Page 16 of The Tape Job
“There you are!” Jenna says, bouncing into my line of sight. “Are you okay?”
“Sure,” I flash her a fake smile, which she sees right through.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was going to be here.” She glances over to Liam. “Ryan’s invited the whole bloody team, by the looks of it. Apparently, he needs all the help he can get.”
“Well, I’m here now, it’s fine,” I say, returning Danny’s wave from where he stands with a few of the guys.
“Do you want to hear the latest with Danny and Becca? Because there’s trouble in paradise.” She flicks her eyes to Danny.
“Was it really all that paradise-y?” I say, lowering my voice to a whisper.
“Well, no. He didn’t go into detail, but he said things aren’t great.” She pauses for a moment. “Becca was supposed to be coming along tonight, but she can’t make it now. But just in case she shows up, don’t mention it.”
“Don’t mention what? You haven’t told me anything. You’re a terrible gossip!”
“You know as much as I do,” she says.
“I’m sorry, but that was the worst tea I’ve ever heard. What did he actually say? I want details.” She definitely owes me details.
I guess it’s always awkward when you’re best friends with both parties of a couple and have been since you were all kids. It takes a few seconds for me to realise this is perhaps how Johnny is feeling. He’s been stuck in the middle between Liam and me, but I know if he had to pick sides, he wouldn’t pick me.
“Come on, I need the distraction.” I nudge her in the ribs.
“Still thinking about Liam, huh?”
“You’re changing the subject.”
Jen frowns. “He basically just said that he and Becca aren’t hanging out much anymore. He said she’s always busy with something, making excuses not to see him—or that’s what he thinks, anyway.” She chews her lip. “Between us, I don’t think they’re right for each other.”
“I can’t say I’ve paid a lot of thought to it.” I really haven’t. In fact, the only thing I’ve been thinking about is how much I hate Liam.
Danny bellows and waves at Jen, giving her a beckoning signal. I watch her go, then I set my bag down, surveying the area, looking for Johnny because I need to talk with him. I squat down to get my things out, my fingers skimming the wool of a Marlies toque I’ve got stowed in the pocket, memories of the last time I wore it come flooding back.
Liam’s laughter sounds out again. I stand up and risk a glance over to where he’s standing. He catches my eye, and he excuses himself before walking towards me. He’s quick to skirt past the line of junior skaters waiting to step onto the ice. Fuck.
“Vicster! How’s it going?” he asks. He only calls me Vicster when he’s trying hard to show that he’s ‘just a friend.’ But to my surprise, he reaches down and grabs the toque from my bag. Then he holds it out to me. “It’s cold, Vic. You should put it on.”
What I should do is set fire to it, but he’s right. I’m annoyed at myself because I didn’t grab my other hat before heading out. And he knows I don’t like the cold.
I drop my camera strap around my neck and reach for the hat, all while avoiding his eyes. I run my hands over my hair, setting it over my shoulders before pulling the wool over my head.
Then he does that thing that all guys do in movies, or books or whatever. He reaches out and tucks a loose strand of my hair away, and his hand lingers for longer than necessary. It only confirms what we both know; the spark between us is still there. I can hear my heartbeat in my eardrums, the thud, thud, thud, not even close to serving as a distraction, and I don’t know how, but I croak out a thanks.
“Are you going to talk to me, then? Because you’ve usually got a lot to say.” His tone is teasing, but it pisses me off because he’s right. I gape at him, raking my brain for some quick-fire cocky response, but nothing comes. So, I just go with the first thing that pops into my head.
“No.”
I slide past him, mindful that my ass definitely rubbed across his thigh, and make my way to the bench, feeling his eyes on me as I go.
At least I know where Johnny is, though. He’s sitting at the far end where I was destined; his head snaps away from the ice when he hears me approach.
“Vic, I wondered where you were,” he says as I take a seat next to him. “Nice hat.” His tone is bitter, but I ignore him.
“You’re in my way, John. I need to lean there to get my shots.” I indicate towards the corner.
“How are things going with Lee? Are you being civil?”
“Yes.”
