Chapter 11
Lainey
I usually get really into the games, but tonight I wasn’t as into it as usual. I can’t figure out why.
Maybe it’s because I have planned this weekend out to a T for Gwen’s bachelorette party. I’ve kept everything a secret, which is actually really hard for me because I suck at keeping secrets.
I didn’t even say anything when Ellie and Haley tried to coax it out of me with my favorite wine and ice cream. That usually works pretty well.
I’ve held strong, and really I want it to be a surprise for everyone. I think Holland or Logan planned something for Ryker tomorrow night too, so the bride and groom will have one night of stress-free fun before getting back to wedding prep.
That’s exactly what they need. It’s exactly what I need. I haven’t heard from mom or dad in weeks, and yeah, I’m okay on my own. Yes, I’m used to it, but how have they not checked in at all in weeks? It’s like they’ve completely fallen off the face of the earth or have completely forgot they even have a daughter.
I don’t usually wallow in self-pity, but I haven’t had any of my usual distractions in a few days, which is why this weekend will be good. I’ll be able to put my parents, or lack thereof, to the back of my mind.
As we wait outside the locker rooms for Holland and Mason, Ryker’s brother Logan catches up with us, a grin on his face as he approaches his brother. Ryker brings him into a hug, patting his back like guys do whenever they hug another dude.
When they pull away, Ryker chuckles softly.
“There he is,”
Logan says, a teasing lilt to his voice.
“How’s life in the big city without me?”
Ryker shakes his head.
“It’s great. Better than this shithole town.”
“Shithole? It’s not that bad, man. I got a new girl,”
Logan begins.
“Did you? Better than that cheating bitch Adrianna, hopefully,”
Ryker comments in disgust. Logan laughed and nodded, shoving his hands in his coat pocket.
“Yeah, a lot better. Her names Charlotte, and she’s really fucking great, man. She’s in the bathroom,”
Logan explains, turning around to look toward the bathroom where a small blonde girl is walking this way, a shy smile on her face as she approaches.
She’s cute, her hair in two long, blonde braids over her shoulders. She’s wearing a hat identical to mine, and her blue eyes are bright enough to see the color even in the dark.
Logan’s smile says it all. He’s clearly into this girl, and I’m honestly surprised I hadn’t seen him with her at the Elite mansion. I wonder if she’s not a partier. She honestly doesn’t look like she would be. She looks really uncomfortable in this setting, being surrounded by virtual strangers.
Logan scoops her into his side, leaving a kiss on her forehead which causes her to smile brightly.
“Here she is. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Charlotte. Char, this is my brother Ryker, and his fiancée Gwen,”
Logan gestures toward them. Gwen reaches out her hand to shake Charlotte’s hand. Charlotte takes a minute before taking Gwen’s hand with a small smile.
“Hi! I’m Gwen, it’s great to meet you, Charlotte,”
Gwen introduces herself with her warm and welcoming smile. She gestures toward Ellie, Haley, and I.
“This is Lainey, Ellie, and
Haley.”
I give Charlotte a big smile. Taking her hand in mine, I pull her into a hug.
I’m not a shy girl. I’ve always been outgoing and confident. I’ll always say what’s on my mind, especially if I don’t like you. But I’m also really friendly. That’s something that my teachers in elementary school always said on my report cards that my parents never got a chance to look at.
Honestly, it’s a miracle that this is my personality with growing up essentially alone, but maybe that’s what caused it. I was tired of being alone, and I wanted people to like me.
Now, I don’t care who likes me or not. If you want to be my friend, great. If you don’t, well you can fuck right off. It’s not going to bother me. I have Ellie, Haley, and Gwen. I guess you could say I have Holland too, since he and Ellie are my oldest friends.
I pull back from Charlotte, and she looks even more uncomfortable than before.
“Hi, I’m Lainey,”
I tell her, even though she already knows this.
Her small smile returns as she says, “nice to meet you all.”
“Careful, Barkley. You’re going to scare the poor girl off,”
a familiarly irritating voice calls from behind me. Charlie looks past me to the owner of said irritating voice.
Releasing Charlie, I turn to face Holland and Mason who look showered and victorious. Ellington won the game, so that makes sense. I’d feel pretty victorious too.
I narrow my eyes at him as he approaches with his big, stupid grin.
Turning back to face Charlie, I give her a sympathetic look. I crook my finger for her to lean closer and cup my hand around her ear.
“Ignore him. He’s not completely right in the head. Doctor’s say his brain is like, ten sizes too small for a twenty-two-year-old.”
Ryker and Mason snicker behind me as Haley, Ellie, and Gwen giggle. I look back to Holland whose eyes are narrowed on me, but he looks more amused than angry.
Charlie looks confused as hell, and I almost feel bad. She looks from me to Logan, who looks like he’s trying not to laugh.
“We’ve been over this, Lane. Nothing about me is small. Come over here and I’ll prove it,”
he licks his lips before shooting me a devilish smirk. I roll my eyes out of habit.
Reaching out for Gwen, I grab her shoulder, trying to steady myself. Gwen grabs my arm, helping me stay upright.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
she asks, clear concern in her voice. I continue to hold onto her, holding my stomach. I can feel my friends’ eyes on me, but I keep going.
“Y-yeah. I just… I thought I was going to die there for a second,”
I tell her before straightening and looking Holland directly in the eyes.
“I felt a bit claustrophobic with Holland’s ego taking up so much space.”
“You’re funny, Barkley. Real funny,”
Holland nods, crossing his arms. He looks like he wants to say more, but he refrains.
We continue to glare at each other, stuck in this battle of who will have the last word.
“I’m confused, are they friends or not?”
I hear Charlie whisper a bit too loudly into Logan’s ear. He chuckles before replying.
“Yeah, this is normal.”
“Okay, you two. Stand down. Don’t scare away our new friend,”
Ellie says as she throws her arm around my shoulder.
“I’m fucking starving. Are we going to get food or what?”
Mason asks, clearly getting a bit irritable.
“I’m literally going to fade away and die from hunger.”
Mason grabs onto Ryker, acting as if he’s withering away to the ground.
“This is the end. Tell my mom I love her, and don’t let her in my nightstand,”
he whines pathetically.
Ryker shakes him off, shaking his head.
“Get off me, asshole. I see you’re still dramatic as fuck.”
“Do you see what you’ve left us with, man?”
Holland asks.
“Listen, you try not eating for eight straight hours and then playing a game of rugby,”
Mason groans.
“You ate right before the game, Mason,”
Holland deadpans.
“Well, it feels like it’s been days.”
Rolling my eyes, I grab Gwen by the arm and start walking toward the parking lot.
“Come on, shitheads. I wanna get drunk,”
I call over my shoulder.
Let the weekend begin.