Page 40 of The Tape Job
Fuck. My. Life. He’ll be expecting me to get in touch now. “I’m not feeling great, so I’m going home to rest.”
“Oh no! Well, I hope you feel better soon. I’m sure we can push the media stuff right up to the wire if you’re not better in a few days,” Kirsty says.
I give her a shaky smile and head towards the double doors and down the stairs into the main lobby. The girls on the front desk give me a wave as I head towards the main exit.
“It’s not unlocked yet, Vicky. We don’t unlock those doors until public skate is due to start.” I rattle the door handle, willing it to open, but of course, it’s locked as promised. “You’ll need to exit through the back.” Fuck. This is all I need. I thank them as I walk past, heading to the bar area where I stop to pull on my coat. Taking a breath, I reluctantly slip through the next set of double doors leadingto the ice.
I’m greeted by the chatter of twenty or so guys, the sound of sticks slapping pucks and the unmistakable sound of skates slicing through the ice. A few heads turn in my direction when I close in on the benches and that familiar hockey-player smell fills my nose. I see Liam straight away, but he’s one of the few skaters not looking at me; a pang of disappointment hits me in the chest.
I make a quick glance at Johnny and give him a wave before picking up my pace towards the back exit. Just as I’m about to reach the double doors, a breathy call that I know to be Liam stops me in my tracks. But I keep walking because one clear look at me and he’ll know I’mnot sick.
Liam
My brother is standing in my kitchen when I get home from the gym. He’s batch cooking and Danny is lounging on the sofa as if it’s completely acceptable for someone to use your kitchen for meal prep when they don’t live there anymore.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask him, glowering at his plastic containers. They’re all over the goddamn place.
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
“But why?” My voice cracks in disbelief.
“Vicky’s sick. I’m not wanting to catch whatever it is she’s got. I can’t afford to be sick right now,” he says.
“Sick? What do you mean, sick? How sick is she?” I ask as worry creeps through me. Maybe that’s why she avoided me after practice yesterday.
“She told Jen it’s the flu, but we can’t be sure. It could be COVID.” He spoons some broccoli into his containers. “I’ve not seen her. She’s kept to her room, but she’s been using the kitchen, obviously. Until she’s well again, I’m not risking it.”
“The flu? Vicky has the flu?” Alarm bells start ringing.
“That’s what Jen told me that Vicky told her,” Ryan replies.
I’m not buying it. Vicky is one of these weird people who doesn’t get sick. At least, hardly ever. She’s never late, and she doesn’t get sick.
“Can you call her and ask if she’s really sick?” I pace next to the counter.
“You’re joking, right?” Ryan says, raising an eyebrow at me.
“No, I’m not joking. Just call her and ask!”
“Call her yourself,” Ryan shrugs.
“Dude, do you not listen to me? I told her I’d leave her alone. I can’t be calling her asking about her health.”
“I’m not calling her,” he says firmly.
“Please?” I put my hands together as if I’m praying. “Please? Give her a call and put her on speakerphone, then ask about ‘Meet the Players.’ Make something up.” I know if I can just hear her voice, I’ll be able to tell if she’s actually sick or not.
My eyes bore into Ryan, I don’t let up. I’m stubborn, I can do this all day. I know he’ll eventually give in.
“Christ’s sake, fine.” Ryan pulls his phone out of his pocket and unlocks it before setting it on the counter. He taps the screen a few times and dials Vicky, pressing the speaker phone button while we listen to it ring.
“Hello?”
“Oh, hey, Vic. It’s Ryan,” he says, hesitating. He looks at me with a pitiful expression.
“Yeah, I know… I have you saved.”
“Yeah, sorry, so… um… ‘Meet the Players.’ Just wondering if you knew when it was?” Ryan looks at me and shrugs. He’s fucking terrible at this. Note to self: next time, ask Danny.
