Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
I’m reluctantly pouring myself a cup of coffee and I don’t even drink the shit. Something needs to kick this killer hangover in the ass because I already missed my first class of the day and I can’t afford to miss any more. Coach is already on my ass about my grades and if they slip any further, I’m fucked.
The house is blissfully quiet, thank the Greek gods, because so much of a mouse crawling across the floor might make my head explode.
With my cup of coffee in hand, I go into the living room and sit back down on the couch where I slept last night. If my pounding head wasn’t proof enough that I was off my ass wasted, the lapse of memory is. I don’t even remember leaving the bar. I don’t even know how the hell I got back to the house.
As I bring the mug to my mouth, the scent wafts up my nose and my stomach curls. “Screw this nasty shit,” I mutter as I set it down on the end table beside me.
I lean back, paralyzing myself to the couch as I try to recall the events of last night. I remember talking to Brogan after the game. Then Kamden showed up and we brawled in the parking lot.
My finger skates across my bottom lip and I notice the slight bump. Wonder how Kamden’s looking this morning. I’m pretty sure I jacked up his nose.
After that, the guys and I went to Legends and it’s all a blur from that point on.
I pat my body down in search of my phone, but it’s not on me. Shit. Did I lose it last night?
I spring to my feet and stand up, immediately regretting that decision because the pounding in my head intensifies.
I scan the living room, searching for my phone. My eyes dart from the couch to the coffee table and then to each recliner. When I don’t see it, I drop to my hands and knees, scouring every inch of the carpet.
Relief floods through me when I see the end of it poking out from underneath a cushion. I pull it out and drop my ass to the floor, leaning my back against the couch.
No missed calls or messages is a good thing after a night of heavy drinking. But when I see that a text exchange was created with Brogan, I blow out a pent-up breath of air and slump further into the floor.
Bracing myself for whatever I may have said to her, I open the chat log.
Me: Your boyfriend is an asshole.
Okay. Not bad. And truthful, I might add.
Legs: I’m not sure how you got my number, but lose it please.
That’s it. I’m actually surprised as hell that I left it at that. I would have expected my drunk ass to at least respond because I’ve been told I become extremely defensive when I’m drinking.
It seems Brogan is the only person I texted last night and I’m grateful as hell for that. The combination of deep regret and being hungover is literally the worst. It’s the main reason why I usually don’t drink more than a beer or two. Especially during peak season for hockey. I don’t like who I become, or the choices I make.
After lying on the floor for a few minutes, my headache subsides enough for me to pull myself up and get in the shower so I can make it to at least two of my three classes today.
“He’s alive,” Lenny bellows as I walk into my clinical psych class. I hesitantly pull out a chair beside him because I know he’s gonna give me shit.
As suspected, he claps a hand on my back with a thud and lets out his booming laugh that echoes loud enough in the room to grab everyone’s attention. “My man, you were a mess last night. There is drunk—then there is Hayes Madden drunk .”
I sink into my chair and let my head fall back with a smile. “Good times, huh?”
Evan, one of the Kappa Rho frat members, and a housemate of mine, sits down in the empty seat beside me. We bump knuckles and he asks, “What’s up, brother?”
“Just another day,” I tell him before returning my attention to Lenny.
“We sure as hell had a good time,” Lenny says. “I don’t know about you, though. All you kept talking about is some chick named Brogan and that fucker Kamden Donnelly.”
Fuck. Was I seriously talking about her?
Lenny continues, “You must have it bad because I’ve never heard you talk about a girl like that. Or any girl, for that matter.”
That’s it. No more alcohol for a very long time.
“It’s probably best if we just pretend last night never happened.” I wave a hand, trying to dismiss the whole thing, but Lenny knows me too well.
“Nah, man,” he roars. “I need to know more about this girl.”
“Did you say Brogan?” Evan asks, grabbing my attention. “As in Brogan Astor?”
I tip my chin. “I don’t know her last name, but I imagine there aren’t many Brogans on campus. What about her?”
He holds his phone out, showing me a video of some chick rubbing her clit. Then the girl’s face appears. I snare the phone from his hand aggressively, giving the video a double take to make sure my eyes aren't deceiving me. “Holy fuck. Where’d you get this?”
Lenny grabs Evan’s phone from me and his eyes widen, a smile creeping on his lips, and I immediately snatch it back from him and swipe the screen to shut it off.
“What the fuck? Lemme watch,” Lenny grumbles.
I hold up Evan’s phone, my hands trembling. “How the fuck did you get this video?”
“The university FlashChat page,” he responds, and the casualty in his tone unnerves me. “My feed is full of it. Different clips and memes have been shared all morning. Rumor has it, Kamden Donnelly shared it.”
That son of a bitch.
Evan reaches for his phone, but I hold it back. “Report this shit. Every time either one of you sees this video, report it. And if I see anyone…” I raise my voice so the whole class hears me. “And I mean anyone, watching this video, I’ll smash your fucking phones with my bare hands.”
“Watch your language, Madden,” Professor Clements calls out.
I’m hit with a sudden urgency to go talk to Brogan. It seems we might actually agree on something for a change—Kamden Donnelly is a fucking prick who deserves to suffer. Who better to make that happen than his disgruntled ex.
Slamming Evan’s phone to the table, I push my chair back and get up. “Report it!” I grind out before gathering up my shit.
Our professor stares at me so I level him with a glare. “Unless you’re encouraging people to share unsolicited videos of women without their consent.”
He swallows thickly, eyes darting across the room. “No, Madden, I would not encourage that.”
Giving him a nod, I turn to the door. “You’ve all been warned.”
Lenny’s jaw drops and Evan frantically begins typing on his phone, no doubt spreading the message that this shit won’t stand while also reporting the video.
Walking steadfastly out of the room, I go out the main doors and head to the concrete staircase where students often gather. There is a couple dozen out here, casually hanging out, reading, and playing on their phones.
I walk behind each one of them, curious if they’re watching her.
My heart hammers against my rib cage when I step behind three guys who are crowded around a phone the middle one is holding. “What the fuck!” I growl as I reach between them and grab the phone right out of the douchebag's hands.
“Hey!” One of them lets out a high-pitched squeak. He’s pretty scrawny and looks like he should be in middle school, not college. He holds out his hand, face flushed with anger. “Give me my phone back.”
The other two hang back and keep their mouths shut because they know what’s good for them.
I grip the phone tightly in my hand. “You’re lucky I don’t shatter this thing right now. Mark my words, if I ever see you nitwits watching that video again, not only will I destroy your phones, I’ll break your goddamn teeth.”
Scrawny Boy shakes his head. “Fine. We won’t watch it. But do you plan on threatening the entire university? Because we’re not the only ones.”
I shove the phone into his chest and he catches it before it falls. “If that’s what it comes to. Don’t fuck with me.”
Jogging down the steps, I pull out my phone and text Avery. Brogan told me to lose her number last night, so I doubt she’d respond to me now. Her best friend will, though.
Me: Hey, it’s Hayes. I’m not sure if you’re aware of what’s going on but there is a very graphic video of your girl surfing around campus.
As I wait for a response, I head to the student center to get some food. I’m fucking famished and I can’t deal with this shit day and a hangover without food.