Free Snow Balls (Ball Games #2) by Andie M. Long

aren't you? That's what she told me. Five grand and she’ll say nothing.'
    I walk over and pick the glass up off Jennifer's side. Jennifer is trying to stop crying so she can speak. Her mouth has swollen up even more. She looks like a caricature.
    As I pick up the glass, her flatmate blanches and ducks. 'Don't hit me.'
    'I'm not going to hit you. I'm showing you this. She put her lips inside it. That's why they're swollen.'
    She turns to Jennifer. 'Oh. Is this true?' Jennifer nods.
    'Oh, well, sorry about that.'
    'It's fine. I'm leaving and I'm taking this glass with me—as evidence—in case Jennifer tries to sue me for violence.'
    Jennifer shakes her head in protest and mumbles ‘eh-wo’. I take this as being ‘I won't’, but I'm not taking any chances.
    I stand legs apart, hand on hip. 'For the record, I'm not rich. I don't have a YouTube business. The money is a loan from my parents. I'm just a normal bloke. Tonight we were both being fake. Bye, Jennifer. I'll see you around.'
    I leave the house, get in the car and drive home. Although I'm over a hundred pounds lighter in my wallet I feel like the lessons I've learned tonight were worth it.
    The house is quiet when I get in. It's past midnight. I'd normally not think of others being home and asleep and slam my way around the place, especially if I'd had a few. Instead, I tread quietly. As I come upstairs, my mum peeks her head outside her door.
    'You all right, love?'
    'Yeah, great.'
    'Date go well then?' she whispers.
    'No, it was rubbish, but I kind of needed it. Made me think.'
    'Well, glad you're back safe. I can't sleep unless I know you're home. It'll be weird when you're not here.'
    I walk over and kiss her on the cheek. 'Night Mum. Happy Valentine’s Day. You'll have to be my Valentine tonight, like when I was little. Love you, Mum.'
    She smiles. 'I love you too, son. Get a good night’s sleep.'
    And I do. Feeling strangely grateful that my date went to shit.
     

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    TV crews should film in Smiths right now. I bet there's a reality show called Store Wars on one of the channels somewhere.
    Lindsay and I both require references from Donna. Once I saw she was upping her game, greeting customers as they entered and becoming the Saviour of Incorrectly Placed Items, I also had to get on board. This meant asking customers if they want the add-on items placed at the side of the tills and coming to the rescue of people who can't work self-service, rather than secretly laughing at them.
    Our interviews are tomorrow. Though I’m feeling quite stressed as I’m not sure whether to go for the job or not. I never saw myself working full-time, never mind being a Manager, but I think it might be good to achieve something like our Camille has. I find Lindsay in the staff room at break time intending to call a truce.
    'Lindsay. Can we talk?'
    She looks out of the window. 'I’m sure I can hear a weird noise.'
    'We need to call a truce.'
    No reply.
    I stand by the side of her. 'I don't know why we've fallen out, but tomorrow one of us might get the new job and we won't see each other anymore if we're not friends. That would be bad.'
    She sighs and turns towards me. 'Would it?'
    'What?'
    'Would it be bad if we didn't see each other? Maybe we both need a fresh start. We've been kicking around here forever.'
    I grasp her hand.
    Startled, Lindsay looks at our hands then back at me.
    'It would be bad. I'll miss you, you dickhead.'
    'Said like a true friend.' She takes her hand away.
    'Look. We need to travel there together tomorrow. Our interviews follow each other. There's a coffee shop next door. Let's wait for each other in there and be the supportive friends we've always been. If you get the job, I will be happy for you. You work hard, you deserve it.'
    'Thank you.'
    Lindsay pauses and I wait for her to say the same back to me.
    'I really want to wish you luck, Tyler, and the latest version of you will do well with the promotion if you stay that