Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot Read Free Book Online

pizza is. I mean, in
England they have loads of pizza restaurants, but they just don’t
taste like this,” Robyn said as she ate her third slice of
pepperoni thick crust.
    Milo had cleaned up the empties from the floor and
started the dishwasher, before Robyn had dismissed him until the
following day. He was still shaking when he left, but seemed
grateful he still had a job. She didn’t think a little fear of your
boss was a bad thing.
    Now the three friends were eating pizza and sharing a
pitcher of beer. It was just like old times and Robyn couldn’t stop
smiling. It was her gang, back together again.
    “So you still love food, that’s obvious,” Brad said,
watching Robyn eat.
    “Oh God yeah! Pam and Bob took me to the Old Country
Buffet after they picked me up from the airport. Oh man, that place
has just got better, if that’s possible,” Robyn remarked.
    “Her accent’s coming back, have you noticed that?
Three beers and half a pizza and it’s back,” Mickey said with a
laugh.
    “It’s so good to see you,” Robyn said.
    “You’ve said that five times now,” Sarah told
her.
    “So? Come on, tell me what I’ve missed. Who’s doing
what? Who’s dating who? Who’s feuding? I want to know everything,”
Robyn said energetically.
    “We’re still dating,” Mickey announced with a laugh,
snaking an arm around Sarah.
    “We’re hardly dating. We live together,” Sarah
reminded with a tut.
    “But you still go on dates. Look at you! Pizza at
Eddie’s Roadhouse,” Robyn said.
    “Yeah, it’s pizza vouchers and a burger at the Texas
Ranch House if we’re lucky,” Sarah announced with a sigh.
    “There ain’t nothing wrong with pizza and burgers,
and you gotta love the discounted ones,” Mickey said.
    “Things aren’t so good here right now, Robyn. You
know, economically,” Brad informed her.
    “Yeah, well, I know. It’s like that the whole world
over.”
    “People aren’t going out as much as before or buying
houses…especially buying houses,” Sarah said with another sigh.
    “Come on, how many you sold this week?” Robyn asked,
wanting to know.
    “This week? None! This whole month only four. Things
are quiet.”
    “Well, what about hockey? How many spectators on
average per game?” Robyn asked.
    “Approximately one hundred and thirty-four last
game,” Mickey told her.
    “There was no approximately about it. We counted
them,” Brad added.
    “No!” Robyn couldn’t believe it. “We used to have a
crowd of at least a thousand every week!”
    “Not for a long time. To be honest, we’re not sure
how long the town’s going to have a hockey team,” Brad told
her.
    “You’re kidding me? Things are that bad?”
    “We’ve only got a squad of ten,” Mickey added.
    “Guys, what’s been going on?! A squad of ten! How did
this happen? And why hasn’t Bob told me this?” Robyn said in
horror.
    “We lost a lot and missed out on promotion. Some of
the guys went to play for other teams, and when Eddie got sick we…”
Brad began.
    “That’s it, I’ve heard enough. Can you tell everyone
to meet at the arena tomorrow night? We need to strategize and get
things back on track,” Robyn said. She tugged hard at her ponytail
and nodded her head.
    “Well, Grant’s been kind of managing the team since
Eddie went into hospital and…” Mickey started.
    “I know he has and he barely knows the difference
between hooking and roughing,” Robyn announced.
    “He’s done his best and he’s a good guy,” Mickey
replied.
    “Yeah, course he is,” Robyn answered in an
unconvincing manner.
    “I don’t think he has much contact with Jason
anymore,” Sarah spoke up.
    Robyn felt her stomach contract, and a shiver ran
over her whole body. She fought the urge to show any emotion and
tightened her grip on her beer glass. She’d been here a good few
hours but it was inevitable his name would come up sooner or
later.
    “We don’t need to talk about him tonight. Robyn’s
just come home