Chapter 7
seven
Thea
The next morning, I find myself creeping down the stairs to start making breakfast. Saturday is the only day the others can sleep in, so I also want to have a head start on clearing up the remnants from the night before.
All in all, the party was good fun. I met more of the guys on the hockey team—some of which live a few doors down from us—and despite Kyler’s warning, they all seemed friendly enough.
The irony is out of all of them, the only person currently giving me strange vibes is Kyler.
One minute he’s relatively friendly, the next he’s as cold as ice.
I can’t figure him out and quite honestly, it’s starting to feel a little exhausting trying to keep up with his mood swings.
I asked Jude about it the other day, and while he said it wasn’t his story to tell, he did say Kyler has some personal stuff going on he has to deal with.
I wonder if it’s family related, in which case I get it.
Not everyone is lucky enough to come from a stable family background.
Still, I know if I was in his position, I’d want to surround myself with as many friends as possible, if only as a method of escape from the drama I’m trying to hide.
To my surprise I find the kitchen is spotless.
It’s obvious my roommates had the foresight to clean up before going to bed and I’m thankful.
During the week we have an unwritten rule, I cook, and they clean, which works well for us, but I wouldn’t have thought it applied to last night given we had a huge party.
I’m not complaining though, and I start making enough pancake batter to feed us all.
Even if it’s only me and Adam at breakfast, I’m confident the others know how a frying pan works and can fend for themselves.
After breakfast, I take Adam on a quick tour of the campus.
He’s already been to the hockey rink, having made a few visits with me last year to watch Jude play.
I point out the dietetics block, the sports center, tennis courts, baseball field, and the dining hall and the outside of the dorms. Even though living on campus wasn’t an option for me, some of the accommodation onsite is pretty sweet, and there’s a block of townhouses nestled in their own little street toward the back of the campus.
By comparison, the campus at Silver Lake is tiny and not for the first time, I thank my lucky stars I took the chance and changed my course.
Adam doesn’t comment much on the grounds—in fact, he’s been pretty quiet all morning, which is unusual for him.
After the campus tour, we head to the Boardwalk to have some lunch.
This is a popular area of Northport and it is bustling with tourists and residents here to spend a day at the beach.
There are a few surf and souvenir shops.
Best of all, there are a number of small independent restaurants and bars at one end, which makes a nice change from the usual chain restaurants you find in the town center.
I decide to take Adam to Northport’s infamous crab shack, which is renowned for its clam chowder and crab buckets.
Living in a small town like Silver Lake means not having the ability of eating at a place like this, so I’m hoping he’ll really enjoy the food.
We take a seat outside with a good view of the beach and place our order. On Millie’s recommendation, I opt for a sampler dish which has scampi, crab, and a range of dips, and Adam goes for the chowder. We order some sodas and fries and wait for our food to arrive.
“Did you have a good time last night?” I ask Adam.
“Yeah, I did. Millie’s quite the character,” he replies.
“Yes, she is. She has no filter, but I like the fact she says it like it is. You know where you stand with her, that’s for sure.”
“Your roommates seem like decent guys, especially Devon and Nolan, but Kyler on the other hand . . .” Adam trails off without finishing his sentence, but I can tell there’s something he wants to say and is holding back.
“Kyler on the other hand, what?” I prompt.
“I just don’t like the guy, Thea. There’s something about him. He sets me on edge.”
“He’s just quiet is all, and tends to stay by himself.” I don’t know why I have an urge to start defending Kyler, but I can’t stop myself. Adam doesn’t know him so isn’t in any position to judge.
“It’s not just that. You didn’t see him last night, standing in corners, just staring at you all the freaking time. Like, wherever you were, he was there, watching you like a hawk. I don’t know T, it just screams stalker or something,” Adam says with a shake of the head.
Our waitress brings our food, so I wait until she sets it all on the table before continuing the conversation.
“I think you’re overthinking it, babe. Ky’s not like that at all.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t like the guy, and I think you should keep your distance from him.”
I put down my fork, slightly taken aback, and stare at Adam. Surely, he did not just tell me to stay away from one of my roommates. He’s never been bothered by any of my friends or classmates before.
“Adam, you’re not seriously telling me to stay away from Kyler. We share a house, it’s not like I can avoid him. You’re fine with me living with Devon and Nolan.”
“Yeah, because Devon and Nolan don’t look at you like they want to either attack you or pin you against the wall.
I’m not stupid, Thea, I’m a man, I can recognize a possessive, lust-filled guy when I see him and Kyler?
His intentions toward you, whatever they are, are not the best-friends-look-out-for-each-other type.
I’m asking you, as my girlfriend, to please stay away from him. ”
I’m momentarily speechless. In our four years together, Adam has never been the jealous type at all. To see him react like this is completely out of the ordinary. And, out of character.
“Okay, I don’t know what’s going on with you, and so I’m going to put this down to tiredness or whatever, but Adam, we don’t do this. We don’t tell each other who we can and can’t have as friends.”
“We can when we don’t see each other every day. I have no idea what goes on when I’m not here.”
And now I’m pissed. “So, what, you don’t trust me?”
Adam throws down his spoon, leans back in his chair and crosses his arms and I can see we’re not going to agree on this subject.
“No. I’m saying, I don’t trust him!”
“No, Adam,” I reply. “You’re saying you don’t trust me, because regardless of what Kyler says or does—or anyone else for that matter—you think I don’t have the intelligence to look after myself and deal with the situation.”
I take a deep breath and count to five before continuing. “Look, I don’t want to argue with you. Who knows when we’ll see each other again? Can we just let this go?”
Adam sighs and looks out toward the beach, seemingly thinking it over, before answering.
“Sure. Whatever.”
We finish eating our meal in relative silence, making polite and awkward conversation here and there before paying the bill.
Adam drops me back at the house, collects his things, and starts the drive home.
He leaves me with a quick peck on the cheek and a, “See ya soon,” and I watch him go with a sinking feeling of regret at how things were left between us.
* * *
An hour later, the door bursts open and Jude walks in followed by some of the others on the hockey team and Millie walking in behind them. I raise my eyebrow because apparently, her and hockey don’t mix; yet here she is, hanging out with half the team.
“What?” she says with a shrug. “I was on my way to see you, and your brother saw me and gave me a ride. Saved me walking the rest of the way.”
“Sure, Mills,” I reply. “You keep telling yourself that.” Maybe her and hockey do mix more than she cares to admit.
“Hey!” Jude shouts while standing in the hallway. “Dev, Nole, Ky! Street hockey in ten!”
I wasn’t aware anyone else was at home, so am surprised to hear heavy footsteps running down the stairs. Devon and Nolan appear, both dressed in shorts and red T-shirts.
“Yessssss!” Nolan says enthusiastically. “I need something to get me out of this post-party funk. Oh, hey Millie, Thea. You up for being cheerleaders today?”
“Chanting and doing flips, no,” Millie tells him. “But I can be persuaded to sit on the front lawn and offer my support, right Thea?”
“Sure,” I say. “Sounds good. I may even make some lemonade if I feel you’ve played well enough to earn it.”
“Thea’s homemade lemonade? Definitely an incentive to win,” Devon adds.
I hear another set of footsteps walk down the stairs and am shocked to see Kyler appear at the doorway.
It’s a rarity to catch sight of him in daylight, let alone actually deciding to be social and join in with the fun.
Still, I guess these are his teammates and he’s comfortable hanging out with them.
He’s dressed differently than Devon and Nolan and is wearing gray sweatpants and a dark blue T-shirt.
Obviously, he’s decided he’s playing for the opposing team today.
He doesn’t acknowledge anyone, instead going to the hallway closet where they keep all their hockey gear, and grabs four hockey sticks, one for each of them.
No one acknowledges him as he skulks passed with his head down and out the front door.
“Oooh-kay then, I guess it’s been decided. Game’s about to start.” Nolan laughs as he follows Ky and the others outside. Millie and I grab some blankets after quickly making up a couple of pitchers of lemonade, lay them on the lawn and sit down while the others decide on teams.