“You’re going to pay for this,” he said then stormed off toward the door.
His buddies got out, making sure to stay out of James’ way as they scurried after their preppy friend.
“You okay?” James asked as he turned around.
I nodded, putting my hand on his back. It felt so tight.
“Fucking assholes,” he muttered.
We made it back to our table and finished eating. The rest of the patrons acted as if nothing had happened. By the end of the snack, we were laughing and joking together again.
* * *
Back at the apartment, I invited him in, justifying it by telling myself I didn’t want to deal with Tabby and all her problems. If I brought James in, she would retreat to her bedroom for the night. At least I hoped so as I unlocked the front door.
“Excuse the mess,” I said as I walked inside.
Tabby looked up from the couch with a smile on her face. It faded as James stepped in behind me.
“Hey, Tabby. This is James.” I turned to him. “James, this is Tabby, my roommate.”
“I’ve seen you on campus, I think,” he said in a friendly tone.
“I doubt it,” she snapped.
As she stood and fled to her bedroom in back of the house, I didn’t even attempt to hide my smile. James shut the door then followed me into the living room.
“Was it something I said?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“She gets jealous of me.”
“Oh, do you swing both ways?”
“No!” I said a bit too loudly. “I’ve got nothing against that, but I like men.”
He smiled.
“Good to hear.”
“I’m still not sure why you’re so interested in me.” I pointed to the couch. “Have a seat.”
We sat down next to each other.
“I think it’s the way we met the first time,” he said. “You’re not digging my company?”
“No, no. I had fun. I mean, I’m having fun.”
He put his hand on my thigh.
“It’s okay. Calm down. Breathe.”
I stared into his dark brown eyes. He leaned forward, tilting his head slightly to the left. I mirrored his actions. Gravity – or some force – drew our bodies closer together.
Our lips met then moved back before pressing together more passionately. I felt his hand sliding higher, aiming for between my legs. My heart beat faster.
“Can you two go to your room at least?” Tabby asked.
I glanced up and saw her in the disgusting brown robe with her hands crossed over her chest.
“Do you mind?” I asked.
James moved back, holding his hands up.
“I’m not wanting to cause any roommate grief.”
“Good. Then you should leave,” Tabby said.
“Hey, that’s rude,” I said. “Don’t talk to him that way.”
“Whatever, Haley. I warned you. I’m going to watch my shows in here. If you two don’t like it, you can leave.”
I turned to James, a frown on my face.
“Can we pick this up some other time, please?”
“Sure.”
He turned to glare at Tabby then stood up.
“I’ll call you soon. It’s just that I think I remembered I have a pop-quiz tomorrow, and I need to study.”
He nodded.
“See you, Haley.”
As he walked toward the door, I thought about jumping up and chasing after him. He left before I acted, shutting the door behind him. It sounded so final.
I spun my head to Tabby. She had a self-satisfied smile on her face.
“You’re a bitch,” I said.
“I’m protecting you, Haley. He just wants one thing from you.”
“How would you know?” I shouted as I stood up. “Just leave me alone, okay? This might be our last semester together.”
“We have to be roomies,” she cried.
“I’m not in the mood now.”
I stormed past her and into my bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.
What the hell is her problem?
I wondered as I fell back-first on my bed. Laying across it sideways, I stared up at the ceiling and wondered what must be going through James’ mind. After all the resistance I’d shown, he would surely move on to the next woman.
Fuck my life.
SEVEN
James
The next morning, I woke up half-an-hour early to get an extra mile or two in on my run. Part of it had to do with the pizza I’d consumed the night before, but I also wanted time alone to sort through my thoughts. Haley had appeared in my dreams.
At least I thought it was her. I’d woken up with a raging boner, something that hadn’t happened in a long time. Now, running alone a walking trail that circles the entire campus, I tried to piece together why she attracted me so damn much.
I came up with no answers, just like the night before when she had asked me. We had gotten closer to sleeping together, but I wondered if even that would help get her out of my mind. As I neared the School of Architecture building, I saw trouble ahead.
Derek and a few of his frat brother friends stood on the path, blocking my way. I thought briefly about simply running around them, but that would only embolden them. As a top dog, many others had questioned my position and tried to fight me for it.
As a football player, I wasn’t supposed to get in trouble, and I didn’t want to risk injury, but I had to stick up for myself, not to mention Haley. Ten yards away, I stopped, jogging in place with a smile on my face. I always liked to try humor first.
“Hey, fellas, care to join me? You’re not dressed for it, but you all look a bit soft.”
“Keep laughing,” Derek said with a smug grin on his face. “You should know I talked to your coach. He’s not happy with you.”
“Yeah, well, it’s your work against mine. Coach trusts me. He doesn’t know shit about you fools.”
“Watch your mouth,” Derek said then peered to the left and right for reassurance from his friends.
I stopped jogging.
“Look, we got off to the wrong foot. I’m being more than kind with this bullshit. You were about to attack a woman…”
“We were drunk,” he interrupted. “It didn’t mean anything. We wouldn’t have gone through with it.”
“She was asking for it,” someone else said.
Take down their leader, and the rest will scatter
.
I braced myself, ready to pounce and strike Derek. He stared me down.
“Let’s go, guys. We’re done here.”
“That’s right,” I said, swinging back my shoulder as if I were about to hit him.
He flinched. I laughed and ran through them, not afraid of turning my back to them.
“Talk to your coach!” Derek yelled.
I raised a hand in the air, flipping him the bird.
They were just joking around
, I told myself, but by the time I got back to gym, I found myself walking toward his office, wondering if they had talked to him. They didn’t bother me, but it pissed me off they had practically assaulted Haley the other night.
As I approached the door, I heard him yelling. Curtis walked out a moment later, his head bent. He shook it as he passed.
“He wants to see you too.”
“What about?” I asked.
“Get in here, James!”
Fucking frat boys.
EIGHT
James
I walked into the office. Coach glanced up at me with the same look of disgust he usually wore, even when we won games. He didn’t say anything as I sat down at a hard, wooden seat in front of his desk.
“You going to be ready for this next game?”
“Yes, Coach.”
No frat-boys?
“Good. I hear your grades are up, and I’ve not heard of you partying hard. Who’s this new girl you’ve been hanging out with?”
I did my best to mask my emotions.
“Girl, Coach?”
“Come on, you know what the hell I’m talking about. Curtis gave you up to get out of trouble.”
That fucker…
“It’s not serious, Coach,” I lied.
He read me like a play-book.
“Tell me the truth. She going to distract you?”
“No, Coach. It’s under control. Football first. Always.”
“Damn straight,” he said then glanced down at a printed spreadsheet. “Your stats are looking solid, but I want you to try to push yourself a bit farther this next game. Can you do that, son?”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Why the hell do all of you guys say my name every time you answer?”
I cracked a smile.
“I’m not sure, Coach.”
He waved a hand through the air in front of him.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care. I’m too damn old, but I want one more big win.”
“We’re going to deliver it this year, Coach.”
“Well, make sure you’re not spending too much time chasing tail. I imagine there’s plenty of young women willing to lay with you.”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Get the hell out of here,” he said. “Remember, give me double.”
I stood and walked out of his office, determined to find Curtis and give him a piece of my mind. If Coach thought I was fucking around with a social life, he would stop helping me do my absolute best and increase my chances of hitting the pros after I graduated.
Many players like me dreamed of hitting it big, even if the average career of a football player was only about five or six years at most. And most of us had no chance of making pro. I believed I would make it, and that made me special.
Coach saw my potential, and I didn’t want to let him down. At the same time, a little down-time with Haley wouldn’t be a bad thing. When I walked into the locker room, I saw Curtis sitting on a bench, waiting for me. He stood up, holding out a palm.
“Calm down, buddy. He tricked it out of me.”
“You need to mind your own damn business,” I said, walking over.
The other players crowded around us.
“I don’t go around blabbing your secrets.”
“You don’t know any of my secrets,” he said.
“Oh, no? How about what happened at the Med-Center.”
His eyes widened.
“Who told you?”
I grinned, still having no idea what had happened.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Was it Haley?”
“No, it wasn’t,” I said. “You ratted me out to Coach. That’s what we’re talking about here.”
His demeanor changed instantly. He put a hand on my shoulder. I glanced over at it then back to his face, looking him straight in the eyes.
“I’m sorry, man. Coach is all over me, and…”
“It’s fine,” I said, cutting him off. “Just don’t let it happen again.”
“Get a fucking room, you two,” someone yelled.
The others laughed then wandered away.
“You getting suited up?”
“Yeah, yeah, give me a minute,” I said. “I’ve got to make a call.”
“That damn Haley is going to ruin your future career,” he warned.
“Let me worry about that, alright?”
I stepped away and pulled out my phone to call Haley. She answered right away.
“Hey, James. What’s up? I just got out of class.”
“I’m not stalking you. Promise.”
“Well, I’m not sure I would be too upset if you were. I mean, in a romantic way.”
“Noted,” I said. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking about you all day?”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, nothing dirty. I ran into Derek and his goons again today. We should talk about my goals.”
“Your goals?”
“What I want to do with my life after I graduate.”
“You’re going pro, aren’t you?”
“That’s the dream, but I don’t know if I’ll make it.”
“You’re going to make it.”
I smiled, loving her support.
“We could hang out later tonight.”
“Hang out?”
“Or more,” I added quietly so my teammates wouldn’t hear.
“Or more?”
“Stop copying me,” I said then laughed.
“Yeah. Make it after eight. Tabby will be gone by then.”
“See you later tonight, Haley.”
“Bye, James.”
I ended the call, feeling confident in my plan to rid myself of the pesky woman. Once we had sex or at least got a blowjob, I’d be able to concentrate on more important things, like football and going pro.