My nan’s voice entered my head. I could feel her asking what my gut said. Growing up, she would always tell me to listen to my inner voice because that was our ancestors sending me messages. When I told her I was moving to London, she reminded me that even though the distance was significant; we were still connected by land and oceans; nothing in the world is completely unconnected.
I certainly hoped she was right.
“You’re looking really fucking miserable for someone at a luxury resort on Christmas Eve.” Cam’s voice came booming out behind me. They really shouldn’t let Aussies into posh resorts like this, not bogans like us anyway. “Missing your family?”
I nodded in reply because it was true. I was missing my family, but that wasn’t why I was so miserable. Lifting the glass, I took a sip of my beer and winced. It was terrible. I was going to need a new one if I seriously wanted to have a drink.
Cam took a seat at the bar next to me and ordered a beer. I nodded at the bar attendant, and a fresh one was placed in front of me too. He took a sip and placed the glass back on the bar before saying, “It’s not just the family though, is it?”
“No,” I admitted but left it at that.
“It’s Wynter, isn’t it?” He probed. “Even I could pick up that there was something between you when we met for lunch, then things changed…”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “We had some fun yesterday, but today, she found out about the Leanne bullshit.”
“Dude, you know she’s like a sister to me?” His voice turned serious. “You hurt her, and we’re gonna have problems.”
“You know I don’t kiss and tell.” I wasn’t going to play that game.
“Maybe that’s the problem? All those women online bragging about their Hot Lap and you’ve never denied anything.” He reasoned, not saying anything that I hadn’t thought about. Those thoughts had been haunting me for the last few years.
“The PR people told me to ignore it, and it would all blow over,” I gave him my standard answer anytime someone brought this up.
“Was that your PR people or the club’s?” Cam’s question threw me.
“The club’s,” I answered.
“And it was in their best interest to make the coach look like the good guy,” Cam took another sip of his beer and shook his head. “Isn’t your cousin in PR?”
“Nah, she’s not my cousin, she’s my sister’s best friend’s cousin…” When Dad left Mum for wife number two, the wives of Dad’s teammates assembled around us, bringing over food and arranging play dates. Destiny and I felt like we were more like siblings than friends.
“Same thing, you and the Lovrics are like family, anyway.” Cam wasn’t wrong.
I couldn’t deny it; I should’ve gone to Lily when it all went down, but I knew she was sensitive about infidelity, so I didn’t want to bother her with a cheating scandal. “Besides, who would the media believe, anyway? They always expect the worst from a blakfulla, especially one playing NRL.”
Cam nodded in agreement.
I sighed with frustration. “That’s all in the past though. I don’t know what to do now.”
“Make it straight with the one person who matters.” Cam didn’t mince words, always preferring to say it straight.
“I told her, but she just stood there, looking at me.” I couldn’t hide the despair in my voice.
“What did you expect?” He took another sip of his beer.
“I don’t know; maybe she needed time to process it?” I’d been wanting to go back to the room from the moment I closed the door.
“It looks like she’s processed it.” Cam pointed to the mirrored backsplash of the bar.
I looked up and saw Wynter searching the room. I turned and met her eyes. The relief in them was enough to give me some hope. I rushed over to her.
“You’re here…” she breathed.
“So are you,” I replied with a half smile.
“Can we ummm,” she looked nervous. “Can we talk?” She nodded her head to the side, pointing in the general direction out of the bar and the crowd that had been slowly growing.
I held my hand out, holding my breath until she intertwined her fingers with mine. We walked out onto the snow-filled path that led to our chalet. I didn’t know what she wanted to say, but just the fact that she wanted to talk made me feel warm inside despite the temperature.
