The Same Side (University Park #2)

by CM Doporto

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Williams.” I shook her hand and immediately noticed the resemblance between her and Raven from the shape of their eyes to their big smile. She appeared to be in her forties, but the wrinkles around her eyes showed the stress she’d endured through the years.

  “Please, call me Trish.”

  “Thanks for inviting us to dinner, Trish. A home cooked meal is always nice.” Delaney gave her a slight hug as if she knew her. I tossed the idea out because I knew that was just how Delaney was — everyone she met was automatically her friend.

  “Sure. I’m glad you guys could break away from studying.” She leaned toward Raven and he wrapped an arm around her, giving her a hug. “How was Thanksgiving? Your granny sure missed you.”

  “Okay. Josh’s family made a great dinner.” He leaned forward and kissed on her on the forehead. “But not as good as yours.”

  “I brought some leftovers home so you can take a plate back to your apartment.” She squeezed him tighter. “I’m so proud of you. You played like a champ. We all watched the game. Your aunts and uncles, too.” She looked over her shoulder. “Trey, where are your manners?”

  “Huh?” Trey looked up for a quick second before placing the game on hold.

  “Get over here now,” she scolded.

  Trey rose from the couch and slowly made his way toward us. “Hey, what’s up?” he mumbled, nodding slightly

  “Hi, I’m Lexi.” I shook his limp hand. “And this is my friend, Delaney.”

  “How’s it going?” She shook his hand and gave him a big smile.

  A timid smile formed across his face but he didn’t say anything. He casually walked back to the couch and plopped down, grabbing the remote for his game. Like Raven, I could tell there was more to his story.

  “We brought dessert. Apple pie and ice cream.” Delaney pointed at the bag in Raven’s hand.

  “Thank you.” Raven handed his mom the sack. “You girls want to help me in the kitchen?”

  “Sure.” Delaney and I followed her into the kitchen.

  “I’ll be playing a game with my brothers.” Raven touched the tips of my fingers while winking at me.

  “Okay.” I held on to him, keeping a steady gaze as I walked toward the kitchen until the space separated us. I was pathetic. And no matter how hard I tried to fight the feeling, I couldn’t. He was like a drug that I wanted more of. Being around Raven was exhilarating and I wanted to spend every passing minute with him.

  Black appliances and bright red decorations gave life to the slightly outdated kitchen. It was apparent that Raven’s mom took pride in her small home, giving it a warm, homely touch with each item she had hung.

  “If you girls would set the table, that would be a big help.” She pointed to one of the cabinets.

  “Of course.” I opened the cabinet, removed a stack of crimson ceramic plates, and handed them to Delaney. We continued removing the dishes, glasses, and eating utensils from the cabinets and drawers and then worked on setting the table in the kitchen.

  “Raven tells me you’ve been helping him with his writing.” Trish glanced at me as she placed rolls on a tray.

  “Yes, that’s right. I work in the writing lab and Raven was assigned to me. I’m an English major studying to be a teacher, so I enjoy tutoring people.” I stopped, momentarily thinking about what I had just told her. Aside from the slight lie about still working in the writing lab, I contemplated if I really wanted to be a teacher. Growing up, I always liked helping people and teaching others came naturally. As I recalled that Collin and my parents planned for me to homeschool our children, I began to have second thoughts about being a teacher.

  “That’s great. No wonder he’s doing so well.” She smiled at me.

  “He’s been working really hard.” I wanted to reassure her that I wasn’t writing his papers for him.

  “Thank you for helping. Writing has never been a favorite subject for Raven.” She tossed the empty plastic wrapper in the trash. “So, you two are roommates?”

  “Yes.” Delaney filled each glass with ice and then handed them to me to pour the tea. “We’ve been rooming together since last year.”

  “How nice. Are you studying to be journalist or something?” Trish removed a roast from the oven and placed it on top of the stove. Then, she placed the tray of rolls on the rack and closed the oven door.

  “No, I’m actually working toward being a professional photographer.” Delaney closed the freezer door.

  Looking over her shoulder, Trish replied, “Okay, that make sense. Why you needed old pictures of Raven, that is.”

  “I really appreciate it. I had no idea who to base my project on until he agreed,” Delaney said. “Do you mind if I take candid pictures of everyone today?” She picked up her camera case sitting on the hutch.

  “No, not at all.” Trish gave a slight pose and I could immediately tell that she was fun to be around. Unlike my mom.

  “You didn’t have to make us dinner, but we appreciate it.” I leaned against a chair, unsure of what to do next.

  Trish waved, holding a carving fork in one hand a knife in the other. “It was no trouble. These boys were complaining that they didn’t want any more turkey leftovers. Besides, I really wanted Raven to eat a nice, home cooked meal since he didn’t get to go to New Orleans with us for Thanksgiving.”

  “It’s very thoughtful of you,” Delaney added.

  “To be honest, Raven’s never brought home any girls from college. So when he told me he had a friend that wanted to tell his life story and needed pictures, I figured it was the least I could do. Then when he said he wanted me to meet the girl that had helped him improve his writing, I knew I had to make a nice meal.”

  My stomached fluttered at the revelation that Raven had at least told his mom something about me. “Thanks, Trish.”

  “Do you need help with anything else?” Delaney glanced around the kitchen.

  “The rolls will be ready in a few minutes. Can you tell the boys to wash up so we can eat?” She smiled and then returned to her task of cutting the roast.

  “Sure, no problem.” Delaney and I walked to the living room where Raven and his brother’s stared intently at the TV screen, ranting and cheering as they played Madden NFL, one of my brother’s favorite video games.

  “Time to eat,” I announced. They nodded but kept playing. I shot Delaney a questioning look.

  Delaney placed her hands on her hips. “Your mom said to go wash your hands. Now.” They all turned to look at her before scurrying to place the game on pause.

  “Why do they jump when you tell them to do something and do nothing when I asked?” I smirked.

  Raven leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead. “You just need to add a little oomph to the request. That’s all.”

  I rolled my eyes and made a mental note to mimic her if the opportunity presented itself again.

  We sat around the small kitchen table, elbow to elbow, enjoying the savory pot roast, mashed potatoes, and corn that Trish cooked for us. Trey eventually warmed up and told us how proud he was of Raven and how he hoped to follow his brother’s path and play for a major university. Ashton treated us as if we were his sisters, joking with us constantly. His laugh was contagious. Raven beamed with pride. I knew he cared for his brothers and truly wanted the best for them.

  “Trey, Ashton, do me a favor and clear the table while I get the pictures,” Trish instructed her younger sons to help.

  “Can I help with anything?” I started to stand.

  Trish motioned for us to stay seated. “No, you girls have done enough. The boys can wash the dishes.”

  “Who wants dessert?” Raven looked at each of us.

  “I’ll take a slice with ice cream,” I told him.

  “Do you want your pie hot?” Raven cocked a brow and his words teased me in all the right places.

  I cleared my throat, but before I could respond, Delaney spoke up. “Of course she does. Who wouldn’t? And make
mine hot, too.”

  “You’ve got it.” Raven turned around and walked toward the refrigerator. His hips swayed to the left and then to right, and I swore I saw his butt cheeks tense and then release under his jeans.

  Holy crap! Why is he teasing me in front of everyone?

  I inhaled a silent breath, trying to calm the tension building quickly as Delaney nudged me under the table. I didn’t know how much longer I could handle his flirting. Every part of me screamed his name and he hadn’t even touched me. The guy was blessed with sex appeal and I was ready to take our relationship to the next level. Whatever that was.

  Raven returned with our apple pie alamode, followed by his mom with several picture storage boxes covered in different colors.

  “Can I help you, Mom?” Raven asked before he sat.

  “Nope, I’ve got it.” Trish made a few more trips before placing the last box on the table. She blew her bangs away from her face and sat in front of us. “Do you want to see pictures of Raven from birth until now?” She moved around the boxes, reading a label on each of them.

  “Yes, please. Pictures from pivotal moments in his life would be awesome.” Delaney moved closer, eager to see them. I did the same.

  Trish thumbed through several pictures from one box and then laid them on the table. “Here are a few from when he was born.”

  “Wow, you were a big baby.” Delaney picked up the picture and showed me.

  “How much did you weigh?” I eased the photo from her hand.

  Raven turned toward his mom. “Like ten pounds, right?”

  She nodded. “He was nine pounds, seven ounces, and twenty-three inches long.” Her voice cracked and tears formed in her eyes. “Born at five fifty-five in the morning on September twenty-ninth.”

  Before Raven picked us up, I asked him if he was okay with Delaney telling his life story. He reassured me he was and I suggested that we tell Delaney that he didn’t know who his father was. Then maybe he could let his mom know that he disclosed how he was conceived, just to make it easier on everyone. He agreed and said that he’d tell his mom. Before we left, I told Delaney that vital piece of information. It wasn’t easy repeating it and she felt horrible for him.

  “Don’t cry, Mom. It’s okay.” Raven wrapped an arm around Trish. She cradled his face and kissed him on the cheek. Delaney snapped a pic. It was touching to see how close they were after everything they had endured over the years. No one should have to endure such pain and tragedy.

  “Do you mind if I borrow this?” Delaney pointed to the picture in my hand.

  “That’s fine.” Trish wiped her eyes and Raven released his arm from her. She continued searching through the boxes, pulling out several pictures in the process. She showed us several shots of Raven playing peewee and little league football, followed by middle school and then high school. She had so many photos of him winning district and state championships. It was obvious as to why he was a strong contender for a pro football contract.

  Like a proud mom, she took us to the living room and showed us all the trophies he’d won over the years. Raven tried not to boast about his winnings, but eagerly told us about each of them. Happiness flickered within his eyes and it was obvious how much he enjoyed playing football. He had worked hard his entire life and I really hoped he landed with a good team. He truly deserved it.

  “It hasn’t been easy. Raven’s had some tough times, but he’s pulled through every time.” Trish patted her son on the back while giving him a meek smile. “Isn’t that right?” I wasn’t expecting Raven’s mom to be supportive or loving toward him, but she showed just the opposite.

  Raven shuffled his feet and crossed his arms. “Yeah.” He stared at the floor and for the first time, I saw the regret and condemnation etched deep in his face. Raven might have pulled through the tough times, but he hadn’t learned how to forgive himself.

  Delaney took a couple of shots of the trophies before we returned to the kitchen.

  “Who’s this with your boys?” Delaney pointed to a tall, dark man leaning against a car with the boys standing in front of him.

  Trish took the picture from Delaney. “Oh, that’s Trey’s dad.” She shook her head and a twisted expression formed on her face. “You don’t want that picture. Believe me. He’s a no good, lazy, lying, cheating piece of shit.”

  “Mom.” Raven motioned with his head toward the living room where Trey and Ashton were.

  “What? Trey knows it. He can’t stand him either.” Trish didn’t hold back when revealing her family issues to us. “I’m sorry, girls. We’re not the Cleavers and I won’t pretend to be.”

  “It’s okay. My family’s not perfect either. Even though they pretend to be.” I tried to ease the thick tension in the room.

  “No family is perfect.” Delaney shuffled through a couple of photos scattered on the table and made a stack. “My parents were killed when I was little and I was put up for adoption. I didn’t have the best childhood, but I’m trying to make the most of my life now. Which isn’t much.” She took a deep breath and her eyes watered. Delaney never talked much about her past and she still had quite a few demons she was battling. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay.

  Trish wiped her eyes. It seemed that our confessions were helping her. “My parents try to rule my life,” I added quickly, trying to take the pressure off Delaney. “I was homeschooled and sheltered from almost everything. I always did everything they asked of me.” I sucked in a quick breath. “It wasn’t until recently that I decided I needed to live my life for me. I was tired of living to please them,” I openly admitted.

  “See? We don’t come from picture perfect families either. And we aren’t here to judge.” Delaney smiled at Trish.

  “Thanks. I appreciate that…it’s just been tough. Not only for Raven, but all of us. Especially after Ashton’s dad died... I haven’t got back on track with life.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes again, smearing mascara in the process. “You know what I mean?”

  My heart ached for her. Raven had never mentioned anything about his stepdad dying. “I’m so sorry for your loss. How long ago did he pass?”

  “Two years ago. He had an accident at work.” She sighed. “I’m still fighting with those bastards. They claimed he didn’t have an insurance policy and worker’s comp barely covered the medical bills and his funeral.”

  “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” Delaney’s voice shook and I could tell she was on the verge of tears again.

  I swallowed hard, trying to fight back my own tears. “If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know.”

  Trish grabbed a napkin from the table and blew her nose. “Thank you, girls. I appreciate that.” Turning toward me, she said, “Just keep an eye on this one. He’s trying hard to get his shit together.” She gave him a disapproving look and Raven’s eyes darted to the floor once again. “I know you’re too good for him, but he probably needs that.” She pointed a finger at Raven. “And you better treat her right, not like all those other skanks. You hear me?”

  Raven nodded but didn’t make eye contact. “Yes, ma’am.” The shame his mother placed on him was more than enough. I now understood what he meant when he said he wanted be good and make things right in his life. I eased back in my chair, thinking about everything his mom had said. What exactly had Raven told her about us? She made it seem like we were together or dating. If we were, that was news to me.

  ∑

  Chapter 6

  Raven remained somewhat silent on the way back to the dorm. I figured it was what his mom had said. We hadn’t discussed where we were headed or what we wanted from our relationship. Probably because it was too soon. Instead of asking, I kept to myself and allowed him to work out his own demons.

  “I’ll give you a call later.” Raven leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. My eyes closed and for a moment, I swore it was Collin kissing me. Did he not want to kiss me on the lips anymore? Were we headed down that same road? I just left an empt
y and emotionless guy; the last thing I wanted was another one.

  “Okay. I’ll be studying.” I opened the door and grabbed my purse, keeping my eyes away from him. If I looked at him, I wasn’t sure what I’d do — jump him or cry and beg him to kiss me.

  “Thanks again, Raven,” Delaney said. “I’m going to scan these photos and then I’ll give them back to you so you can return them to your mom.”

  “Yeah, no problem.” He casually looked over his shoulder, acknowledging Delaney.

  We got out of the car and I closed the door. He drove off slowly and something told me that things between us were not the same.

  “Wow. That’s one messed up story.” Delaney opened the door to the building and I trudged in behind her.

  “Yeah,” I muttered.

  “After hearing all of that, I need to read one of your romance books.” She removed the strap of her camera from her neck. “Then again, I’m sure this project will have a happy ending.” She gave me a slight nudge.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “What’s wrong?” she asked as I hit the button for the elevator.

  “I don’t know. He’s acting kind of distant.”

  “Distant?”

  “Yeah.” I stepped into the elevator and Delaney followed behind me. “Didn’t you notice he didn’t even bother to kiss me on the lips?”

  “Now that you mention it, yes. Maybe the pictures just brought back a lot of bad memories.” Delaney waved a manila folder that encased pieces of Raven’s life. The good and bad.

  Delaney had a point. “You know, I didn’t think of that.” I leaned against the wall for support and sighed. As the elevator rose, the lightness in my stomach pressed hard against my diaphragm, causing my breaths to become shallower. “But, I think it was what his mom said.”

  “About you being too good for him?”

  I nodded.

  “Maybe so, but quit worrying and give the guy a break.” The elevator doors opened and she laced her arm through mine. “I know he’s crazy about you.”