Free Interference by Maddy Roman Page A

decide the best spot.
    Through some stroke of luck, I made record time to Ally's house, and got out of the car just as she was finishing loading up the camper. I peeked my head inside, "looks like we're set for snacks," I said taking in the cheese and meat platter, pork rinds, guacamole and chips, chocolate bars and a variety of flavored waters. "Quite the eclectic spread."
    "Oh, you know, something for everyone," she said waving me inside. "You're just in time, sit and relax, we'll be there soon." The camper wasn't one of those huge bus-like things. It was a smaller style, a conversion van. The front seats swiveled to turn toward the back of the van when it was parked. With tables that folded out we had a place to put our snacks. In the back was a small bathroom hidden in a little closet, and some couch arrangements that folded down into beds, or that's what she said. It was pretty cozy.
    If the whole thing hadn't been insane, it would have been lots of fun.
    "I think I should mention that this is nuts, you know that, right? We should leave this job to, I don't know, someone else?"
    "Who's gonna do it?" she said, climbing into the driver's seat. "The police don't seem interested, we could hire detectives I guess, but I'm pretty sure Daire doesn't want any information leaking to the press and that could happen. It's just us, his posse from way back," she grinned. "Besides when was the last time you had an adventure?"
    "I, um. I don't know?"
    "Well then you're overdue I'd say. Hang on to your hat sister, we're going on a ride."
    And with a lurch we were on our way, Justin behind us on his Harley. Just Daire's hometown crew on a Friday night on the way to try to get to the bottom of a mystery and keep him out of jail.

Chapter 17
    W e pulled the curtains across the windshield and set up the snacks. Justin climbed in the van and joined us. He opened a compartment and slid out a silver-colored laptop, opened it and found the game streaming online.
    I popped the tab on a flavored water and sat back to watch the game. The second Daire was out of the tunnel and headed for the ice I could absolutely feel it in my stomach. I had always imagined there was a thread that tied us together, that even when we were apart we were attached. My throat caught thinking about how it was well and truly over between us. I turned away and busied myself with the guacamole.
    As much as I wanted to watch, I also didn't want to watch. I didn't want to see him skate across the ice with powerful strokes. I didn't want to see him pull himself up to full height and menace an opposing player. I didn't want to see him skate to win. I didn't want to see him at all. Except of course I did want to. I wanted to watch. I wanted to congratulate him. I wanted him.
    The crowd roared and I looked up in time to hear the thunder crash and see the signature lightning bolts flash across the scoreboards as Daire scored a goal.
    "Yes, Raiin!" Justin fist pumped the air and jumped to his feet.
    I smiled in spite of myself, the guy still had it and he was putting it on display tonight. Totally like him to bury his emotions in the game. I felt extra sorry for anyone on the opposing team who crossed his path.
    The rest of the game moved fast and before I knew it things were winding up. Daire's team had won. I thought about last time, when he took me home. He couldn't be trusted though. I had to keep reminding myself.
    Justin and Ally had some kind of comm link system that they used on the motorcycle when they were out together. He took his half out with him and she sat in the driver’s seat with hers in her ear. We opened the curtains a tiny bit and had just enough space to peek through and watch the crowd. We were able to see the team bus pretty well, it wasn't perfect but we didn't want to be too obvious either.
    It seemed to take forever for the cars to slowly filter out of the lot, and with the noise of the crowd and the engines it was hard to know if there was anything