Chapter 33
Randy
“Hey, Mullins!” I yell up ahead as I make my way from one class to the next.
“Ohhh shiiiittt!” Mitch breathes out beside me.
I hold Rachel’s coffee in my hand and resist the urge to squeeze the cup in anger.
“Just remember what Cap said,” Reilly says from beside Mitch.
“Just want to chat. Plus, the captain happens to be my best friend. Whose side do you think he is going to take?” I growl out, knowing full well that although Christian is my best friend, the logical captain in him would go the responsible route and not automatically side with his friend.
Still, dick face is going to hear what I have to say.
Mullins slows from up ahead, turning and waiting for me. “Hey, man,” he greets me, his response is laced with apprehension, although he tries to hide it.
“Heard you asked my girl on a date?”
His demeanor drops. “Rachel? Didn’t think she was yours?”
“It’s a dick move, and I expect better from my friends.”
“Didn’t know you two were serious.” He shakes his head.” You’re with a different girl every week. How the fuck was I supposed to know? Besides…she turned me down.”
I grin internally at that. “Just stay away from her and make sure everyone else does too!” I say, walking off and leaving him standing in the middle of the sidewalk. Short, sweet, no blood, and I got my point across.
Walsh: Seth, Georgina is here.
Seth: Tell her I’m on my way.
Me: Is it really necessary to group chat that?
Christian: SETH’S ABOUT TO GET LAID!
Me: Fuck off!
Walsh: I’ll sky write it next time.
Seth: I’m helping her with an assignment.
Christian: Whatever u wanna call it, bro.
Seth: *Seth left the group*
I wait at the doorway to our class with Rachel’s chai latte in hand.
I’ve been doing this twice a week for nearly three weeks, and all I’ve gotten in return is being blatantly ignored.
It’s actually become Mitch, Lewis, and Reilly’s favorite time of the week, watching me continually get shut down.
Mitch doesn’t even take this subject; he just shows up for the first ten minutes, watches my attempt to talk to Rachel fail, laughs his ass off and then leaves.
Today, however, I’m optimistic after spending time with Rachel and Sam on the football field a few days ago.
“Okay, I have five bucks on another rejection,” Lewis says as he stands next to me, leaning against the wall.
“Ahh, come on, man, look at him,” he says, pointing to me. “He’s so gorgeous—look at that chiseled jawline. Who can say no to that?”
“Thanks, man,” I say to Mitch.
“But I’ve got five bucks on another rejection too,” Mitch adds.
“Don’t you have somewhere better to be?” I shoot him a frown as I wait. I know she isn’t already in class because I got here early and checked the room, like I usually do.
“Not really,” he replies.
“I’ll take your bets,” Reilly chimes in. “He’s looking more pathetic and desperate each time he does this. She has to give in soon. Although,” he points to my hand, “I am enjoying those chais.”
“That’s gross, man, they taste like dirt,” Lewis says, screwing up his face in disgust.
“I’m so glad my friends have my back,” I mumble to them as I spot Rachel walking toward the building. She’s by herself, head down as she clutches her laptop across her chest.
I push myself off the wall and walk toward her as she nears the door.
My friends hang back like always, but I don’t pay them any attention, my eyes only on her.
So I have no idea if Mitch is filming my rejection like he did last Tuesday.
That fucking video of my total dismissal got shared around the whole team.
All you could hear was the boys howling in laughter as I once again got blatantly shut down. Dicks.
She gives me an expressionless look like she has done the past few weeks, and I take a deep breath and give her my best greeting. “Hey, Rachel,” I say, walking over to her and offering her the drink.
For the first time, she reaches out and accepts the coffee.
I internally beam. “Can I sit with you?”
She slowly nods her head. “Sure.”
I grin so big it hurts my face, and it makes her smile even though she tries to hide it behind the rim of her cup.
“After you,” I say, gesturing for her to enter the room. Once she is safely in front of me, I turn to my shit friends as they pass through the door in disbelief. I smirk and mouth to them, ‘Did you record that?’ while saluting them the double bird.
“My chai!” Reilly groans. “But, on the upside, I’m ten bucks up.” He flashes Mitch and Lewis with a grin as they climb the stairs.
Taking a seat next to Rachel, I’m content that I’m once again sitting next to her. I was getting over staring at the back of her head all through class and hearing nothing the professor was saying.
Lewis and Reilly take a seat in the row in front of us, and I watch Mitch and Lewis pass cash to Reilly, then Mitch leaves.
“How is Sam? Has he been practicing anything I showed him the other day?”
She nods her head, and I get excited that he is taking what I taught him to heart. “Really?”
“Yeah,” she seems reluctant to say more, but I think she can see the joy it brings me.
She takes a deep breath and releases it over the rim of her coffee. “He hasn’t stopped talking about it. Dragged my dad out to the backyard and pretty much told him everything you said word for word.”
Her words light up my face, and for the first time in a long while, she looks at me the way she used to. Bit by bit, I watch the wall between us begin to crack.
“You made his day, honestly. So, thank you again for that.”
“I want to take you and Sam out again. It might not be to the stadium, but I’m free to go to the park whenever.”
She nods as the professor clears his throat and starts talking. “I’ll think about it,” she whispers.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” I whisper back as I settle into my chair.