Chapter 28
DANNY
Our celebration is at full swing at Tailgaters, a popular college hangout not far from the stadium, when the Ravens show up.
Half of the people here are underage, but since this isn’t technically a bar, no one gets carded on the way in.
It’s the easiest thing to get a fake ID if you have the right connections and enough money though. Andy got mine as a birthday present.
Despite my commitment to not party too hard—which I didn’t during preseason training—I reckon I deserve to let loose a bit.
I wasn’t expecting to see Sadie here though, and that immediately puts a damper on my good mood.
I toss my head back and gulp down the last of my beer, trying my hardest to ignore her presence.
“Ah hell. It seems the Ravens had the same idea we did,” Andy pipes up. “Are you going to be okay, Danny-boy?”
“Bite me, Andy. I can hang out with them.”
But I’m hoping Sadie will give me a wide berth. She’s been in my head for too long, and I’m just beginning to get over her.
Paris joins us at the high-top table, carrying more drinks. I twist the cap off my beer bottle and gulp down half in one go.
“Whoa. Easy there, buddy,” Paris says.
“He’s trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Let him be,” Andy replies.
I set the bottle back on the table with a loud thud and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “What sorrows? You’re delusional.”
My eyes catch Vanessa’s from across the room, and with a smile, she heads our way. I no longer have a visual of Sadie, not that I was looking for her.
“Hey, boys. I heard about your win. Congratulations,” she says.
“You too,” Paris says. “Here, have a beer.” He offers his, which still has the cap on.
“It’s okay. I was heading to the bar. Who really needs a drink is our MVP.” She looks around until she sees what she was looking for. Waving, she says, “Sadie, over here!”
Ah hell. Why, Vanessa? Why?
I take another sip of my beer, and when Sadie joins us, I look at everything but her.
“Hey, what’s up?” she says in greeting.
“Sadie, what do you want to drink?” Vanessa asks.
“Oh, I don’t think I should be drinking. Bad memories from the last time I got trollied.”
I stiffen my back and finally look at her. No, not look. Glare. Is she for real?
“Is that so?” I ask, not hiding my annoyance.
She widens her eyes as surprise shines in them. “Are you mental? I wasn’t talking about that night.”
Shame washes over me and I look away, finishing my beer as I do so. Fuck. Maybe I should just go home. I can’t keep my cool when I’m around her, and I don’t want to make a fool of myself.
A loud ruckus by the entrance of the bar draws my attention. Sadie and Vanessa turn to investigate the noise as well. A second later, I spot the cause, and if I thought the evening couldn’t get any worse, I was wrong. Nick Fowler and his sycophants are here.
“Son of a bitch. Why can’t we get rid of that pest?” Vanessa mumbles angrily.
“Didn’t they lose their game?” Paris asks.
“Yeah, they did, which means Nick will be more obnoxious than usual.”
“Let him. I hope he gives me another chance to smash his balls,” Sadie replies, earning an angry glance from Vanessa.
“Don’t even think about it. With Melody out of commission, we need you. I won’t let you get a suspension because of that weasel.” She turns to look at us. “That includes the three of you too.”
“You’re not my captain,” Paris retorts angrily.
“No, but I am, and Vanessa is right,” Andy cuts in. “As much as I’d love to teach Fowler a lesson, I won’t jeopardize the team. Let’s just ignore him.”
“Too bad he doesn’t seem like he wants to ignore us. Asshole is coming our way,” I say.
I shift closer to Sadie, an automatic move. I don’t know if she noticed, but if she did, at least she didn’t step away.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the football players trying to pluck the flowers from my garden,” Nick slurs.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Vanessa glowers. “And what’s that awful smell? Did you take a dive in a cesspool before coming here?”
He shoots her an angry glance, but he’s too drunk to hold the stare for too long.
“I’m saying football players have their cheerleaders. They don’t need to fuck around with our girls.”
“Your girls? Aren’t you a delusional wanker?” Sadie retorts angrily. “Just piss off already. You’re stinking up the place.”
Nick takes a step toward her. “Listen here, you little b—”
I push him back. “Back off, Nick. No one wants you around. You’re an embarrassment to this school’s sports department.”
Suddenly, Nick is yanked back by his friend. “Sorry, guys.”
“Let go of me, Leonard.” He tries to break free, but he’s too drunk for that.
“Nick, we’re leaving. If Coach finds out you were drunk and creating trouble again, you’ll be benched.”
“You should let him get benched. It’s not like he’s doing much for your team anyway,” Andy chimes in.
I see the remark doesn’t sit well with Leonard, but he swallows his anger and drags Nick out.
“Okay, I definitely need a drink after interacting with that mongrel,” Vanessa declares.
“Blimey. Me too. He’s a fucking prat.” Sadie replies absentmindedly.
I notice she’s touching the place where her scar is. I never found out how she got that, and now I probably never will. The thought that we’ve gotten so close and then so far apart in such a short span of time does my head in and also makes me unbearably depressed.
“You know what? I think I’m just going to call it a night,” I declare.
Andy's eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”
“How many beers did you have?” Sadie asks, surprising the hell out of me.
“Plenty, but I’m not driving.”
I leave it at that and walk away. Let her think whatever she wants. She wanted me out of her life; she doesn’t get to know anything about mine.