Chapter 2
TWO
CONNOR
Don’t look down. Don’t look…Fuck that’s gross.
I’m covered in a toxic-looking yellow concoction, little chunks splattered across my shirt and trailing down to the front of my pants. The wet fabric clings to my stomach. It’s warm at first but quickly turns ice cold when another gust of wind hits me, chilling me to the bone.
I squeeze my eyes shut and gag at the foul smell. I have to force myself to breathe through my mouth until the churning in my stomach stops. I half consider dumping Matty in the closest snow drift and bolting.
I did not sign up for this.
“Sorry,” he rattles, his words muffled against my shoulder. I have a sneaking suspicion the kid just wiped his mouth on my shirt without even realizing.
“You’re so paying for this tomorrow, Matthew,” I mutter.
“Hmodfso,” is the only response I get.
I hoist him against my shoulder and haul him the rest of the way to the black cab by the curb, counting my lucky stars that Ethan had the foresight to call one.
Except the driver takes one look at the drunk defenseman on my shoulder and scoffs. “No way.”
“What do you mean, no way?”
He shakes his head resolutely. “He’s too drunk. I’m not taking him.”
“Come on, there’s no way else for me to get him home,” I argue. “It’s not like he’s going to spew in your car. He’s got nothing left to give.”
Matty rambles incoherently again and I think he might be trying to back me up, but judging by the scowl on the driver’s face he’s only making it worse. I’m not surprised; the kid can barely keep his eyes open.
“I’ll pay you double,” I exclaim in a last-ditch effort to get us out of here.
Matty’s breathing has evened out and I swear I hear the soft sound of a snore as he starts to slip from my hold. Great.
“Fine,” the driver finally grumbles, and I make quick work of reaching for the doorhandle at the back, ready to get Matty as far away from me as possible before this man changes his mind. “But you strip.”
I still with my hand on the door.
“What?” I balk.
“I just cleaned the car, kid. You’re not getting in with that all over you.” He gestures toward the section of me that’s covered in vomit. He can’t be serious. “So strip.”
“It’s fucking freezing out here,” I argue.
“Should’ve brought a coat.” He shrugs like he couldn’t give a shit about the fact he just asked me to strip down in the middle of the coldest winter we’ve had in five years.
I could call another taxi, but tonight is the first night back on campus for most people and the last chance to let lose before the spring semester really kicks off.
If the crowd at Tipsy’s is anything to judge by, I’m sure the bars in town are just as rammed.
It would probably take an hour to find another driver, and if this guy is making it so difficult for me, there’s no guarantee that they would take us either.
He’s got the upper hand and by the look of his smug smile, he knows it.
He reaches for the steering wheel again, like he’s getting ready to drive off. “Either the clothes go, or I go.”
“Fuck. Fine.” I can’t believe I’m about to do this. “Just let me get him in the car first.”
He unlocks the door, and I deposit Matty in the back seat, making sure not to bump his stupid head against the roof of the car.
The moment he hits the seat, his head lolls back against the headrest and he sighs in contentment.
Out cold without a clue of what I’m about to do in the name of getting him home safe.
The kid is going to be cleaning my equipment for the next month for this.
I slam the door a little harder than needed, hoping it’ll jostle him awake, but I get nothing except for a scowl from the asshole in the front seat. Great.
I round the car to the passenger side, using it as a barrier between me and the bar.
At least with the snow still raging outside, no one is hovering outside.
The last thing I need is to end up as the poster child for next month’s student newsletter.
I can already hear the guys’ taunts if they were to ever find out.
I slip the end of my leather belt through the buckle and pop the button on my slacks.
This is not how I envisioned getting naked tonight.
I toe out of my boots. The snow seeps into my socks and I peel them off with my pants and let it all hit the ground, then stuff my bare feet back into the boots.
I tug my shirt off in one clean swipe, hoping to hell that whatever still sticks to my stomach is snow and not vomit, as I bend to collect the pile of clothes.
“Fucking ridiculous,” I mutter as I climb into the passenger seat, wearing nothing but my boxers and boots. I set the bundle of clothes in my lap, covering myself up as much as possible.
At least the driver has the decency to keep his eyes on the road when he finally pulls away from the curb. But I don’t miss the small smirk out of the corner of my eye.
“Where to?” he asks. I ignore the smile in his voice as I give him the address of the sophomore dorms on the south side of campus. The faster I can drop Matty off, the faster I can get home and shower.
When I glance at him through the rearview, I spot a drop of drool sliding down his chin. There’s no way he’s going to be able to walk himself up.
I tip my head back, letting out a groan. This night just keeps getting better.
I grit my teeth and slide my hand into the back pocket on my crumbled-up jeans to retrieve my phone.
Lauren’s number is one of the few I’ve bothered to save over the years.
Her roommate, Vanessa, has been permanently attached to our right winger, Finn, since freshman year, and I’ve since learned girls travel in packs.
I like her; she’s funny and isn’t swayed by any of the guys’ charm, which helps.
You need people around to keep you straight when you’re used to having everyone fawn all over you. I hit the call button and wait.
Please pick up. Please pick up. Please…
“Hallo?”
Thank god. “I need a favor.”
“Connor? What time is it?”
“Are you home?”
There’s a long pause on the other end of the phone. For a second, I think she might have hung up. “If this is a booty call, I’m hanging up.”
“I need you to come outside.”
“It’s one in the morning.”
“Please? I’ll owe you one.” I am not above begging if it means I don’t have to walk through the dorms in nothing but my underwear.
“Fine, but this better be worth it.”
“Oh, this is so worth it.” Lauren snickers as she watches me round the front of the cab fifteen minutes later.
She’s got her coat on over patterned pajama pants, and her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
She lets out a low whistle when I bend to pull Matty out of the cab, and I swear I feel her eyes on my ass. “Looking good, hot stuff.”
I roll my eyes, but Matty shifts in the direction of her voice. At least he’s awake now. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were hitting on me.”
“Who says I’m not?” We both know she’s joking. Lauren doesn’t do athletes; it’s her number one rule—one she’s made very clear since our first class together freshman year, and I respect her for sticking to her guns, no matter how hard my idiot teammates come on to her.
“Mfhcalldwibs,” Matty mumbles, his head tipping up enough to lock eyes with Lauren. He tries to wink, but it comes out more like a squint. I have to give it to him, even flat-out drunk he’s still unstoppable—and completely delusional if he thinks he has a chance with her.
“Aww, Matty boy, did you party too hard?” She palms his flushed cheeks and coos at him, like he’s not twice her size.
“Can you take him up?” I cut in. “His keys are in his back pocket.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to parade him in there yourself? The girls on the second floor are having a sleepover. I’m sure they would love some entertainment.”
I shudder at the thought, shifting Matty until he’s propped against her shoulder. She doesn’t even buckle despite the added dead weight. “Not if I can help it.”
I grin, then blow some hot air into my hands. “Thank you for doing this.”
She smiles, eyebrows wiggling mischievously as she wraps another arm around Matty’s midriff and urges him forward. “Sure thing, hot stuff. I’ll let you know when I’m ready to collect my favor.”
I chuckle. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”
“Definitely.” She laughs. “Come on Matty, time to go night-night,” she tells him, and I watch as Matty focuses on keeping his own feet moving. It makes me feel a little bit better for dumping this on her.
I slip back into the taxi just as they make it to the door, hands stretching toward the warm air blasting from the heater.
“Cold?” The asshole chuckles beside me, and I grit my teeth to keep myself from saying something that will most definitely end in me walking the rest of the way home.
The ten-minute drive from the dorms to the school’s off-campus apartment complex feels more like thirty. I pay the driver twice what he’s worth when he pulls into the parking lot, and then bolt for the front door of my building the second my boots hit the snow.
I’m at the second-floor landing when I manage to pull my keys free from my bundle of clothes. Stepping inside, I breathe easy for the first time in what feels like hours.
The two-bedroom apartment isn’t much, but it’s home and it’s a hell of a lot better than being shackled up in the dorms. It’s by far the best perk of my scholarship, even if it means I’m stuck sharing with whoever the housing administrator chooses.
I don’t really care, as long as I have a bed to sleep in and my roommate isn’t trying to roofy girls under my nose.
Thank fuck I never have to see that guy again.
I dump my clothes by the door, desperately needing to get the feeling back in my fingers before I can think about laundry. I abandon my boots next to the pile and head for the heater in the living room. I sag against it, willing the heat to creep back into my bones as it whirs to life.