35. Chapter 36
Chapter 36
CHRIS
S inking down onto the closed toilet seat, I hold a mirror out in front of me while I glob the wand of the skin-colored goop onto my face. I grimace at the stark contrast of it on my skin. It’s about two shades too light, but then, I guess that’s the point. I need to look deathly pale if I’m to convince Coach I’m sick.
Dabbing at it with my fingers, I spread it around my face, adding more as needed until it’s covering every square inch of skin. Satisfied, I set it down and open the stuff I’m pretty certain is meant for your eyelids and brush some of the black powdery shit beneath my eyes.
Bang, bang, bang!
I jump at the pounding on the bathroom stall, smearing a streak of black on my cheek. “Shit,” I hiss under my breath, then call out, “It’s occupied!”
Bang, bang, bang!
“Are you taking a pregame shit or what?” Jace shouts. “You’ve been in there forever.”
I roll my eyes at the dramatics. “I’ve been in here for ten minutes.”
“Well, let me in. I wanna talk.”
“You wanna talk while I take a shit?” I ask, staring up at the stall door.
“So, you really are shitting?”
I sigh and shake my head. “You want to talk at the oddest times, but okay.” I unlatch the lock and push the door open, lowering my face to the makeup in my lap.
“Knew you weren’t taking a crap,” he says as he crowds into the stall. “So, did you figure out how to get out of the game?” he whispers.
Jace and the guys know all about my afternoon plans. “Maybe.” I glance up at him with a smile, and he yelps, hugging his arms to his chest.
“What the . . . Is your plan to turn yourself into Casper the Friendly Ghost, because I have to say, bro, I don’t think it’s working for you.”
I scoff just as Brandon appears behind him. “Hey, guys . . . Whoa!” His mouth gapes as he stares down at me. “What the fuck happened to you?”
Jace reaches down and picks up the tube of makeup. “Are we having an identity crisis?”
“No.” I rip it out of his hand. “Relax. This is all part of the plan.”
“And the plan is . . .”
“I’m going to fake getting sick,” I say like it should be obvious.
“And you think that shit you’ve globbed on your face is gonna work?” he asks, motioning toward my face.
“I’m pale with dark circles around my eyes, so yeah.”
“You’re pale alright,” Brandon mutters, looking slightly alarmed.
Whistling followed by the sound of footsteps approach, and Jace and Brandon turn to find Damon coming toward us. “Guys, pregame warm-ups start in five,” he starts, then stops beside Brandon, taking one look at me before his jaw drops. “What the actual fuck?”
“Is it that bad?” I ask.
“Chris is sick.” Brandon tips a chin toward me before I can answer.
“In the head.” Jace snickers.
“I need to skip the game,” I say, leaning forward to whisper so no one else can hear. “But if I tell Coach the truth, he’ll bench my ass or worse. So, I’m faking sick, hence the makeup.”
“Okay, but why do you look like Danny DeVito as the Penguin in Batman .” Damon winces as he stares at me.
“The fuck I look like Danny DeVito. That shit’s insulting.” I point.
Damon’s lips twitch, and I know that asshat is fighting a smile. “We need you today. Can’t you skip another game?”
“Can my girlfriend’s mother join a mental health rehabilitation center another day so I can play OSU?” I arch a brow. “No, you jaded motherfucker.”
“Geez.” Damon holds his hands up. “Someone’s hostile. It was just a suggestion. No need to get your panties in a twist.”
“So, what’s the whole plan?” Brandon asks as he motions toward my face. “Because this can’t be it.”
“The plan is to look sickly, and right before we go out for pregame warm-ups, I’ll drink some of this.” I pull the little bottle from my pocket and wave it in front of their faces. It’s my secret weapon.
Brandon leans forward, eyes squinting at the label. “Ipecac?”
Jace frowns. “Wait. Isn’t that the shit they use for kids when they swallow something poisonous to make them puke?”
“Yep.” I grin. “I know, I’m a genius.”
Brandon’s eyes widen. “Sooooo, you’re going to barf all over the place? That’s your plan?”
“Yep,” I say, popping the p . “And I have to say, boys, the monster burrito I had for lunch isn’t sitting well.”
“Damn, even I have to admit that’s pretty good. But what makes you think medical won’t just hold you?”
“I can be persuasive,” I say with a grin.
“Okay, but you can’t go out there like this,” Brandon says, crouching down in front of me and furiously rubbing the shit into my skin.
“Ow! That fucking hurts, bro.” I swat at his hands, and he laughs.
“It’s not my fault you used a gallon of it. You need to blend this shit in. Don’t you know anything?” he says with a shake of his head.
“I grew up in a house with six brothers. How the hell am I supposed to know about makeup?”
“By the way, where’d you get this stuff, anyway?” Jace asks, examining the tube of flesh-colored goop while Brandon finishes his handiwork.
“Brynn left it in our bathroom,” I say with a grimace.
Jace’s gaze snaps to mine, his mouth agape. “Bro, she’s gonna kill you.”
“I thought about that.” Chris raises a finger. “But if I tell her it was because I’m in love with her best friend, she’ll have to forgive me, right?”
Jace grunts, which is as good as a yes.
“I don’t get it,” Damon says, crossing his arms over his chest as he leans against the opening to the stall. “You’re going to all this effort to help her mother. Why? ”
“I might be helping her mother, but I’m doing this for Charlotte. There’s a lot to it, but I need to prove to her that I’ll stick around even through the hard shit. That she’s worth the effort. And, because I’m an optimist who’s hoping to give her a brighter future. One where she’s no longer waiting for the shoe to drop.”
“Damn, you must really love her.” Damon shakes his head, clearly unable to understand my motives, and I can’t help but think his ex must really have done a number on him.
“Okay,” Brandon says, stepping back. “Pretty damn good if I do say so myself.”
“Wow.” Jace nods in approval as he looks me over. “Not bad.”
“It’s about time to head out,” Damon says, glancing back at the clock. “Coach will be waiting.”
“Okay, boys. Let’s do this.” I lift the bottle of ipecac and unscrew the lid. “Bottoms up.”