Chapter 21
Ethan
I let the strong shower water relax my muscles after the last practice before tomorrow's game against Harvard. I use the time to think about everything that's happened lately.
We got used to Charlie's presence really fast. During that week off from classes, we basically slept, watched the damn telenovela or other shows, and Logan and I trained.
We took turns cooking, and I loved Charlie's days, because she was way better at it than us.
Must have been from watching so much Gordon Ramsay.
The university managed to relocate only twenty girls from the other dorms, and it had to be by lottery, so no one would protest. Madison was one of the lucky ones, but another sixty were desperately hunting for spots in sororities, off-campus houses, and apartments to share.
And Charlotte finally accepted that she was going to stay with us, but not without a huge fight about the household bills, where Logan and I had to let her pay the water and internet.
That weekend's game was a disaster and we'd lost 41-34, which had left the coach ten times more stressed and taking it out on us in practice.
I didn't blame him, though, we really did need to improve on several points if we wanted to go far this season.
And I needed that to happen if I hoped to catch the attention of scouts and teams interested in drafting me next year.
As soon as classes came back, the chaos in our lives set in at full force.
Charlie often stayed late in the college computer lab doing assignments and studying, since her computer was still waiting for some parts to be replaced.
Logan and I took turns picking her up, since it wasn't safe to take a rideshare at those hours.
She slept with me most nights, and we made an effort to be as quiet as possible so as not to bother Logan, but as the days went on, I was more and more worried about the way he looked at her when he thought no one was noticing.
There was a lot of desire in that look. And affection too.
Hell.
I didn't have time to compete over a girl with my friend, especially over one I didn't even know what I was feeling for.
I knew it had gone past just a casual thing, but... I wasn't ready to label anything. Much less her, with all the trauma from Johnny.
And speak of the devil...
Jonathan appears in the shower next to me and turns on the water. Since the locker room dividers are all low, I can see him from the torso up and there's no pretending he isn't there. I greet him with a typical nod.
"What's up, man." The other player breaks the silence and I avoid a sigh. I already didn't like him even before finding out what he'd pulled with Charlie, but I had to stay polite for the good of the team.
"What's up, Johnny."
"Ready for tomorrow's game?"
"I always am," I assure him succinctly and start soaping up so I can get out fast.
"I imagine fucking my girlfriend every day is helping," he fires off out of nowhere, and I clench my teeth instantly.
"You mean ex, right? And be careful how you talk about her," I warn, narrowing my eyes at the idiot. The rest of the locker room goes silent to watch.
"She's going to be mine again. I just switched it up so I wouldn't get bored," he says, totally shameless, making me want to punch him. Out of the corner of my eye I know Logan is coming over to us, towel wrapped around his waist.
"I don't think so, Lil Johnny. She found something better," I mock, and he growls.
"I thought this team had an agreement not to go around hooking up with each other's women!" he exclaims, and I laugh.
I turn my head to Logan.
"Do you remember signing any contract about that, Logan?" I ask, and my friend pretends to think.
"Hmm... no. I don't think so. But even if I had, it wouldn't cover any exes. Especially not one you cheated on with the whole campus." I nod in agreement while Johnny looks from me to Logan with fury.
"The slut's sitting on both of you, is she? I should have guessed," he says, and I lose the last bit of patience I still had. I reach an arm over the stall divider and grab his neck. Logan appears behind him in a second and holds his arms back.
"I told you to be careful what you say, Jonathan," I say through my teeth, and he thrashes against the two of us, but I only squeeze harder.
"Or you might end up tripping over your own tongue out there and losing a few teeth," Logan adds, and the fool growls.
Maddox bursts in, already half-dressed, to where we are.
"Let him go. You've made your point," the captain asks, but I shake my head.
"Just one more detail: never talk about Charlotte again. Never say her name again."
"Never think about her again!" Logan adds once more.
"Ethan... Charlie... Let go. Now," Maddox asks again, his hand on my shoulder.
"As soon as he says he got the message. Did you get it, Johnny?" I repeat, and the man is almost foaming with rage, but with no way to escape, he finally stammers a "yes."
I smile diabolically and finally let him go, as does Logan. But not before giving the kicker a little shove.
"Glad we talked," I say with sarcasm dripping from my voice, and I watch the player, red and with clenched fists, he's so angry. Good thing he knows that if he tried to hit me, things would get a lot worse.
I look at the rest of my teammates in the locker room.
"Show's over, everyone. Get back to your stuff."
It takes a few seconds, but the gossips finally return to their spots.
"I want the three of you out there in five minutes," Maddox announces, and I shrug, not too worried. I trade a look with Logan before we answer together:
"Yes, captain."
Trey Maddox gave us a lecture for what felt like an eternity, but I couldn't care less and I'd do it again. At least we'd gotten the message across to Jonathan that Charlie wasn't alone.
I leave with Logan through the parking lot and we walk in silence, but I decide to say something before we head to our classes.
"Thanks for having my back earlier."
My friend gives a small sideways smile, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"Always, man. I'll always be here for you and Charlie," he assures, and I nod.
"I know. And the same goes for you, you know that, right?" I return, wrapping an arm affectionately around his shoulders. Logan laughs and pretends to elbow me, but only leaves the hug after a few moments.
"It'd better," is his answer, almost... shy. Which makes me even more curious, and I decide to use this moment to settle the question right now.
"Can I ask you something?"
Logan frowns, confused.
"Sure, Tanny."
"I won't get mad at whatever you answer, okay? It's just so I understand."
"Okay..." he answers, sounding wary.
"Are you still into Charlie?" I toss out, and for the first time in my life I watch my best friend blush. He takes a step away from me while stammering:
"No... like... Of course she's beautiful and there's no one who doesn't like her, right?
But... it's not the way you're thinking.
" With every word he tries to explain, the more it's stamped on his face that the answer is yes.
I sigh, and the wave of jealousy I expected doesn't even hit me that hard, I just get more apprehensive about the mess this could cause.
"You want her," I state for him, and Logan runs a hand through his hair, looking at me with real frustration.
"What did you expect? She's incredible and always with us, and I remember really well what it's like to kiss her!
" he starts letting out, and my eyebrows are almost reaching the top of my forehead.
He comes closer again and presses his index finger to my chest accusingly.
"And on top of that I have to watch you two making out when you think I'm not around!
And more! I have to hear you two have sex every single damn night and...
Ugh!" He actually growls now, staring at me.
"Did you really think I wouldn't feel turned on by you two? "
His outburst by itself already leaves me kind of stunned, but it's the last part that makes me blink repeatedly and have to reconsider whether I heard right.
"'You two?'" I repeat quietly, staring at him with what I imagine are dozens of question marks on my face. Logan's eyes go wide and he pulls back the hand that was touching me, taking two quick steps backward.
"On her! I meant on her. On Charlie. Obviously," he corrects himself, but it doesn't sound half as confident as he wants it to seem.
He looks around searching for an escape and runs both hands through his hair, which I know is his stress signal.
"But don't worry. It'll pass. I won't backstab you, obviously.
I know you like her and... I'll find someone to sleep with this week.
Text some old hookup and kill this strange bottled-up desire.
Seriously, don't worry!" he blurts out, and I get more shocked by the second.
"But now I really do have to go to class, okay? We'll talk at home."
Logan finishes his speech and gives me a pat on the shoulder before walking off with long strides in the opposite direction, where I know he has class now.
I stand there on the sidewalk for a few more seconds, trying to process everything.
Could it be that...
No.
Impossible.
Logan was pretty straight, I was sure of it.
His "bottled-up desire" couldn't be including me.
Right?
But... he'd said "you two."
I blink repeatedly and adjust my backpack on my shoulder, going back to walking toward the social sciences building, where a boring philosophy class awaited me.
I try to remember what topics we were covering in this class before the fire, but I simply can't concentrate.
Even when I walk into the huge room and sit at the back, I'm still replaying the conversation with Logan in my head.
"Did you really think I wouldn't feel turned on by you two?"
Fuck.
What was I going to do with this information now?