to know his name and what he is like in the bedroom?” Marlee coughed into her hand, choking on a shortbread biscuit, and I turned to Nan with a look of mock disgust on my face.

“Queeny, that escalated rather quickly.” Turning back to Marlee I rested my chin on my palm. “But also, great questions, Nan. Let’s start there.” Marlee groaned, the flush now having spread to her neck as we awaited the details.

“Well,” she started, looking at her nails as she spoke. “His name is Lucas. We met at the gym a few weeks ago.” She whispered looking towards the other room. “We’ve had dinner twice. He’s really sweet and definitely cute. And I don’t know whatheis like in bed.” She picked up her tea and tactically took a long sip.

“You have been ontwodates and I had no idea. Is my head so far up my own arse with work that I have not even asked about you or have you intentionally been keeping shit from me?” I was baffled. Boyfriends were rare. Even in high school we were more interested in spending time together, studying or shopping for the latest books on my end, and movies on hers. We talked about boys – noticed them but were both too shy to actually seek one out. Neither of us were virgins, but there hadn’t been any long-term commitments. The fact she was getting embarrassed was a definite sign she was interested in this guy and that was a big deal.

“Okay, two more questions before we leave. When can I meet him and have your parents met him?” Marlee’s parents were the best and as an only child, they too were a tight-knit family.

If they had met Lucas, it was serious.

“Of course not. We have literally had two dinners. But maybe soon. I’m not sure. He just seems too good to be true so I want to take it slow.” She shrugged, always far more cautious than I was. Which surprised people given she was generally bubbly and larger than life.

“Oh, please. Third date means at least third base.” Nan said and I stood, Marlee following close behind.

“Christ, Nan! On that note, we should go. Thanks for dinner, Queeny. You’re the best.” Marlee shot me a look of appreciation, humour glistening in her eyes as we said goodbye, careful not to wake a now sleeping Dad.

“You’re both no fun. Come back again soon with more details. The girls are going to love it when I tell them. Of course I will embellish. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” Nan called as she waved, closing the door.

“Oh my god. She is next fucking level.” I said, laughing as we got in my car. “Sorry about the firing squad.” I added, reversing out of the driveway. “But also, you know she is weird like that. You should have known she would be able to read you like a book. Some notice next time would be nice.” I shook my head briefly looking at her still bewildered by her secrecy, before my gaze moved back to the road. “If you’re about to get down and dirty, I think I deserve to know before Queeny.”

“Okay, okay.” She placated. “We’re having dinner again this weekend. I promise to give you all the details this time.”

“And a photo. I need a visual.” I replied before turning the music on loud for some bestie carpool karaoke.

Chapter Nine

Andy

Sebastian:All set for Poker on Monday?

Andy:Yeah, brother. Jack reckons he is going to clean us out but I’m certain he has never played before. Coop in too?

The grey dots jumped on the screen before my phone rang, Sebastian’s name indicating he was already done with the message threadhestarted.

“Surprised you didn’t just call to start with.” I said, chuckling into the phone as soon as I answered. Seb hated messaging and if you ever got a lengthy text you knew it was well thought out and had taken him a while to write. While we didn’t go to the same high school, as teenagers we socialised in the same circles and found ourselves together at gatherings often. I met Cooper through him and now along with Jack, we caught up most months for a friendly game of poker and a couple of drinks at my place. I didn’t have many friends outside of the team as it was always difficult to know who wanted you for the status which came along with it, but I appreciated these boys and their genuineness seeing as they’d been around long before I was drafted and never treated me any differently. “How you been?”

“Good, good. You know how it is.” Seb replied, understanding in his tired tone.

“How’s the club?” I asked, knowing the fatigue in his voice was due to the long nights he pulled at work. He opened Nexus, a nightclub in Sydney, a little over a year ago and it quickly became a favourite among patrons. When I did venture out, it was the only place I would go because I trusted Seb always had our backs and he ran a tight ship with who he allowed entry. Plus, I admired his loyalty. Some of his stricter regulations were because of me and that was not unnoticed. He had worked hard to get himself to where he was and like me, missed a lot of the mischief experienced in youth. We had come a long way from the days when I would be out in the park running laps and doing whatever I could to play elite, while he was putting in long hours behind bars and other odd jobs. Always working to increase his skills so he could fulfil his dream of owning his own establishment. And now he did.

“Nexus is busy, man. Have had some long nights lately. Coop and I were just saying the other day we want to come to a game once we get a free weekend.”

“Let me know and I’ll hook you up with a box.”

“Yeah, for sure. Hearts have been on a good run lately, how’s the rig holding up – you still smashing the weights?” Sebastian worked his own physique hard and it was no secret training helped him with his mental health too. It wasn’t uncommon for him to join me for a weights session or me to meet him for his morning beach run in the off season and the accountability was a good motivator when training wasn’t as strict.

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