Page 31 of Any Second Now
“Did you know chickens can be pretty?” I try again.
“Obviously.” Lachlan shakes his head and turns back to Raleigh. “I bet your chicken is a silkie.”
“Yeah?” Raleigh raises her eyebrows. “How would you know?”
“I watch Chicken House. It’s a reality show about a family who has chickens. Melissa’s really into it.”
“Wow,” I mutter under my breath and judge Lachlan harshly.
“Well, I went to a farm store and bought some things that she’ll need. The guy who helped me thought I was nuts.” She huffs a laugh.
“Careful, on Chicken House they had a really flimsy coop and it got destroyed by raccoons. Luckily, the chickens managed to escape.”
“For fuck’s sake, Lachlan.” I roll my eyes. “Shouldn’t you be working out or doing something else with your time?”
“Hush.” He waves at me. “Mel and I bond over it.”
“Moving on.” I turn from Lachlan in disgust. He’s so whipped. “So she’s in a coop that you bought at the farm store?”
“Hmm. Yes? But at the moment she’ll be in the Pink Palace in her tent at night and when I’m not there, since the coop is pretty flimsy. No chicken murders by raccoons on my watch.”
“Smart.” Lachlan nods enthusiastically.
I press my lips together. They are seriously having this conversation.
“So my new idea for a hoop isI don’t need a husband, I have chickens.”
Lachlan laughs, and I chuckle.
“Perfect.”
“But can we please stop talking about me?” Raleigh pulls at her hair and crosses one leg, then uncrosses it right away. “I haven’t interacted with people this much in weeks and it’s kind of freaking me out. There must be some kind of hockey gossip to catch up on.”
“Sure is. We’ve acquired a new player from Utah.” Lachlan is way too excited about this. “He’s the guy that fucked up Atter’s groin during our last game.”
“No way.” Raleigh’s eyes widen and she examines me. “And you feel how about that?”
“Fine. I feel fine,” I grumble. I want to punch Lachlan for bringing up Barrett fucking Steele.
“Barrett Steele.” Lachlan runs his hand across the air in front of him like he’s revealing something huge. “Even his name is savage.”
“I don’t care about Steele.” I grit my teeth and know I sound too defensive. “I’m just focusing on getting myself back together for the charity tournament.” I wish we were still talking about cross-stitch and chickens.
“Sure, whatever.” Lachlan’s phone rings loudly. He leaps up from the table. “I gotta take this.”
“Ever heard of silent mode, dude?” I shake my head as Lachlan dashes away from the table, phone already nestled on his ear, a goofy smile on his face.
“That the new girlfriend?” Raleigh asks when he’s gone.
“Yup. He’s completely obsessed.”
“Is that so bad?”
I shrug. I don’t want to sound like a jealous asshole. Cause I’m not. Jealous, that is. Probably an asshole though.
“I guess not.”
“Don’t get me wrong—I am the most negative person in the room right now when it comes to love and relationships.” She laughs with a bitter edge.
