Page 43 of The Handoff

“I thought you had practice today?” I asked.

He moved away from me. “Yeah, but Mom needs to get some stuff. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Before we could even reply, he was out of sight. I stood there like a jilted bride at the altar.

“What the fuck?” Tanya blurted out.

“I know. It was as if he was a different person.”

“You think? What a jerk! You okay? I feel like giving him a piece of my mind.”

“No. Let’s just get something to eat, I’m hungry. Then we can shop later.”

Tanya stood frozen, just looking at me with her mouth wide open, waiting for some kind of reaction, but I couldn’t give it to her. It wasn’t the first time, and besides, I didn’t feel right because he was clearly with his mom and didn’t even attempt to introduce me.

“You don’t have to pretend with me, you know that. You sure you’re okay?”

I changed the subject, feeling more embarrassed about the way Dane behaved in front of Tanya rather than if I’d been alone. It wasn’t the first time he’d gone hot and cold, it had just been a while since he’d done it.

“What do you fancy? I fancy eating Italian, courtesy of Fiona.”

Tanya didn’t say anything, she just stood frozen and I wanted us to move past it so badly.

“That’s a bit expensive… we don’t have to go all out.” She rested her hand on my arm, stroking it to comfort me.

I agreed. “I know.”

But after being treated like the third wheel and not even having a proper introduction to his mom, I needed something to lift my spirits.

I just wanted to forget what happened, and nothing lifted my spirits more than food, especially pizza.

“There’s a Mama Mia, and I’ve heard that they have the best pizzas ever.”

“Pizza,” I moaned with joy.

“Pizza it is then,” Tanya said with a smile.

I was bright red and trying to hide my embarrassment. Not only was Dane cold to me, but in a way, he looked completely different. We were together last night after practice, and he was clean-shaven and as loving as always. Today, he had a bit of stubble and if I didn’t know any better, his hair was a bit longer, too.

Was my time being a girlfriend over before it’d even began?

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