Page 57 of O Goalie Night
Ben raises an eyebrow, then slowly looks from me to his sister who is barely controlling her rage.
“I’ve got three cars,” I add with a shrug. “It’s not like I could drive them all at the same time.”
He still looks suspicious, but luckily, his phone starts to ring, distracting him from whatever he’s thinking.
He picks up the phone and sighs before pushing himself away from the table. “Hey,” he says into it as he walks into the other room.
Beth is staring at her mostly untouched plate of food and my brain scrambles to form a sentence that isn’t going to piss her off.
I can’t lie; I fucking hate the idea of her driving that far in the winter by herself. But she’s a grown woman who can make her own decisions and the last thing she needs right now is another person telling her what to do.
“Are you okay?” Is all I come up with.
She doesn’t look up from her plate. “I hate being spoken to like I’m a child.”
“I know.”
“What do you think I should do?”
I let out a long breath as I sit back in my chair feeling like I’m walking into a trap. “Do you really want my opinion?”
Her lips twitch. “Probably not, but tell me anyway?”
I chuckle. “Alright. Let him buy you the plane ticket. Road conditions are unpredictable this time of year; it will be one less thing to worry about. Plus, flying will save you a day of travel meaning you get more time with your family.”
She takes a bite of her bacon, appearing to consider my argument as she chews.
“Fine.” Ben’s voice carries from the other room.
“What’s up his ass?” Beth asks.
Before I can answer, her brother’s heavy footsteps draw closer.
“Yes,” Ben says into the phone as he reenters the kitchen. “I said‘fine’. I’m on my way.” He ends the call looking utterly defeated. “I’m sorry Beth. I gotta go.”
“Is everything okay?” At least she doesn’t look like she’s about to stab him with a fork again.
“Yeah,” he says as he shoves the rest of his bacon into his mouth. “Everything’s fine. Look, about the flight–”
“I’ll think about it,” she says, cutting him off.
“Thank you. Maybe we can do something later in the week?” He looks so downtrodden that I actually feel bad for the big idiot.
“Of course.” She gives him a small smile. “I’ll text you.”
“Great.” He turns to me, offering me his fist, which I bump with my own. “Thanks for breakfast, Fozz. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Anytime. Take care, man.”
We don’t say anything until we hear the front door close.
“Do you think he’s okay?”
I frown. “He’s been better. I think he and Valentina aren’t getting along at the moment.”
She nods. “I still find it hard to believe he’s in a relationship. After he and Maddy broke up, I’ve never seen him with a girl more than once.”
I don’t recognize that name, but I’m sure Ben’s never mentioned a girlfriend to me before. Whatever he and Valentina are going through, I hope they work through it soon.
