Free Walking the Line by Nicola Marsh Page A

blazing Sydney summer sun. While I loved living in this
vibrant city, I’d never get used to the heat.
    “Me too,” Ellie said, staring at Kye refusing
to shake his opponent’s hand before slouching off to the sidelines
to swipe a towel over his face. “I’ve never seen him this angry all
the time. Has he said anything to you?”
    “No. You?”
    She shook her head, soft honey-brown waves
caressing my shoulder. I may have fallen in love with a
spiky-haired platinum blonde, but I liked this softer version of
her just as much. “You two hang out together. Surely you’ve picked
up a vibe, a clue to what’s really bugging him, something?”
    I snorted. “We’re guys. We body surf at
Bondi. Drink beer at the footy. D&Ms aren’t a feature.”
    She elbowed me. “Ssh, he’s coming this
way.”
    We both stood and waited for Kye to reach us.
If he’d looked angry on the court, where he’d wiped his opponent
6-0, 6-1, 6-0, he positively glowered now. Something was definitely
wrong and if I hadn’t been so manic over the last twelve months
doing a part-time management course while working the bar, and
supporting Ellie through our third attempt at IVF, I would’ve
noticed sooner.
    “Great game, mate.” I stuck out my hand and
Kye almost broke it, his grip too firm, as he grunted a
greeting.
    “You okay?” Ellie touched Kye’s arm and he
flinched.
    “Hey.” Seriously concerned, I removed my arm
from Ellie’s waist and took a step toward him. “Want to get a
beer?”
    Kye shook his head, and when he finally met
my gaze, I almost recoiled. I’d never seen so much devastated
resignation before.
    “I’m on probation at the academy.” Kye glared
at us like we’d been the ones to do it. “Got into a fight with a
junior dickhead.”
    I wanted to say he must’ve had a good reason
but over the last twenty-four months I’d got to know the young
Aussie pretty well, and in that time I’d seen Kye’s resentment
build. As if he was angry with the world and didn’t know what to do
about it.
    “Anything we can do?” Ellie reached out to
Kye again and this time, he let her hand linger on his shoulder a
moment before stepping out of touch distance.
    “Nah, I’ve just got to get my shit together,”
Kye said, looking like it’d take a year of therapy to shift the
baggage he carried around. “Thanks for coming down to watch me
today.”
    “Anytime.” Ellie glanced at me and I nodded,
hoping our news might brighten Kye’s day.
    Kye’s eyes narrowed as he glanced between us.
“What’s going on with you two loved-up bozos?”
    “We’d like you to be Harriet’s mentor at her
name day ceremony,” Ellie said, her awed gaze meeting mine as I
marveled for the umpteenth time at the life we’d created, a
gorgeous one-month-old girl with my eyes and her mum’s
feistiness.
    Kye’s expression softened. “Thanks guys, I’d
love to.” But all too soon, the darkness clouded his eyes again.
“You sure you want an angry prick like me though?”
    “You’re our best friend,” Ellie said,
standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “And if it weren’t for you
dragging this Irish reprobate into my bar to save his cute arse two
years ago, I wouldn’t be this happy.”
    This time, it was my turn for a kiss. Smack
on the mouth.
    “Get a room,” Kye muttered, but he actually
grinned. “See you at the bar for drinks in an hour?”
    I nodded. “Just in time for you to read
Harriet a story before bed.”
    Kye rolled his eyes. “All that kid does is
sleep and crap.”
    I elbowed him. “And you love her for it.”
    “Yeah, I do,” Kye said, a faraway look in his
eyes, and I was grateful our friend could at least find joy in our
baby girl. “See you soon.”
    Ellie snuggled into me as we watched Kye walk
away. “I’m still worried.”
    “Me too, but all we can do is be there for
him.” I slid an arm around her waist and hugged her tighter.
    “He’s on some weird self-destruction kick…”
Ellie’s concern echoed