We laughed and she walked over to her dresser to grab me a box of tissues.
"You're right, and I'm sorry for being so mopey. But I need time. I've loved him," I had to rein in my broken words. "I've loved him for so long. I'm not sure how to let go."
Alyssa seemed to contemplate my words, and then stretched her hand out to me. "You want me to shake your hand?" I looked up at her, confused.
"Yep, this is the deal. I'll leave you alone. I promise not to push you with Eric or any other guy," she said. "As long as you promise to get on with your life. I'm not saying dismiss Tristan's calls or not hang out with him. I'm saying if he calls and you have other plans, then tell him to fuck off. You deserve to be as happy as he thinks he is."
With a shaky breath I stood, gripping her hand with a hard shake.
Squeezing my hand back, she said, "You owe me, remember, and I expect you to pay up."
Alyssa and I didn't say anything afterward. There wasn't anything left to be said. She'd been right. I deserved to be happy. If Tristan couldn't see how much I cared for him, then it was his loss. The hard part would be letting go.
Chapter 9
Tristan
The days and months blurred past, not giving me time for much of anything. By the time October rolled around football had taken over my life. On the field I didn't have to think. My mind slipped into a sort of trance and most days, I didn't want to come out of it. If I didn't have a practice or a game, I spent my time studying my ass off. I struggled in a few classes, but welcomed the stress over putting up with Kellie. I tried finding time to spend with her, but she didn't feel my efforts were good enough.
In fact, the harder I worked to make her happy, the more we fought. She and her friends were a constant pain in my ass. One night, some guys from the team asked if I wanted to hang out at a local bar. I asked Kellie to go and she invited her friends–the evening didn't end well.
Kellie flirted with every dude who walked up to her and her friends, but being secure enough, I didn't care. Obviously I couldn't have been more wrong, and when I mentioned all the girls I'd turned down because of being with her, she went fucking ballistic on me. I thought my explanation would make her see I was committed. Wrong, again.
When we fought, I'd hang out with the guys at the frat house. Bret and I started to hang out more and one night he told me about the shit between him and Robbie. From then on I kept a close eye on him. I'd also heard a few rumors of him trying to force himself on some freshman, but no charges were ever pressed.
As for Elle, I avoided her for the benefit of mine and Kellie's relationship. The only time I'd seen her was between classes, if I was lucky. We continued to text and sometimes we'd talk on the phone after my games, but nothing more. Even so, Kellie once again didn't find my attempt good enough. More and more I wondered if I could take staying with her. Being alone would be easier than putting up with her constant bitching.
Last week I almost called off our engagement–for good. I met up with Kellie and her friends for lunch and ran into Elle's sister, Heather. At first, I hadn't recognized her. She looked so different. Her childlike face had withered away, replaced with gaunt cheeks, dead green eyes, and thinning brown hair. I couldn't take my eyes away from her.
"Who in the hell is that?" Kellie's tone dripped with disgust.
"Elle's little sister." As always, wrong fucking thing to say.
Kellie looked back at Heather, scanning her from head to toe. Kellie's friends stared too.
"I can see the resemblance," Kellie said in a sneer, and her friends laughed.
To keep from losing my shit, I clenched my hands and looked away. Those stuck up bitches didn't know what Heather used to be like before she got mixed up in drugs. But I sure as fuck refused to let them talk shit about her.
"Kellie," I began, but she cut me off.
"Oh my God," she said with wide eyes. I turned to look in the same direction and found Heather flipping them off. I smiled. She hadn't lost her smartass attitude.
Without an explanation, I left Kellie with the others at the table and headed over to Heather.
"Hey, Heather." I smiled.
She looked uneasy as her eyes scanned the room.
"Hey, Tristan," she said, finally. Heather's dirty nails scratched the inside of her arm through her long sleeved shirt. Her shoulders tensed, and she clenched and unclenched her hands several times. I figured she needed a fix. She had sores on her face, and if I had to guess, meth topped her list of current drug preferences.
"I didn't know you were in town," I lied, remembering what their mom had told me.
Heather looked at me and nodded.
"Have you talked to Elle?"
"No, and I'm not going to." Heather frowned. The gesture reminded me of her as a kid.
I raised my hands in the air, not wanting to upset her. "Okay, okay. Um, do you need anything? Money?"
“No, I don't want your money." She gave a small grin and rolled her eyes.
"All right. Let me give you my number. Stay here, I'll be back in a second." I rushed over to the cash register, borrowed a pen, wrote my number on a napkin, and then headed back.
"Thanks." Heather took the napkin then looked back at the ground. "So, how's my sister? Do y'all see each other much?"
I hesitated. Thanks to Kellie, I wasn't privy to that information. Again, I lied. "She's good, just busy with school and stuff. You know, she'd really like to see you. She worries about you."
Heather looked up at me with pain in her dim eyes.
"She's better off without me." Her wide eyes searched the room, nervously. "I've got to get out of here. I'll talk to you later. It was good to see you." Her eyes glistened with tears.
"Okay, but don't lose my number. If you need me, call. Regardless of what time it is. I mean it, Heather." She nodded and turned to leave, but then stopped.
"Hey, Tristan?" She kept her back to me.
"Yeah?" I waited.
"Don't tell my sister you saw me today. I don't want her to worry about me." I opened my mouth, but she took off before I could convince her otherwise. I watched the door, hoping she'd come back in, but she never did.
Kellie supplied me with a loathsome glare when I headed back to the table. Knowing she and I would argue, I took my time. As expected, when I sat down next to her, Kellie started in.
"Please tell me you didn't give her any money?"
Her friend, Becky, laughed, but instantly stopped after the death glare I gave her. I turned to Kellie.
"Let me get one thing perfectly clear," I leaned closer to her, "don't make any of your smartass comments. Not when it comes to Elle."
Kellie's mouth thinned, her eyes darkening. "Don't you mean, Heather," she seethed back.
"You know exactly who I mean. Heather is Elle's little sister and she's sick. I know how crazy you get over my relationship with Elle, which by the way, is nothing like it used to be, thanks to you. So don't pretend you aren't pissed because I went to talk to Elle's sister. If you even think of making a comment about her right now, so help me God I will leave and you can find your own way home."
Kellie's eyes hardened.
"Don't worry; I'm not leaving with you." She turned to her friends across the booth from us. "Let's go."
I got out, and she and her friends left. Our waitress came over and I paid the bill, but didn't leave until I knew they were out of the parking lot.
After seeing Heather, I knew avoiding Elle wouldn't be hard. A part of me wanted to tell her, but the other part didn't want her to worry. I knew she'd ask me a million questions, but I didn't have the answers she needed. I did the next best thing, I called Elle's mom.
Ms. Richards thanked me for the information, but I still felt guilty keeping it from Elle. I promised her mom I'd let her know if Heather contacted me. But with the stipulation she not tell Elle I'd seen her sister. Ms. Richards agreed.
When I hung up the phone, I went for a run. Kellie never called, which was fine by me. I didn't n
eed her shit, and the more I thought about it, the more I simply didn't care.
Elle
I'd kept my agreement with Alyssa. Tristan and I talked, though not near as much as we used to. In the beginning, the urge to see him or confide in him was harder than expected. However, I managed to keep myself distracted with school, work, and volunteering through the Kappa house. Eric and I were talking more and even though we weren't technically dating, we were getting close.
Earlier today Tristan texted, asking me to meet him and I agreed. His engagement party was coming up and he wanted me to help pick out a tux. I realized as I parked, this would be the first time in over a month we'd been alone together.
When I walked into the shop, I found Tristan standing in front of a mirror. I did my best not to stare, but the simple task proved hard to commit to. His shoulders looked broader and I noticed his dark brown, sculpted hair had grown out and fell closer to his eyes. Even at a distance he radiated sex appeal. Dammit.
He looked up in the reflection and waved me over. With a sigh, I headed his way, hoping not to fall back into the same routine of wanting him. I concluded as long as we didn't touch I'd be okay.
He smiled brightly at me when I reached him. "Hey, Spud. Lookin' good."
"You don't look half bad yourself." He shook his head, holding me captive with his crooked grin.
"Listen, I have a question. I know this is only the engagement party, but I need you. I want you standing up there by my side." He looked back to the mirror, unsuccessfully working the tie into a knot.
I stopped breathing for a minute, not sure how to respond. Finally, knowing he would never get the technique down, I gave in and helped him. So much for the not touching thing.
"Come here before you strangle yourself."
Tristan shuffled over to me. I lifted the collar of his shirt, readjusting the tie.
"So what do you say? I don't think I can go through with this if I don't have you up there with me."
I looked up into his serious, warm honey eyes.
My answer came without effort. "Sure." From the corner of my eye, I noticed Kellie and her friends walking into the store. After adjusting Tristan's tie, I leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "Just promise that I get to pick out my own dress. I've got this killer black strapless number I'm dying to wear. We'll look perfect together." I hadn't meant to throw in the last part. It just slipped out, but I got the reaction I hoped for from Kellie.
"Would y'all like a room?" Kellie's hardened tone made me smile. Simply put, I couldn't stand her, she being the sole source behind me and Tristan's strangled friendship. Until I met her, I usually shied away from confrontation, but not anymore.
I opened my mouth, ready to smart off, but Tristan beat me to the chance.
"Sure, you paying," he countered, turning to look in the mirror at my handy work. I held back from laughing. Knowing nothing good could come out of me sticking around, I decided to leave before any other heated words could take place.
"I've got to go, but thanks for asking me to be with you." I finished with a peck to his cheek then turned to his fuming fiancée. "Kellie, as always, a pleasure." I smiled as I walked past her and her shocked-faced friends.
Before I stepped out of the store, I heard Kellie's hushed anger. She monopolized all of Tristan's time. We didn't hang out, which helped to distance myself from him, but the wedge between us still affected me profoundly. Growing up sometimes meant letting go of the past. Even though a part of me would always love Tristan, and we would remain friends, I didn't think our friendship would ever be the same. I sighed, pushing away what we'd lost. With my shoulders straight, I headed to my car.
"Hey, Elle. Wait up."
I heard a distant voice shout from behind. I turned to see Eric jogging up to meet me. From the looks of him, he'd just left the gym down the street. His muscular arms were bare and his five o'clock shadow gave him a hunky wilderness look. His sandy blond hair fell in a mess on his forehead. He smiled when he walked up to me.
"Hi, Eric. Did you just leave the gym?"
"Yeah and I'm starved. You wanna grab a bite to eat?"
"I'm actually pretty hungry, so why not. Where did you have in mind?" I looked around at our slim options.
"There's a great hamburger place down the street." His mouth turned into a lazy grin. "My family owns it, actually. We can walk. It's not too far."
"After you," I said smiling.
Chapter 10
Tristan
My mind ran a mile a minute after Elle left. She had no clue the effect she had over me. When she leaned close and whispered in my ear...damn. She smelled fucking incredible, and when her body pressed against my chest, I nearly lost control and pulled her to me. Shit, just being close to her felt intimate, until Kellie interrupted us and the moment ended.
I could have kicked myself in the ass. I'd finally reached a place where every damn minute of every day my thoughts weren't consumed by Elle, then like snapping her fingers she drew me back in.
"Tristan! I leave you alone and come back to find her nearly sucking your ear off."
I laughed, and not at the absurdity of what Kellie said, but how much I would've traded the idea for reality.
"You think this is funny?"
I knew her tempered words were more show for her friends than me, but this shit was getting old.
"Listen, Kellie, I'm gonna walk away." I inched closer to her, watching her eyes grow wide. "Yeah, I'm gonna walk away, get in my car, and drive the fuck off. Because if I stay here, and listen to this bullshit..." I had to take a deep breath. "Then this wedding shit–you and I in general–will be over. Got it?"
I didn't hang around for her retort or her attempt to guilt trip me by creating tears. As soon as I dropped the monkey suit off in the dressing room, I called up some guys on the team. As luck would have it, I was only minutes away from as much alcohol as I could drink.
Elle
Eric and I walked into his family's burger place and headed to the register. He introduced me to his parents and little sister. They were nice and refused to take my money when I ordered a jalapeño cheeseburger with extra onions.
I didn't think about the onion part until his sister said, "Guess you don't want my brother to kiss ya?" Their mom glared down at her. Eric laughed and then led me to a booth in the back.
"I've never been here before. It's nice," I said as we sat down.
"Thanks. What do you want to drink?"
"I'll have a non-sweet iced tea."
“Cool, I'll be back in a minute."
I smiled. "Sounds good." I stayed in the booth and glanced around the small but nice area. When Eric came back a few minutes later, he had our burgers and drinks with him.
"Wow. That was fast. The service here is great."
"Helps to know the owner." He winked. We ate and talked about school and sports. By the time I'd finished my last fry, I'd overstuffed my stomach.
"So what did you think of the burger? Great, huh," Eric said, then slurped the last of his drink.
"Everything was delicious. I'll have to bring..." I stopped. "Alyssa in here." I immediately thought of Tristan knowing he'd love the food. Just then I noticed the sun dipping into the horizon. "I should get going, I have a Biology test tomorrow I really need to study for."
"Okay." We stood, but before heading out, Eric and I said goodbye to his family. "Come on, I'll walk you to your car."
Once outside, he smiled over at me.
Alyssa's words came back to me. I needed to start living my life. "So we should do this again. I mean if you want to."
"I'd like that," he said
"We'll plan another date."
"So this was a date?" Eric tilted his head to the side and chuckled as we walked down the street.
"Isn't the definition of a date when one party asks the other to dinner?"
"I guess you're right. So, does this mean we're dating?" He smiled through his brilliant smoky blue eyes.
"I gues
s that depends on you." I smiled back at him.
"I'm game."
I folded my arms across my chest to keep warm. October brought cooler temps and I found myself picking up pace as we neared my car.
"Easy, speedy," he said, catching up with me.
"Sorry, I was getting cold." I leaned against my car with Eric in front of me.
"No problem. So, I'll call you tomorrow?"
"Okay, I look forward to it." Eric closed the small space between us and then very lightly, brushed his lips over mine.
The connection sent my head swirling, and I felt the heat as the cool October wind hit my face.
He backed away, smiling. "I've wanted to do that for a long time."
My cheeks burned hotter. "Well, keep it up and you may get another chance."
Eric opened my door, and I hurried out of the cold. He smiled sweetly at me as he pushed it closed. I started my car and cranked up the heater.
When I walked up to my front door, I could hear Alyssa yelling at someone. I hesitantly opened the door.
"It's not my fault you're a skank!" Alyssa stood, looming over Ginger in the living room when I walked in. Tisha stood behind Alyssa, smiling smugly at Ginger. I shut the door, but no one noticed me.
"Fine you can have my sloppy seconds. I didn't like him much anyway," said Ginger. She pushed her flaming red hair behind her shoulders and marched out of the room, but not before Alyssa threw in the last word.
"Honey, you were the sloppy one, and I'm always the prize," she said in a low, dangerous tone. Alyssa loved nothing more than to rile people up and never took their retorts to heart, but Ginger got to her, I could tell.
"Care to let me in on what's going on?" I flopped on the couch next to where Alyssa stood. She sighed and sat next to me.
"Bret asked me to the party this weekend since our house is paired with his frat, and I guess," she raised her voice, "some people can't handle he'd rather go with me than a slut." A door slammed after that.
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