Page 32 of Friends Rucked Up

“You’re quiet,” Harlan says, as we sit watching the rugby game on the TV. It’s an away game, and Alfie travelled down with the rest of the team on their official coach.

“I’m just watching the game,” I say, although my mind isn’t focused at all.

My brother is the last person I can talk to, which is ironic because he’s usually the first one I want to tell everything to. We don’t keep secrets from each other even if it’s hard for the other person to hear.

I’m not sure when my feelings for Alfie shifted, but they have. I’ve admired his ambition for a long time, but it’s more than that. He’s kind, friendly, and my attraction to him sends tingles to my lady parts. He has feelings for me, too. That’s the killer. We should be dating and seeing where things go, rather than sitting with a metaphorical elephant—Harlan—in the room.

My brother’s getting loud as he’s invested in the game, and I can tell its all-bad energy. Alfie’s plays are scrappy, and the team are looking rough out there. The Scarabs lose the match, and my brother turns the TV off while muttering a few curse words.

“Do you want another beer?” he asks, waving his empty bottle. He brought a box of them over for tonight’s match.

“Sure.”

He gets up, walking into the kitchen area for a bottle opener and pops the top off two bottles. When he comes back, he passes me one of them before returning to my living room chair.

“Have you heard anything about your visa yet?” I ask.

“Not yet.” He takes a big gulp of his beer.

I don’t know much about the application process, but something feels strange. He planned on coming home with friends but ended up travelling alone. Plus, his phone has been quiet all the times I’ve been with him which is usual because my brother is a socialite.

“Do you have some work lined up for when you get there?”

“I have a friend who works on an orange farm, and I’ve got sponsorship from his boss.”

“That’s good then.”

“After Alfie wins the league, I’ll be heading back to Singapore for a short stop then onto Australia.” I like my brother’s optimism even after the Scarabs just lost.

“I’m glad tonight’s loss hasn’t dampened your positivity. Let’s hope Alfie is feeling the same way when he gets back.” I wouldn’t want to be on the coach coming back. Hopefully, it’ll give them chance a to reboot their morale.

“One night of bad luck doesn’t mean anything. Come to think of it, Alfie seemed distracted earlier. Maybe he had bad vibes.” Harlan’s eyes glaze over like he’s trying to figure out his statement.

“One player doesn’t make a team.” I shrug unwillingly to think about what could have Alfie distracted.

“Yes, but everyone needs their head in the game.” He nods, still thinking too hard.

Has Alfie been acting strange since he arrived home? “I’m sure it’s nothing.” It’s obviously something.

Alfie needs to figure his feelings out on his own. He’s not acting like himself, and I bet everyone is noticing.

“Hopefully. The Scarabs have been playing so well it would be a shame for them to throw it away now.”

“Keep those positive vibes. There is no throwing of anything away.”

“You’re right.” His phone buzzes and he reads an incoming text. “Alfie’s going to the pub to drown his sorrows. I’m going to join him. Do you want to come?”

“No, you go and comfort him.” He requests an Uber, and we talk while we wait for it arrives. Once he’s gone, I shut the door, welcoming the peace. I hope my conversation with Alfie earlier didn’t impact on his game.

I send him a text:Chin up. You can’t win them all.

He doesn’t reply; I try not to take it personally.

Chapter Fourteen

Alfie

Drowning my sorrows in a bottle of beer isn’t usually how I handle a loss, but it’s more than that. I can’t get Saylor off my mind and it’s messing with my game, life, and everything around me. I need to figure out how to fix my mojo.

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