Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
ALEX
After the bloodbath that was our loss today, the team trudges back to the locker room.
I’m not looking forward to the screams that’ll come out of Coach’s mouth.
I mean, we lost, epically, and it’s homecoming.
I fumbled the ball three times, let my quarterback get sacked so many times I think he’s going to have permanent bruises on his ass, and I didn’t score one damn point. Worst. Game. Ever.
I get to my locker and grab my phone, hoping that she’s responded to my texts.
Nothing. There’ve been no texts and no voice mails from her.
It doesn’t make sense. There has got to be something wrong.
After the coach has his say, I quickly shower and dress so I can book it back to the dorm.
Not bothering to go to my room, I take the stairs two at a time to the fourth floor.
I bang on Stella’s door. No answer. I knock again.
Footsteps. Finally! The door opens, it’s her roommate.
“Oh, hey, Alex,” she says seductively.
No time for that shit. “Where’s Stella?”
“Stella? You’re looking for Stella?” She’s got a bitchy smirk on her face. “She didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what, goddamn it? Where is she? Is she okay?”
“Oh, she’s okay, all right. I can’t believe she didn’t call you. I told her to tell you, but she just shrugged it off. The girl doesn’t ever listen to me.”
Why would she? Brooke is no friend of Stella’s. “What are you talking about? Spit it out.”
“It’s terrible that she didn’t tell you…” She pauses. “About her and Bradley.”
“What about Bradley and Stella?” I yell.
“Calm down. Jeez. Okay. I’ll tell you, but remember, don’t kill the messenger.”
I stand there with my hands on my hips, waiting for the bitch to speak. This day has sucked so hard.
“They’re back together.”
“What? Who’s back together?”
“Stella and Bradley, silly. Apparently, her family put enough pressure on her, and she finally agreed. They went home together this morning. He picked her up bright and early.”
“That makes no sense. I just talked to her last night.”
No, wait. I haven’t spoken to her. I sent her a text earlier in the day, but I haven’t actually spoken to her.
Come to think of it, we haven’t actually spoken all week––well, except outside of her Intro to Business class.
Damn it. She’d been crying. I bet it wasn’t over some stupid class either.
I’m such a dipshit. I’ve been so focused on the game this weekend.
My mind was on that. It was on her too, but I guess I thought things were fine.
I was just giving her space. Maybe I gave her too much space—just enough time to think about what she was missing with the douchebag.
She probably compared us and decided that Bradley was a safer bet.
Whatever. Fuck it. Jesus! Women. Who needs them?
Brooke’s watching me as I think about everything from this past week. The more I think, the more pissed I become. “Goddamn it. This is bullshit!” I yell.
“So, Alex, what are you going to do right now?” she asks, flirting.
“The hell if I know.” The guys are all going out to drown their sorrows. Maybe I’ll go along. “I’m gonna get drunk.”
“Well, can I come along? I could use a drink too. It’s been very dramatic here.
My heart’s broken too. I’m so sick of Stella getting everything she wants.
I knew it the minute she walked into my dorm room.
Talk about a spoiled princess. If it isn’t Bradley fawning all over her, it’s her dad and then you.
Well, it used to be you. I mean, the girl is fat and ugly.
What is it about her that draws you all like flies to that shit?
” She’s literally got her lip pushed out like she’s a pouting little brat.
I only heard a few words out of that entire thing. Stella and spoiled princess doesn’t ring a bell, but I can’t seem to find it in me to argue with her tonight. “Fine, whatever,” I spout. “Everyone’s going to Changes.” I turn and stomp down the hallway toward the elevator.
As I walk away, I hear, “Hang on. Let me grab my purse, Alex.” I pause for several minutes until I hear her feet tapping on the concrete floor.
At the elevator, she starts jabbering on again.
“The other football players hang out at Changes, don’t they?
This’ll be great. We can go commiserate with them over your loss. ”
I’ve tuned her out at this point. She can get her own ass to the bar. Not my responsibility. Fuck women.
At the bar, I leave Brooke at the front door.
Sure, I gave in and let her ride with me, but she’s on her own now.
At the bar, I order two shots of whiskey and a beer.
All for myself. I watch as a skinny arm reaches past me to grasp one of the shots.
I glare down at her. “Mine.” Luckily, Brooke takes the hint and moves away from me.
“Time to get drunk,” I mutter before I slam the first shot back.
I guess my angry growling has no effect on this woman because not thirty minutes later, she’s shouting, “Come on, Alex. Let’s have some fun,” all while attempting to pull me out onto the tiny dance floor.
I pull my arm free. “No, thanks. I don’t dance.” And why would I? There’s nothing to dance about.
She stops moving toward the dance floor and comes back to me. Reaching up, she wraps her arms around my neck, and she coos, “Poor Alex. I know just what you need to feel better.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I’m hoping she says she’ll disappear, but that’s nothing close to what she suggests. Nope, she offers me the “best blowie of my life in the bathroom.”
“No, thanks,” I mutter. “Jesus. I just want to hang with the guys. Go talk to Smitty or someone on the defensive line. They’re always looking for head.”
“Oh, well, that’s rude!” She stomps away and directly in the path of none other than Smitty.
I step toward the bar in time to see Hank grabbing a beer. I didn’t even see him come in.
“What the hell are you doing here, man?” Hank asks.
“I needed a drink. No, I needed a shot. Let’s get drunk and forget this day ever happened. Where’s Lily?”
“She’s back at the dorm freshening up. I’m here for one beer before I walk over to get her. She met my parents today, man.”
“Yeah, how did that go?”
“Awesome. They loved her. I mean, what’s not to love?”
Just then Brooke strolls over and hands a shot to me, then one to Hank. “This should cheer you up, babe.”
Ignoring her words, I throw back the shot and slam the short glass back onto the bar. I needed that.
“What the hell are you doing here with her?” he says, pointing at Brooke who’s now dancing all by herself on the makeshift dance floor. “Actually, why are you here at all? You never go out,” Hank asks, concerned.
“She dumped me, man.”
“Who?”
“Stella, she dumped me.”
“No way.” He shakes his head. “That chick was completely into you.”
“Apparently not. I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to drink, heavily.”
“All right. I would probably want to do the same thing. Here, I’ll help you with your quest.” He hands me the shot Brooke just gave him. “I’ve got to warn you though, Alex… that girl, right there,” he says, pointing at Brooke, “is bad news.”
“I know, man. She’s not here with me. She just followed me here.” Damn, I need more to drink. I can’t stop picturing Stella with dickface Bradley. “Yo! Waitress? Shot me again!” I yell.