Page 34 of The Tape Job
I know I shouldn’t care, but I do. I know Vicky’s found it difficult adjusting to his new girlfriends in the past. They don’t stick around for long, and as soon as a new one arrives, Vicky finds herself pushed aside again. She’s never told me any of this, but I know. I see her.
Johnny shrugs. “Overreacting as usual. But he called me last night, and I told him he should talk to Vicky. He said he’s been trying to call her for the past hour, but she’s not picking up,” Johnny adds, looking at his watch.
I follow his line of sight again, but this time, she’s laughing at something Coach Adams has said, and something boils under my skin. I sure as hell know Coach isn’t that funny.
Johnny drops the conversation and brings out his notebook again, leaning over to Bettsy for a short while. Then he gets up and moves a couple of rows back to the next available seat. Bettsy scoots into Johnny’s seat and leans over the aisle.
I was worried Bettsy would be pissed at me for bailing at the bar last week, but he didn’t even mention it when I next saw him. And thankfully, he hasn’t chosen now to bring it up either.
“What do you think of Matt?” he whispers under his breath.
“He needs to work on his wrist shot,” Ryan says, still scrolling through his phone.
“I don’t mean that,” Bettsy says. “I heard from Hutch that he’s back with Rochelle.”
Jenna told me all about Rochelle. Well, she gave me half the information I needed, so I asked Danny for the full story.
“You weren’t gonna go there again, were you?” Ryan leans forward in his seat and looks at Bettsy.
“No, but it’s awkward. Knowing that someone else on the team knows what your girlfriend looks like naked. It must be weird for you, right, Prez?”
A grin sneaks onto Bettsy’s face and I see that vein in Ryan’s neck pop as he asks what Bettsy’s talking about.
“He’s messing with you. I’ve never seen Jen naked,” Danny says from between the gap in our seats.
“Who said I meant you?” Bettsy says.
“Quit it,” Ryan scolds.
“Is it you, Betts?” I smirk, but I’m only doing it to wind Ryan up. It’s a pastime of mine I’ve always enjoyed.
Ryan knows how to return the favour, though. “Have you decided what you’re doing after hockey, yet?” I feel my face drop because, of course, I haven’t paid it any thought—but I know I should be.
Johnny forces Bettsy to move along as he climbs back into his seat, asking the same question as Ryan. Fortunately, the coach’s slowdown and exit from the freeway deters everyone from asking anymore questions. Johnny slides his notebook away and steps into the aisle.
Ryan and I stay seated until everyone has filed off.
“Do you think Vicky will be okay?” Ryan asks me.
“Well, I don’t think she’s over-reacting, that’s for sure. She’s always refused to meet any of her dad’s new girlfriends or whatever. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s flying out of the country as her dad lands here,” I say as we disembark.
At the rest stop entrance, Johnny stands to the left of the doorway, appearing to talk at Vicky instead of with her. He’s animated, gesturing with his hands, and Vicky looks like she’s trying to hold back tears. Shall I intervene? Tell Johnny to back the fuck off? Probably not, actually. I promised Vicky I’d keep my distance, but I have to fight with myself not to lay into Johnny.
We head towards the Costa Coffee, joining the queue.
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing?” I ask Ryan. “Keeping my distance. Because I know that’s what she says she wants, but—”
“It was you who decided that you were done.”
“Yeah, but—”
I get cut off when Ryan’s phone rings. I see Jen’s name flash up on the screen, and he ducks out of the queue, giving a signal to order for him. I step forward, next in line to talk to the barista when I spot Vicky striding towards the washrooms. And if I’m not mistaken, she’s crying.
My stomach drops. One thing I can’t handle is Vicky crying, not like that anyway. It’s the silent cry she does that’s worse than hysterical tears. She’s hurt. I just want to put my arms around her and tell her everything’s going to be alright, even though I don’t know what’s going on—or if it will be alright.
I dash out of the queue and break into a jog, catching up with her just before she turns the corner to the ladies’ room. I reach out and catch her hand. And when she spins around, locking eyes with me, she lets out a breath and wraps her arms around my waist. I engulf her. Wrapping myself tight around her shoulders while she sobs into my chest, I close my eyes for a moment.
Familiar tones cause me to open them, seeing Bettsy, Danny, and Hutch about ten feet away, gaping at us. They’re quickly joined by a few of the other guys, and it’s becoming a bit of a show, so I gently break away andlook at Vicky.
