Page 20 of Wicked Truths

Two consenting adults that have history together.

“Because-” Her voice cracks. “Because of how I left two years ago.”

My heart constricts with pain as if I’m reliving the worst day of my life all over again. I refuse to let my mind go back there again right now.

We will need to have a conversation about our breakup and the past two years, but not right now.

“That’s the past.” I say, before turning away from her.

We are silent for several minutes as I finish cooking and plate our food. I carry the plates over to the couch and turn on the television.

The nightly local news is on, so I leave it on as we eat.

We watch the weather forecast before they change topics to the viewer asked questions on social media.

The news anchor, Betty, reads the first question. “Why hasn’t the sale of the local hockey team, the Savannah Sharks, been covered?”

She glances toward her co-anchor before saying, “We don’t talk about sales of businesses. If we did, we would be here all day and night.”

The next question pops up on the screen, and she reads it aloud. “Is it true that the city is covering up illegal activity from the Marino family? I heard the daughter is going to be working for the team.”

Betty’s gaze drops to the stack of papers on the desk in front of her before the channel cuts to a commercial.

“What the fuck?” Francesca yells and stands.

I skip over the illegal activity and focus on her.

“I’m assuming they cut to commercial because those weren’t the questions they expected. I wouldn’t worry if I were you. You are more than qualified for this job. I mean, you went and got your degree.”

“Yeah, but my brother plays for the team and my father owns it. Me getting the job was completely biased.”

“The community will see that your family is changing the team and arena for the better. I know your dad has plans to upgrade and renovate the arena to make it a better experience for the fans.”

She plops back down on the couch.

“How am I supposed to make things better when the community already thinks this negatively?”

“Fuck them and their opinions. You can’t live life worrying about what other people think. You will go to the arena tomorrow and start your new job, and you will be great at it.”

“Do you think so?”

Is she really this unsure of the job?

“Yes, I do. You have this weird, but useful, ability to make everything look better. Do you remember when Joey and I got into the fist fight after our first game together and he busted my lip open?”

She laughs. “Yeah, and I told the press the next morning that I accidentally smacked you in my sleep.”

“Yeah, see? You protected your family and the team.”

She didn’t want to kiss me because she was afraid that it would hurt. I didn’t mind, though. Kissing her was worth the tiny bit of pain it caused.

She laughs louder at the memory. “And outed us as a couple at the same time.”

I shrug. “I didn’t mind that part. Your brother, father, and uncle already knew. Hell, the entire team even knew.”

She sighs and stares at her pasta. “Yeah. Times were simpler back then.”

They can be that simple again. If we are both open and honest.