“Hey!” Ian protests.
“You shut up, O’Connor. I’m talking to a champion here – can’t you see?”
Ian scoffs and falls back against the seat.
“What are you all doing, lurking around out here?”
“We’re waiting for your daughter, sir.”
“I thought you might be.”
“We just wanted to make sure that she got home safe, and that…er, surgeon, doesn’t lay a finger on her.”
The coach looks him up and down, before announcing: “Come inside. We may as well wait for her together.”
“What?” I cry, shocked.
“Thank your friend here,” he says, nodding towards Jamie. “Or you’d already be in a hole in my garden by now.”
* * *
I never thoughtI’d be stepping inside coach Madigan’s house. I mean, I’ve been outside hundreds of times, waiting for Casey to climb out the window, but I never once set foot inside.
“Please, take a seat,” coach says, gesturing for us to sit down.
I go to sit on the sofa, but he stops me. “Not you, arsehole. Him,” he points to Jamie. “You lot can stand up.”
Jamie makes himself comfortable, his expression smug as we all stand there like…well, like exactly what we are. A bunch of dickheads.
The coach grabs two beers from the fridge. He hands one to Jamie, and keeps one for himself. He’s made it extremely clear that the three of us aren’t welcome here, and is doing everything he can to make sure we know it.Be patient. He doesn’t have to like you – you just have to avoid him killing you.
“Let me get something straight,” Madigan says. “Which one of you is trying to get his hands on my daughter? Because I don’t believe that your concern tonight is out of the goodness of your hearts.”
Ryan breaks out into a coughing fit.
“So, it’s you, then,” coach says, stepping threateningly towards him.
“Oh no. I’m in a very happy relationship.”
“Does she know that?”
“Of course she does!” Ryan says, starting to get wound up.
“Poor woman,” the coach comments. “And you,” he turns to Ian, “you’re with his sister?” He nods towards Jamie.
“Yes, sir. We have a daughter together.”
“I don’t remember asking you.”
“No, sir.”
“So,” he turns finally to face me, his eyes loaded with rage. “It’s you.”
“Why me?” I say, gripped by fear. “It could be him!” I point to Jamie.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?”
I look at him, confused.
