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“Hmm, you continue to surprise me, Mr. Jones.”
“I am full of surprises.”
Winking at her, she shook her head smiling while a little blush hinted at her cheeks. Once the waitress came back with our drinks, we were left to sit there in content silence. I wasn’t sure if I should continue our conversation about why I had been benched or if this was even an appropriate place to do it.
“So, aside from a big Swifie, any other secrets I should know about?”
“Oh, I also love Harry Styles, but that’s more of a man crush type of thing. He’s a nice guy, I’ve met him a couple of times at those award show things.”
“You’ve met loads of celebrities then, I’m guessing.”
“Didn’t you? You know when you were in the games.”
She lowered her eyes and stared at her drink before taking a sip. I hadn’t been brave enough to taste mine yet. I wasn’t looking forward to the massive sugar rush it would bring.
“You know, I don’t really remember, that feels like a long time ago now. I stopped attending the games nearly three years ago. Once Luke became ill… I just stopped.”
“Do you miss it?”
“Everyday.”
CHAPTER 10
Kimberly
Sitting across a table from Samuel Jones was the last thing I thought my Sunday was going to become. Even with the dress and suit shopping, I did not foresee this and neither did my witchy friends. He had already smiled at me like a kid who got the last sweet after I agreed to join him for coffee. But now, he was bringing up my past. He sure knew how to pick awkward subjects.
I hadn’t really forgotten what it was like being in that spotlight. But the life of a champion figure skater was short lived. The life on the ice in general was, unless you went off to do other things, such as coaching. I, still with a huge love for skating, wanted to teach.
Letting out a soft sigh, I try to bring myself back to the present. So, Sam had attacked another team player. He had mentioned aggression before, but I didn't think he meant physically. And so now he was ‘on leave’, I knew that was code for the bench until further notice. I didn’t want to pry anymore out of him after that, I imagined he’d eventually tell me.
“How are your parents?”
Changing the subject as fast as I could, he drew back a little as if struck. I could see his thoughts as they played on his face.
“Eh – I wouldn’t know, truth be told they don’t know I’m back.”
“Surely not? Sam! We live in a town filled with gossip mongers, I bet they do.”
He swallowed hard and I wondered why he was keeping his arrival from his family. After all they had kept up with his career, I was sure.
“I didn’t come back after Jane died, and I don’t think my mom would want to see me, dad especially.”
Wow, these conversations weren’t going as well as I thought they would have. During the car journey, in the shop and now here, everything just seemed to stall or completely stop.
“Bloody hell,” I uttered and he choked back a laugh. I had never been someone who cussed, but it seemed right to do so.
“So far, we’ve talked about dead husbands, missing my old job, you punching someone, and now you’re not talking to your parents. Wow – When did our lives become so dark?”
“Pretty sure it was when we hit that big age of twenty-one and alcohol was introduced properly.”
“Speaking of alcohol, does your coffee have a funny taste?”
He had finally started to drink his weird gingerbread coffee thing. Clearly he was enjoying it as half the glass was already empty and mine almost gone. Even with the funny taste, I wouldn’t have minded ordering another one until it clicked. Gin and coffee bar. My eyes widened as I grabbed the menu and looked down to find our drinks. With a soft groan, I closed my eyes in frustration.
“Our drinks contain seven percent of alcohol from the gin. It's gin infused coffee.”
Gulping back the last sip of his drink, Sam’s face shared the same expression as me. We really didn’t read the menu correctly. And now, he was most certainly over the limit for driving us home.
