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

way.'
    'Er, thanks?'
    'You're welcome.'
    'So we travel there together tomorrow?'
    She nods once. 'Okay.'
    She gets up and puts her cup in the sink.
    'And because you adore me so much you'll wash my cup and put it back in the cupboard.'
    ‘Don’t push it.’ She leaves the room.
    The old me would rinse it and put it away, but the new me has standards. I wash her cup and my own mug, dry them and put them away. What the fuck is happening to me?
     
    My interview was before Lindsay's so I wait for her in the coffee shop. I replay my interview in my head. It went well. They seem like a nice team. It's not even that much extra travelling to get to Sheffield. My ego wants to get the job but part of me thinks it'll mean less time in bed in a morning. I’ve not changed that much. As my interview was at one-thirty pm and Lindsay's at two-thirty, Donna told us not to come back to work today.
    At half past three Lindsay appears through the door. She looks tearful.
    'You okay?'
    'I totally ballsed that up.'
    'Why?'
    'I kept going blank when they asked me questions. They kept having to prompt me. I've no chance, I know it.'
    'Same here,' I lie. 'I was hopeless.'
    'Really?'
    'Yeah. So maybe neither of will get it and we’ll be stuck with each other for another nine years. There're worse things, hey?'
    She manages a smile. 'There is.'
    'So, how about a walk around the shops followed by the buffet at Pizza Hut? My treat.'
    Lindsay nods and we leave the coffee shop to go bargain hunting.
    The pizza place is packed but we manage to find two seats and order the buffet. In the middle of eating Lindsay's phone rings. We look at each other.
    'Well, are you going to answer it?' I nod to her bag.
    She scrambles around and pulls her phone out. 'Hello? Yes, could you hold a moment while I find somewhere a little quieter?'
    She walks away and in that moment I realise she's got the job. I'm pleased for her but sad at the same time.
    As she returns to the table, I look at her for confirmation.
    She raises her shoulders. 'I got the job,' she says.
    'Congratulations.' I lean over, hug her and kiss her cheek. She blushes.
    Then my own phone rings. 'I'll take this rejection call then I'll be right back.'
    She nods.
    They tell me it was a close run thing, but that Lindsay edged me out with having slightly more experience, which I took as she'd made more effort since we'd started. It's true. She deserved it more than I did, and at least now I don’t have to get up earlier.
    I walk back to the table and call over a waitress.
    'We're celebrating. Could you bring us some garlic bread and a portion of chips?'
    Lindsay giggles.
    'Hey, got to pull out the stops when my friend gets a promotion.'
    As we chat about her new job and other subjects I realise it doesn't take a fancy Italian restaurant and a bottle of champagne to have a good time. It just needs decent people. I will miss this girl.
     
    ***
     
    My mother watches me as I walk downstairs with a bag packed for Camille's. 'So how are you getting on with house-hunting? You've gone a bit quiet on the whole thing lately. There are only two weeks left you know?'
    'Good to see you'll miss me while I'm away, Mum.' I grab my keys off the side and stick them in my pocket.
    'I will miss you more than I can express in words when you leave, Tyler. Don't think it will be easy for me. But you need to move on Ty. Life's passing you by while you sit in your bedroom. I've been aiding that by doing everything for you. I didn't realise but a mum can actually spoil her son a little too much.' She ruffles my hair as if I'm six, 'even though to me you'll always be my little boy.'
    I stand in front of her, my six-foot frame towering over her five feet six. I pat the top of her head.
    She pushes my hand away. 'Stop that. I'll put you on the naughty step and twenty-five minutes is a long time.'
    'So, Mum. Today is Sunday. Camille and Dylan are coming over for lunch and I'm going back with them as they fly tonight. Then I'm coming