the powder to sprinkle on his tongue.
“What are you doing, mate?”
“Keeping up my energy. Ever since my last trip to the US, I’ve craved sherbet. These are from the US and called Pixy Stix. You want one?”
“You’re a bloody kid sometimes.” I chuckle. “I’ll be back. I’m going to say hi to your dad.”
Mr Bateman is with a group of Chance’s teammates near the dance floor. I stand beside him with Macy in my periphery.
“Mr Bateman.” We shake hands.
“It’s been a while, son. How’s Adelaide treating you?”
“All good. Looking forward to next season. I hear Chance is close to playing his first game.”
“He’s received a lot of attention off and on the field. His guernsey’s are sold out almost every game, and his signed poster is in demand. I hope he plays well when he gets his chance, or those poster sales might plummet.”
I chuckle. “Fans love him. Or should I say the chicks?”
“It’s the selectors he needs to impress.”
We clink bottles before I turn to his mates. “Gerry. Paulo.” I nod to both guys. “The team is killing it this year.”
They clink their bottles against mine.
“Season has been a good one so far. Hope we can continue it on to the finals,” Gerry says.
“When do you guys start playing?” Paulo asks.
“In a couple more months,” I reply. Preseason is revving up now. “Next month we’re heading to Singapore for a trial game against the Devils.”
“Hope it’s a good year for you.”
I nod. “Thanks. Same to you.”
I keep the same beer bottle in my hand even though it’s empty. I talk to a few different guys, but the majority of guests are unfamiliar since Adele’s friends are two or three years younger, and she attended a different high school. I chat about trivial matters to his dad and consider how well he looks since Chance was worried about him. He rolls up the sleeves of his shirt, and I notice he’s lost weight. I’m wondering if it’s one of the things troubling Chance.
“Are you keeping fit, Mr B?”
“I am. Walking every day.”
I nod and don’t ask anything else about his health only about Chance and his training schedule compared to mine, and our families. An hour later, I head over to the bar for my second drink of the night. When I turn, Macy is standing behind me.
I hesitate.
What to do?
I smile and nod. “Macy.”
She tilts her head to the side, brown eyes wide. “What? No cocky remark from you, Burton?”
Burton. She’s never called me by my last name.
“Not tonight.” I lean over and kiss Adele. “Happy birthday, gorgeous. I left your gift with your mum.”
“Thanks, Reefy.” She reaches up and hugs me, arms pulling tight around my neck for me to help her balance. “Glad you could make it.”
“I wanted to come over sooner, but you’ve barely left the dance floor, or you’ve had a crowd around you, so I waited. I wasn’t being rude.”
“No problem-o.” She pushes her finger hard into my chest. “It’s Macy you should have been worried about.”
My gaze shoots to Macy.
“I don’t care,” she says quickly.
Clearly, she does. “Can I chat with you a moment?”
“I need a drink.”
I ask Chance for a bottle of water and hand it to her. “You need a chaser of water. Otherwise, you’re going to regret it tomorrow.”
“Whatever.” She takes it from me and downs half the bottle quickly.
In the far corner of the yard is a tall Jacaranda tree that has been there for years. As a child, I remember Chance’s parents sitting under it on a wooden bench chair drinking their coffee.
Assuming the chair is still there, I lead Macy away from the crowd and noise. She stumbles once, and I grab her elbow to catch her. “Easy. It’s paved so you won’t trip on anything except your own feet.”
She giggles, and I almost turn and head back thinking I’ve lost my window of opportunity, only I’m not giving up my one chance to talk. Drunk or not, I hope there are parts of our conversation she’ll remember.
I guide her to the seat without her objecting.
“Summer…” she says in a breathy sigh. “Don’t you love the stars at night?”
I gaze up to the clear night sky, stars twinkling, and agree.
“There’s the southern cross. And the saucepan.” She points.
I chuckle. “Your enthusiasm reminds me of when we were kids and used to go camping.”
She makes an exasperated sound. “I never camped as a kid.”
I look into her eyes, a shadow of darkness veiling her expression. It doesn’t matter