Chapter 6 #2
I pocket my phone and head across the street to Wolfie’s.
It’s busy tonight, but there’s an empty table in the back that should be big enough for whoever else is joining us, so I take a seat.
I don’t even feel like drinking tonight, but I’m always hungry, so when a server stops by, I order a couple baskets of wings.
The guys might want more, but this will be enough to tide me over before they get here.
I start scrolling on my phone to pass the time. I’m halfway through a video about the mating habits of capybaras when I hear a chair scrape across the scarred wood floor. I look up to see Wagner, and nod absently before pressing Play again.
Wagner clears his throat and when I look up, he’s staring at me. “Uh, Mick?”
“What’s up?” I ask. “And where’s everybody else?”
“Nobody—”
“Holy shit,” I say, interrupting him. “Did you know capybaras fuck in the water? God, I love the internet.”
“Jesus,” he mutters. “Nope, I did not know that. I also did not need to know that.”
Our server drops off two baskets of wings and I dive into one of them while Wagner stays silent. “So where’d you say the other guys were?” I ask.
“Nobody else is coming. It’s just us.” He shrugs and takes a sip of water, but doesn’t touch the basket of food. “I just asked you, no one else.”
“Oh, cool,” I say, because I don’t know what the hell to say. Yeah, Wagner and I get along fine now, and we’ve hung out a lot more lately, but Bridgette’s always with us. “Is Birdie meeting us?”
“No, she’s working late at the salon. I’m gonna pick her up in about an hour.”
Damn. I’ve got to sit here for a freaking hour and make conversation with Wagner? That’s a tall fucking order. I’m trying to think about all the capybara facts I just learned because we’ve got to talk about something for the next sixty minutes, but Wagner opens his mouth first.
“There’s something we need to talk about,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck with the palm of his hand.
It suddenly dawns on me that Wagner’s nervous. He’s acting weird, and I don’t like it.
“What do you wanna talk about?” I ask, trying to figure it out as I speak. “My reaction times are—”
“Fucking gold,” he finishes for me. “Seriously, don’t change a damn thing about your game. I’m not here to talk hockey. It’s about Bridgette. I—”
My hands curl into fists as I finally puzzle together what he’s trying to tell me. “You’re dumping her? I will fucking kill you for breaking her heart, you piece of absolute shit.”
Wagner’s eyes go wide as he looks up at me. His hands are moving up and down in the universal motion that means sit your ass down. That’s when I realize I’ve gotten to my feet and am gripping the edge of the table like I’m about to flip it so I can get close enough to strangle the guy.
“Chill, Mickey,” he says, waiting until I’m seated again before he continues. “I am not dumping your sister. I’m not that dumb. Meeting Bridgette is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“So what the fuck is there to talk about?” I ask. “You guys already know I’m cool with you being together. Well, not cool, exactly, but, like, lukewarm.”
“Lukewarm,” he scoffs, flipping me the bird, and somehow, the universe makes sense again. “You might want to turn down the heat, Mick, because I plan on being with your sister for a very long time. Like, forever.”
I look up from the wing I’m devouring to see the dead-ass expression on Wagner’s face. “Forever?” I ask. The idea isn’t that crazy. My sister and her boyfriend spend every available minute together, so I shouldn’t be shocked that he’s thinking about the long term.
“I’m going to ask Bridgette to marry me,” he says plainly.
“I’m not sure when, but I’ve got the ring.
I just need to find the right time, and I needed to talk to you.
I’m not asking for permission, for fuck’s sake.
It’s just…you’re Bridgette’s family. You were the one who had her back for all those years.
You’re her favorite person in the world, besides me, obviously.
I just…I guess I want you to know my intentions. ”
“You’re—”
“I know,” Wagner says, cutting me off. “I know I’m not good enough for her.
Who would be? But I’m going to show up every day and be the best partner and husband I can be.
And I know we’re young. People are going to tell us we’ve got all the time in the world and that there’s no need to rush.
But if I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that time isn’t guaranteed.
I know Bridgette’s it for me. There’ll never be anyone else, so why wait? ”
“Can I talk now?” I ask, wiping my hands on a paper napkin.
“Because I was going to say that you’re a lucky fucker.
Bridgette’s the best person I know and for some reason she loves the hell out of you.
We’ve had our differences, yeah, but you make my sister happier than I’ve ever seen her.
You’ve got my blessing whether you’re asking for it or not. ”
For a second, I think I’ve stunned Wagner into silence, but then his face breaks out into a genuine smile, one that’s sure as shit never been aimed at me before.
“Holy shit, Mickey,” Wagner says, unable to hold back his laugh. “You’re gonna be my brother-in-law.”
I can’t help it. I bust up laughing, too, because even a year ago, that would have been unthinkable.
But now, it makes perfect sense. My sister’s gonna get married.
It’s a bit of a mindfuck, to be honest. I’m happy for Bridgette, and hell, I’m even happy for Wagner.
They’ve found each other, they’re good to each other, and they’re making a life together.
Sounds like a pretty sweet fucking deal to me.
By the time Wagner and I leave Wolfie’s, my head is spinning, and I didn’t even drink a drop of alcohol.
Everything I said to the guy was true. I’m thrilled for him and for my sister.
But some selfish part of me just keeps thinking about how this is one more change.
One more person moving on. And here I am, with no place to go.
It’s a short walk back to the hockey house, and I jogged for most of it because there's a ton of energy inside me, and I’ve got to let it out.
I’m restless. I can feel the blood rushing through my veins.
I need a good workout. Or a half-marathon.
Okay, what I really need is to fuck. I need to sweat.
I need to pound my body into the damn mattress.
I need to lick and suck until my jaw is sore.
I need to pump my hips a hundred fucking times until I’m so damn spent I can’t see straight.
I’m standing on the corner, jogging in place while I wait for the light to turn.The hockey house is fifty yards in front of me, but I could hang a left and circle back toward campus.
In a matter of minutes, I’d be in the middle of Jock Block.
It’s a Wednesday night, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s studying or sleeping.
Hell, no. There are at least half a dozen parties in full swing.
The girls of Psi Delt like to party at the LAX house, and they also like me.
It would be so easy to turn around and lose myself in a hot sorority girl—or three—for the next few hours.
But when the WALK signal flashes ahead of me, I run straight ahead—toward my house, toward my bed, and toward Viv.
At least, I figure she’s there already. Maybe I’ll get lucky and have time to grab a quick shower. All I need is about three minutes with my right hand, and I’ll be all set.
Well, maybe not all set, but I’ll be good enough to make it through another night of smothering my dick with a pillow while Viv cozies up next to me like I’m her favorite stuffy.
As I dash up the stairs, I give a half-hearted wave to the freshmen.
They’re sprawled out on the couches, watching some show they’re all obsessed with.
I can’t think of the name of it. All I can think about is the sweet fucking relief I’m going to feel when I paint the tile wall of my shower.
And yeah, I probably sound deranged, but I’m going out of my mind.
It’s all good, though. I’ll just hop in the shower real quick, before Viv gets here.
Except, when I get to the landing, I can see that my door is already open. And the light is already on.
Taking a step inside, I see Viv perched on my couch. That’s nothing new.
But she’s got her top off.
Her lace-covered tits are on full display, and that’s not all.
She’s fucking touching them.
Cupping them.
Squeezing them.
“ Fuck…” the word escapes my mouth before I can stop it.