Page 12 of The Wing
“Why not?”
Charlie huffs. “How is that supposed to help you get out of your head if all you’re planning on doing is staying in a stranger’s house all day thinking about rugby?”
“I was going to read,” I protest. “That’s thinking about something else.”
“Only if you actually read instead of staring at the page blankly thinking about rugby. Isn’t that what you’re going to do?”
“No,” I say even though she’s right. She knows me too well.
“So ask Daisy’s friend to show you around.”
I shake my head and frown at the door as if I can see him through the walls. “I think he’s busy. He’s a writer, and there was a huge whiteboard with tons of notes on it in the lounge. He got upset when I saw it and dragged it away.”
Charlie huffs again in frustration. “So ask him what his favourite places are or his favourite restaurants and go by yourself. If you wanted to sit on the couch all day and read, you should have stayed in Auckland so I could visit. I expect photos.” And with that, Charlie hangs up and leaves a ringing silence in my ear.
She’s right. I need a plan. I can’t escape Auckland and expect that to fix everything. I should actively try to help myself since I want to play when I’m in South Africa. But what should I do? Do I ask Liam? I don’t want to take more of his time than I already have, but I have no idea what’s around here besides knowing the scenery is stunning and people travel from all over to see it.
I really should have prepared more.
I dig the heels of my palms into my eyes until I see black spots and then I jump up. Fine, here’s the plan. I’ll shower and get ready for bed, then tomorrow after a hopefully restful sleep in a new place, I’ll ask Liam about seeing the sights.
The next day dawns and I sleep in, ignoring the need to get up and train. I didn’t set my usual alarm and drooled into my pillow until after nine o’clock. Unheard of for me during the season. I’ve been getting up for early trainings since I was fifteen. Usually, I don’t even sleep past nine during the off-season, preferring to get my training done in the morning. But I feel rested even if I feel like half the day is gone and it’s barely ten.
After a shower and shave, I slip into warm clothes and pad to the kitchen in socks. The kitchen is bright and filled with natural light that bounces off the buttercream painted cabinets, and a large window looks out to the garden. I haven’t seen Liam yet today, but there’s a bowl and spoon in the sink, so he must be awake. The door he dragged the whiteboard into was shut when I walked past, so he’s probably working.
I purse my lips. I don’t want to disturb him, but I also don’t want to rifle through his kitchen without permission.
I turn to the fridge and find a bright pink post-it note stuck to the steel decorated in magnets. Peeling it off the fridge, I grin as I read.
Use/eat whatever you want. I’m plotting :D and when I start that I’m usually locked away for hours.
See you whenever the plot reveals itself,
Liam
But plotting what? World domination or books? I chuckle quietly and shake my head as I open the fridge and figure out what to eat.
I eat at the small round table by the window and watch the bare branches of trees sway in the wind against the bright blue backdrop of a clear sky. I was expecting it to be greyer, or rainier, not jewel-toned blue without a cloud in the sky. Or the calm I feel sitting at the table with soft yellow reflecting around the room. It’s all so…unexpected. In the best way. It won’t last long, the sense of calm, but I’ll drink it in while I can.
When I finish eating, I wash the dishes, put them away, and wander to the lounge. What to do now?
Read, I guess, since I didn’t bring anything else to do or think far ahead enough to rent a car or make any plans. I grab my e-reader from my room and settle on the couch. The lounge is connected to the kitchen, and I can see straight through to the garden and watch birds jump around branches from the couch. It’s oversized and green and faces a brick fireplace with a wood mantle. I sink into the squishy squabs and open my book, deciding to reread something for comfort instead of something new I probably won’t take in right now.
I barely read three pages before my mind starts to drift back to rugby and the possibility I’ve lost my touch. Spiralling into my thoughts, exactly like Charlie said I would.
My day passes in the same pattern. I read a few pages, stress myself out about work and losing my position, jolt myself out of it, step into the garden until I get too cold and can’t be bothered finding a jacket, sit back on the couch, and the cycle repeats. Liam doesn’t appear once.
It’s only when it starts to get dark and Liam stumbles out of his office that I realise I didn’t eat lunch, and I’m assuming Liam didn’t either unless he has food stashed in his office.
He stands at the entrance to his office with dazed eyes he blinks rapidly and adorably ruffled hair, wearing baggy track pants and an oversized jumper the colour of midnight. He looks cosy and ready for a cuddle on the couch while watching TV, and I have to shake the image out of my head before I fixate on how much I want it.
“Are you okay?” I ask slowly when he continues to stand there blinking. “Liam?” I frown and rise from the couch. Is he having a seizure? How close is the nearest hospital? Why didn’t I do any research before coming here? Charlie definitely would have.
“Huh. What?” Liam asks, shaking himself and blinking more before focusing on me. “Oh, Hemi. Hi,” he says and swallows.
I tilt my head. I don’tthinkhe’s having a seizure. Probably. He seems…dazed. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Fine. Sorry.” He shakes his head and walks into the lounge and collapses on the couch. “It takes me a minute to adjust from the cave.”
