8. Gavin
GAVIN
“Well?” Noah asks as I get back to the table.
“She’s single,” I mutter. “And thanks a lot. Now Violet thinks I want to ask Jane out.”
He and Jenkins burst out laughing.
“Why didn’t you just tell her you were asking for Noah?”
“She didn’t give me much of a chance.” I tip the beer bottle back, letting the cool liquid slide down my throat.
Violet’s standing near the door, hugging Daisy. A second later, she and Dahlia leave. Perfect. Not only did I offend her, but I also ran her off.
My buddies and I only stay for one beer. It’s been a long day and we have another game Friday and then a tournament next week. I love the rush of the end of the season, but it is exhausting.
The following night, Jenkins and I head to the bowling alley to meet up with Jordan and Liam, who are already waiting for us.
“Sorry,” I apologize as I pull on my team shirt, “Coach had us watching film pretty late tonight.”
“No worries,” Liam says. “I already got us set up and ready to go.”
The four of us: me, Jenkins, Liam, and Jordan started bowling together our freshman year. We all lived in the dorms across the hall from each other and became quick friends.
Since Liam and Jordan both play hockey, it’s nice to get out and shoot the shit with guys that get it but aren’t teammates.
As the captain, I feel a certain pressure to be an example.
But not here. Jenkins has seen me do some really dumb shit, so have the other two.
They all get it, which makes it nice to just kick back once a week and catch up with them.
“How have you been? I barely got to talk to you last night.” Jordan takes the seat next to me after his frame.
“That’s because you were sucking face with your girl.”
He smiles.
“Things are good,” I say.
“Bullshit. You look stressed. Is it about the latest blow up with your parents in the news?”
I clamp my mouth shut.
“Okay, not talking about that. Got it.” Jordan nods his head. “Let’s talk girls then. Specifically, did you really hit on Jane?”
“Oh my god.” I throw my hands up exasperated. “I was asking for Noah. Violet flipped out before I could explain. And why does she care anyway? She fucking hates me.”
He shakes his head and lets out a low whistle through his teeth. “You two sure know how to get under each other’s skin.”
“It’s like the less I want to piss her off, the more I end up doing it.” I blow out a breath. “I think maybe I should just cut my losses and steer clear. She’s never going to forgive me.”
“Have you really tried?” he asks.
“What do you mean? Of course I have.”
“Have you said the words, ‘I’m sorry?’” Liam asks.
Suddenly, everyone’s looking at me.
“What is this?” I ask.
“We just want you to be happy,” Jenkins says.
Perfect. I’m a pity case. These three are all coupled up, and suddenly, I’m a project.
“I apologized a million times last year.”
“Maybe you should try again now that some time has passed.” Jordan shrugs one shoulder.
“Yeah,” Liam agrees. “Should we spitball some ideas?”
“I’m fine,” I say. “I’m fine. She’s fine. Everyone is fine. Leave it be.”
“One more fine and I won’t believe you.” Jordan smirks.
“It’s your turn,” I grit out.
He just smiles at me.
As we pull into the driveway of the White House after bowling, I get a call from my mom. I wait until I step out of the car to answer, “Hey.”
Jenkins goes inside, but I linger in the driveway.
“How have you been?” she asks.
“Good. You saw we won last night?”
“I did.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “We did too.”
“I know. I caught the highlights.”
“One step closer. Maybe if I win a national tournament, my son might come visit and help me celebrate.”
I laugh at the tiny dig. It’s hard to get away from school during the season.
Even during breaks, there are games or practices.
Same for her. Though I can admit that part of the reason I haven’t been home much in the past few years is to avoid dealing with her and my dad.
He moved out a long time ago, but it’s just all too freaking weird still.
As if she knows exactly what I’m thinking, she asks, “Have you talked to your father?”
“No, but I caught his interview in Men’s Health.”
For all the shit that he’s pulled, it still surprises me how considerate my mom is of him.
She always makes sure I’m calling him, encourages me to have a relationship with him.
I can tell you for sure that when I talk to him on the phone, he doesn’t waste any breath on asking me if I’ve heard from my mother.
Though, she’s a lot more consistent in calling, so maybe there’s a reason he doesn’t bother to ask.
“I know he would like to hear from you,” she says and sighs into the phone. “Just because things didn’t work out with me and him, he’s still your father, Gavin.”
“I know.” I run a hand through my hair, looking up into the dark sky. My gaze lingers on the window on the side of the house. Violet’s window. I can’t see her, but I know she’s in there. I wonder what she’s doing up there. Probably hatching a plan to set my house on fire.
“Gavin?” my mom says my name, recapturing my attention.
“I heard you. I will call him,” I promise.
“Good. Now that we’ve covered that, how are your grades?”
As my mom and I chat, I continue to stand in the driveway. I don’t even realize that I’m still staring at Violet’s window until the light goes off. A minute later, the front door opens, and she comes out in shorts and a tank top.
“I gotta go, Mom,” I say. “Good luck at your games this weekend.”
“Thank you. You too.”
As I hang up and pocket my phone, I walk toward Violet. Her gaze flicks up, and then her eyes widen when she sees me walking her way. She looks behind her like I might be coming to talk to somebody else. I fight a laugh. This freaking chick.
“Hey.” I slow my steps when I reach her.
“Hiiii?” She draws out the word.
Now that I’m standing in front of her, I have no idea what to say.
Maybe I should just blurt out, ‘I’m sorry.’ Contrary to the guys giving me shit about it, I have apologized. But once more couldn’t hurt, right?
“About Jane, I wasn’t asking for me. Noah wanted to ask her out.”
She nods slowly. “Okay. Was that all? I’m heading on a food run.”
“Late night studying?”
She doesn’t answer.
“No, that wasn’t all.” I shift uncomfortably. “I also wanted to apologize.”
She rears back like I’m about to strike. “For what?”
“Everything. I’m sorry about all of it.”
She stands there. Maybe a little stunned. “Everything?”
“Yeah. Things didn’t work out the way I hoped they would with us. I know that’s my fault, and I’m sorry.”
Her laugh is short and brittle. “You’re sorry that you cheated on me or that I caught you?”
I’m at a loss for words. Of course, I’m fucking sorry. I’ve regretted it every day since.
“I never meant to hurt you, Violet. You were amazing. We had so much fun together. I don’t even remember leaving with Bailey that night.”
At the mention of her old roommate, she stiffens. “You know what? You can keep your apology. I don’t want it, I don’t need it, and I do not accept it.”