Chapter 15
Ethan
I’m not entirely sure how I got myself into this situation.
One second, I’m determined to stay away from women forever, the next I’m watching Meyers chopping it up with some guy who makes Timothée Chalamet look butch and finding myself agreeing to meet up with some girl from my seminar the following evening, which might not sound like a date, but I could tell by the way she kept touching my arm it definitely is.
I don’t think I’m ready for this, but it’s like my old coach used to say, sometimes you’ve got to throw yourself into the game, whether you’re ready for it or not.
I can’t spend the whole year locked in my room, and if staying away from women means I’m so frustrated I start rubbing one out to a roommate who hates me, it’s past time I changed my strategy.
Walking into a bar without flashing my fake ID still feels like I’m getting away with something but I’ve made a promise to myself tonight.
No booze. Everything about Sunday night was a mistake and not one I’m looking to repeat any time soon.
I’m almost twenty-one years old for fuck’s sake, I can hang out with a girl one time without getting wasted and sleeping with her. Or trying to.
I’m here first, no sign of Lauren, but I prefer it this way.
Lets me figure out the lay of the land and order a shot to take the edge off.
Only I’m not drinking, I remind myself, ready to take a sharp turn away from the bar when I see Meyers standing on the other side, staring at me like she’s the one who’s been caught doing something she shouldn’t.
‘What can I get you?’ she asks robotically when I don’t move.
‘You’re working here?’ I crane my neck to look past her, searching for the actual bartender, but there’s no one else.
‘It would be a real strange question for me to ask if I wasn’t.’
‘That’s …’ I puff out my cheeks, searching for the right word while Meyers continues to glare. ‘Cool?’
‘Beer?’
Before I can decline, she turns around and bends over, jeans tight around that surprisingly great ass, and pulls a Stella Artois out from a low fridge.
‘Thanks.’
I tap my credit card against her terminal and wait for the thing to connect.
‘So, bartender, huh?’ I say, watching the little ball spin around and around and around on the screen. ‘That’s got to be fun.’
‘Not really.’
She looks blankly over my shoulder, a thousand yard stare, while the ball keeps turning. Longest ten seconds of my life.
‘I’m meeting someone from my social psychology class,’ I tell her, no idea why I’m still talking. ‘Her name’s Lauren, she suggested we meet up, said she’d give me the inside track on some of the lecturers. The social psych guy is kind of a hard-ass.’
There’s a ping from the terminal in her hand that confirms payment and a tiny snort from Mia that confirms she heard me.
‘You liking your classes?’ I ask.
‘Sure.’
‘I guess it’s only been a couple of days.’
‘Yep.’
‘How much can you learn in two days, right? It’s been crazy though, with classes and practice, my schedule is way more intense than it was at Marshall. How about you?’
‘Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but I’m waiting on whoever the hell was supposed to take over from me fifteen minutes ago,’ Mia says, pulling her long, luscious hair back into a messy ponytail. ‘I’m the only one here so I don’t have time to chat.’
It sounds plausible and I might believe her if it weren’t for the fact Members is half empty and there isn’t another soul standing at this bar right now.
‘Don’t sweat it, I know when I’m not wanted.’ I raise the beer I didn’t want in her direction. ‘Have a fun night.’
‘Ethan?’
Perfect timing.
Right as I turn around, Lauren appears and holy shit, I did not realize this girl was so hot.
Long honey-blonde hair that gets lighter at the ends, blue eyes the size of saucers and the kind of body that could start a war.
Not that I can really see anything – she’s wearing a pair of low-slung baggy jeans and high-necked black bodysuit that looks like it’s been sprayed on, but I can imagine. Boy, can I imagine.
‘I didn’t see you come in, I’m over here, in the back.’
Her hand curls around my bicep as she leads me away from the bar and I turn to show my roommate my shit-eating grin but she’s already turned away.
‘You beat me here,’ I tell Lauren as we slide into a small booth, just enough room for the two of us to sit, knee to knee. ‘I was trying to be early.’
‘Such a gentleman. Don’t feel too bad, I’ve been here since my seminar finished. I like to read in here, reminds me of home.’
‘You grew up in a bar?’
She laughs, adjusting the neckline of her bodysuit and running a hand along her neck and down her arm. This girl is good.
‘Sort of. My parents run a pub.’
‘Really? That’s so interesting. Where are you from?’ I ask, gazing into her blue eyes. They’re lighter than Mia’s, more of a greenish shade than a true sapphire. Pretty though.
‘Northamptonshire,’ she replies, licking her lips. ‘Nowhere interesting. How about you?’
‘South Carolina, Beaufort born and raised.’
‘No idea where that is,’ she replies and I don’t tell her I have even less of a clue about Northamptonshire. ‘Which halls are you in?’
‘Carpenter, same as Mia over there.’
‘Mia?’
‘Right, you probably haven’t met. Girl behind the bar, she’s from South Carolina too. We were at the same school before this.’
She looks over at the bar with mild curiosity, but Mia is way too invested in reading the back of a bottle of black liquor to even look our way.
‘Must be nice to have a friend from home.’
‘We’re not friends,’ I reply and even though I’m only repeating what Mia said to me, it doesn’t feel good to say it out loud. A look passes over Lauren’s face but it’s gone before I can read it.
‘It feels like being a freshman all over again,’ I tell her, changing the subject and angling my body so I can’t see the bar. ‘What classes are you taking, where are you from, which dorm are you in. Standard first-year questions.’
‘Especially since everyone at Hemden knows everybody else. Must be strange trying to fit in.’
‘Why would I want to fit in?’
My best rakish smile makes her laugh and I tap the neck of my beer against the glass of sticky-looking orange liquid in front of her, then raise it to my lips, barely taking a sip.
‘So, Ethan the footballing psychology student from South Carolina, what else do I need to know about you?’
‘Oh, I don’t know if there’s anything you need to know,’ I reply. ‘But there’s plenty you might like to find out.’
She laughs again, a little less enthusiastic, and I make a mental adjustment to dial down the charm. It’s still early, she’s on her first drink. I don’t need to turn it all the way up.
‘What about you?’ I ask, stretching an arm along the back of the booth. ‘Lauren from Northamptonshire who grew up in a pub?’
‘Not in the pub so much as above the pub. Not a grotty little boozer or anything, it’s really lovely, a lovely countryside cottage, lots of open space, nice views. Looks a bit like this inside. Mum inherited it from her parents, she and Dad have been running it since before I was born.’
‘And you didn’t want to carry on the family business?’
‘A psychology degree would be more helpful when it comes to running a pub than you might think. I’ve definitely put in some hours counselling the locals when I was only supposed to be collecting glasses.
’ She cocks her head back towards the bar.
‘Your not-friend will be able to tell you all about that.’
‘Maybe,’ I agree, taking a deeper drink. ‘If she could bring herself to talk to me. I don’t know what’s up her ass but I must have done something to offend her in another life.’
‘You’ve no idea what?’
‘She won’t tell me.’
Her perfectly symmetrical lips press together into a thin line as she deliberates.
‘Could be she thinks you should know.’
‘Could be she’s an asshole.’
‘Never a zero per cent chance.’
We’re in the groove now and I can feel myself relaxing. This is easy, this is good. Hanging out with a cute girl, zero pressure, no expectations.
‘So what else,’ she says, tapping her nails against the side of her glass. ‘What other sordid things are you into?’
This is flirting. She’s flirting. I like it.
‘Well, when I’m not playing soccer or studying, I’m mostly reading, watching movies or organizing local orgies. You?’
‘Lovely, we have something in common!’ Lauren exclaims. ‘Movies, not the orgies. I’ve never been to one of those. You’ll have to let me know when you’re putting on the next one.’
‘Will do.’
‘I can do without the books though.’ She groans and sticks out her tongue like she’s gagging.
‘I’m definitely more of a wait-for-the-film-version girlie.
My mum bought me the book of Wicked because I liked it so much but it’s about a million pages.
And I thought breaking it into two movies was a lot.
Fiction has always been a slog for me. I never would’ve survived an English degree. ’
I turn to glance over my shoulder at the deserted bar.
‘Mia’s an English major.’
‘Mia the barmaid, your not-friend?’
I don’t know what exactly, but I’m getting the distinct feeling I’ve said the wrong thing.
‘What else should I know about this place?’ I ask, ignoring her pointed question. ‘What do y’all do for fun?’
‘Y’all.’ She clasps her hands to her chest and closes her eyes. ‘I can’t even.’
Knocking back a mouthful of beer, I hit her with a half-smile.
‘I’ve been getting that a lot.’
‘It was a compliment,’ Lauren insists, brushing her hair back. ‘Fun, fun, fun. Hmm, harder to come by in third year but the union puts on a lot of activities if you’ve got time. There are a million different clubs, if you can think of it, we’ve got it.’
‘Ultimate frisbee?’
‘If we don’t have it, you can start it yourself.’
‘Can’t imagine that I’ll have the time with soccer,’ I reply, ‘but you’re missing out.’