Texting Titan: A Second Chance, College Football Romance

by Kaci Rose

  I then confessed what had happened with Avery and his advice was to not back down but tell her the full truth. I plan to, if only I can get her to listen to me.

  Then I got a call from my mom. Her landlord is pissed about the damage and doesn’t seem to care that it wasn’t her fault. He sees her as trouble and wants her out within thirty days. She isn’t getting her security deposit back and there is barely enough saved to get her a new place. I don’t know what to do but I need to figure something out fast.

  I get up and head downstairs for some food. I need to get moving and back to normal. Today being Saturday I don’t have any classes, so I’ll hang out with the guys downstairs while I try to figure out my next steps.

  Derick is in the kitchen when I come down and he sees me and hands me a plate with a few slices of pizza.

  “So, I don’t know if you are up for it but there is a party down on Greek row tonight, one of the sorority houses. No theme or dressing up required.”

  “No, as far as I am concerned, I’m still taken. I’m not going to some party.”

  “I knew you’d say that, but thought I’d offer anyway.” Derick shrugs.

  “Thanks, man, maybe we can go out tomorrow for a walk, I can’t run yet but I need to keep moving.”

  “Let me know when and I’m there.”

  I spend the day playing video games before heading upstairs. I decided to skip the pain pills tonight and try to lie down in bed.

  I’m thinking about Avery and our time over Christmas break, when Derick calls me. I can hear the noise of a party in the background, so I know he ended up at the sorority party.

  “Hey, man, you need to get down here.”

  “I already said I’m not looking to get laid.”

  “Avery is here, and she’s trashed, man.”

  My heart sinks. I know Avery isn’t a party girl, so a Greek party is the last place I expected her to be tonight. I should have gone to her today, but I have no idea what I would have said or how to make things right.

  “She with a guy?” I ask, praying like hell she’s not.

  “No, she is here with Kelsey and that guy she’s seeing, but they have both been drinking too.”

  That’s means there is no designated driver.

  “Shit. Text me the address, I’m on my way.”

  Twenty minutes later I’m able to score a decently close parking spot and make my way in. I text Derick trying to find out where he saw her last, but I don’t get a response, so I figure I’ll start moving through the house.

  This place is packed, even more so than the football parties because they let just about anyone in here, we are a bit pickier on who we let in the door to our parties. Not because we are snobs, but we try to keep out known troublemakers, and people who are known to bring drugs. We don’t need that shit in the house.

  I barely make it to the back of the first room before some blonde girl tries to pretend to fall into me.

  “Oh!” She gives a fake giggle. “Sorry, too many people.”

  I remove her arms gently and push her away. Her mouth drops open, but I don’t even let her speak.

  “Not interested,” I say and walk toward the kitchen without looking back at her.

  I scan the kitchen and don’t see Avery. I start to feel anxious and pray she is okay. I know so many guys like to prey on the drunk girls at parties like this. I swear I will rip off anyone’s head who tries to touch her.

  I make my way through the packed kitchen, shaking off a few more girls who try to grab on to me as I walk past and make my way to the dining room. I just walk in the door her voice filters through the air.

  I’m relieved that I found her, but for only a minute, because when I find her leaning against the wall and some baseball player is pressed up against her. She has a cup of god knows what that is so easy to slip something into. I walk up and tap the kid on the shoulder, he isn’t as tall as me and his eyes go wide when he sees me. I can’t remember his name, I think it starts with an S, Steve, or Seth maybe.

  “I suggest you get your hands of my girl,” I tell him, and slide between him and Avery to dismiss him. I look at Avery who is smiling ear to ear.

  “Denver! I’m so happy you’re here,” she slurs, and I wonder how much she’s had to drink. To his credit, Seth or whatever his name is, walks away without another word and I take his place right in front of her, shielding her from the crowd.

  “Baby, how many drinks have you had?”

  “Umm, four or five?”

  I take a deep breath. “This isn’t you.”

  “It makes it hurt less.”

  “Makes what hurt less?”

  “You.”

  “Avery...”

  “Even with all the bruises, you are still the most beautiful guy I’ve ever seen,” she says barely above a whisper.

  I want to kiss her so bad, to hold her and tell her I love her, that she is the most beautiful girl even first thing in the morning when she is grumpy and sleepy. But I know this isn’t the time.

  “Well, we’re even. I feel the same way about you.”

  She giggles and my heart sores at the sound. “I’m not a guy.”

  “No, but you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

  Her hand reaches out and lightly lands on my chest. I place my hand over it and soak in her touch. I know in the light of day when she is sober again, I won’t get this chance.

  “Let’s find Kelsey and get you guys home. I want to make sure you get home safe.”

  “Such a knight in shining armor. They said they were going to head to the dance floor.”

  “Stay with me, okay?” I take her hand in mine and it tingles where we touch.

  I lead her toward the den where the music is loudest, and a bunch of people are dancing. I scan the dance floor when Avery tugs on my hand. I look over at her and she points toward the corner. I follow her finger and see Kelsey sitting on Ollie’s lap involved in a heavy make-out session.

  I sigh. I hate to break up their fun, but Kelsey is important to Avery which makes her important to me and I will make sure she gets home safe too.

  I approach and tap her on the shoulder “Kelsey.”

  She takes a minute before she pulls away and looks at me. She doesn’t seem to be quiet as drunk as Avery, but she defiantly isn’t sober.

  “Come on, it’s time to head home, how did you guys get here?”

  “I drove them,” Ollie says.

  “And have you been drinking?” I ask him.

  “Yeah, only two though, we’re good.”

  “No way are you driving these girls’ home. You take them to a party, I expect you to stay sober, that means not even one drink. You two abandoned Avery, she was corned by some guy, anything could have happened there. Let’s go, Kelsey, I’m taking you home, you can be mad at me tomorrow.”

  I hold out my free hand, not wanting to let go of Avery for even a second. Thankfully, Kelsey takes it and stands up. I take her hand in mine. “Do you girls need to grab anything? Coats or bags?”

  They both shake their head, so I lead them to the door. The cold air hits me as we step outside and take in a deep breath. I still have to get them a good block down to my car, but at least they are out of there and safe.

  Getting them into my truck is surprisingly easy as they both climb in the back seat and buckle up. I watch them in the rearview mirror on the way home and Kelsey rests her head on Avery’s shoulder and Avery stares out the window.

  Not a word is spoken on the way home. I walk them to the door, but Avery has trouble getting her key in the lock. I reach over and help her then in a split moment decision I step inside to help her to bed.

  “Kelsey, you need help to bed?”

  “Nope, big guy, I’m good. Get her to bed and fix this shit, she has been drinking me under the table, I can’t keep up.” With that, Kelsey stumbles down the hall to her room.

  I frown. This isn’t the first night she has been drinking? That isn’t like Avery. She will ha
ve a glass or two of wine, but she doesn’t do drunk.

  “Come on, baby, let’s get you to bed.” I wrap my hand around her waist and lead her to her room.

  She sits down on the bed and I grab some pajamas. When I turn back around, she takes my breath away. She’s taken her top off and is standing in just her bra and is attempting to remove her pants, but her balance isn’t good enough.

  “Here, baby, lie down and let me help.”

  She does and lifts her feet to me and I slowly pull down her jeans. I then slide on the pajama bottoms I pulled from her drawer and help her sit up so I can put her shirt on.

  “No, get this off.” She grunts as she tries to reach around and undo her bra.

  This has to be a test and I feel like I’m going to fail miserably, there is only so much a guy can take. I’m at my limit when I unsnap her bra and she slips it off her leaving her breasts on full display.

  I take a deep breath and pull her shirt down over her trying not to think about getting my mouth on them.

  “Lie down. I’m going to get you some water.”

  “Need to use the bathroom.” She stands and wobbles.

  Once I see her make it to the bathroom safely, I head to the kitchen and get the aspirin and water and meet her back in her room.

  “Take these, they won’t stop the hangover you’re going to have but they will help.”

  She takes the pills and drinks half a bottle of water before lying down. She scoots to the middle of the bed.

  “Lie with me for a bit?”

  I should say no but I can’t, so I toe off my shoes and take off my jacket and lay down on top of the covers. I lie on my side, facing her but not touching her, and she is facing me.

  “I’m so mad at you,” she says, and my heart crumbles.

  “I know, baby. I want to tell you everything, but not now, not like this.”

  “You’ve hurt me.”

  “I know, and that is the last thing I wanted.”

  “It’s not fair.”

  “What isn’t fair?

  “How mad I am at you, but how badly I still want you.”

  “I’m yours, Avery. As far as I’m concerned, I’m still taken. That hasn’t changed. We will get through this.”

  She yawns. “You still look really sexy, even with the bruises.”

  “You said that already.”

  “Will you kiss me?”

  “Avery, baby, you’re killing me. I want to kiss you, but you’ve had too much to drink and I’m not taking advantage of that. Next time I kiss you it will be because we’ve put this behind us okay?”

  She closes her eyes. “Okay.”

  Less than a minute later her breath evens out and she is asleep. I should get up and head out, but I tell myself just a few more minutes. I want to watch her sleep and make sure she is okay because my gut is saying that I don’t know when or if I will ever get this chance again.

  I memorize every detail of her face, her scent, and even her breathing. The first rays of daylight start coming in the window when I finally pull myself from the bed and head out, locking the door behind me.

  Chapter 27

  Avery

  I’m just getting home from my last class of the day when my phone rings. It’s Denver again. He’s been calling me every day for a week since the sorority party and I haven’t picked up. I know it’s the coward’s way out, but if I talk to him, I know I won’t be able to stay mad. I need to stay mad because I won’t be lied to.

  I can’t deny what he did for me and Kelsey the night of the party. Making sure we got home okay. Once Kelsey found out Ollie had drunk and was planning to drive us home anyway, she dumped him. She wouldn’t have drunk if he wanted to because we are very strict with each other and always make sure we have a designated driver.

  I remember most of the night. Denver helping dress me and put me to bed, down to me asking him to kiss me and him saying no. He was gone when I woke up and I hate that I was disappointed. Then the calls started, I haven’t picked up, but he leaves me a voice messages telling me he’s sorry and that he wasn’t thinking and asking if I’m okay. Still no sign of telling me the truth, though.

  I take my stuff to my room and head to the kitchen to figure out dinner when Kelsey comes flying in.

  “So, Ollie wants to meet for dinner to apologize and explain, he is taking me to that fancy steakhouse we were talking about the other day. I’m going to let him, cause, hey, a girl has to eat, right? I’m driving. Will you be okay tonight?”

  “Yeah, I’m good. I’ve got some reading for school to do. Make sure you order an appetizer and dessert!” I yell after her.

  She emerges a few minutes later in a nice dress that will make Ollie swallow his tongue.

  “I also plan to order the biggest steak on the menu.” She sits next to me on the couch and sighs. “I really like him, ya know? I was ready to be serious with someone for the first time in a long time.”

  “Then hear him out. And go with your gut and I’m here if you need a ride.”

  “You should call Denver and see what he wants at least.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  She rolls her eyes then heads out the door. I decide to warm up the leftover pizza from last night and snuggle in to watch a few movies that have been on my to watch list for far too long. I’m about halfway into the first one when the doorbell rings.

  There stands Denver looking almost as bad as the morning I showed up at his room. I go to close the door in his face, but he stops it.

  “I really did get into a fight,” he says. I study his face and I can tell this time he’s telling the truth.

  “Ready to tell me the whole truth?”

  “Yes, every detail.”

  I open the door and let him in. He heads to sit on the couch, I turn the TV off and shoot a quick text to Kelsey asking her to take her time. I sit down on the love seat and look at him. He has his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands staring at the floor.

  “I got into a fight with my dad.”

  Shit, that isn’t what I was expecting. I move to sit next to him, hesitantly reaching out and start rubbing his back.

  “My senior year of high school I started to make a name for myself after I got a scholarship. I broke up with my girlfriend because she turned from a caring girl to a Jersey Chaser looking for a free ride almost overnight. It was also when my dad showed up out of the blue, thinking he could cash in on a free ride too. When we didn’t let him, he left. I thought that was the end of it. My mom didn’t tell me over the summer that weird things started happing. It started with cute notes left on her car, flowers at her door, then it got creepy. The night we first met it was her calling me because she was so freaked out. I drove home and we moved her out of the apartment trying to get her away from her stalker. I put her apartment in my name so he couldn’t find her.”

  He pauses, taking a few deep breaths. “We thought it was over. Then on Thanksgiving my dad showed up. Wanted me to sign some stuff so he could sell it to some of his buddies for cash, he said I owed him that. I refused and told him he owed my mom back child support. He threw a fit and left. After Christmas break, the letters started again. The cops wouldn’t do anything because there were no threats. Notes left for her on her car at work talking about things like what she ate for dinner the night before. Notes left at home talking about how he liked what she was wearing. Every evening I could get home, I went, helping her secure the house with better locks etc. It’s not in the best part of town as you know, and I could tell she was scared.”

  “Denver...”

  “Let me get this out, please.”

  I nod.

  “Then on Valentine’s Day, I was getting ready to head out to pick you up and she called. She got home and there was nothing out of place, but she found another letter inside the house, on her kitchen counter. I dropped everything and headed to her. I texted you while I was on my way. I got there and the front door was open and there was glass everywhere. I called 911 an
d gave them her address and went inside. She’d struggled hard. Doors off the hinges, overturned and broken furniture and holes in the wall. I found her in the kitchen being pinned to the fridge by my dad.”

  “No,” I barely whisper. Tears are running down my face, but I wipe at them, trying to stay strong for him.

  He nods. “First chance I got I lunged at him and told my mom to meet the cops out front. We rolled on the kitchen floor and he got in some good punches, and by the time the cops showed up I had him pinned to the ground. He admitted the letters were to scare both of us and went on and on about how I owed him. Thankfully one of the cops took pity on me and is doing his best to keep this out of the media. I told coach about it too. But that night after we got out of the hospital, I took her to pack up some of her stuff and she was able to stay with a friend from work. I came home took a pain pill the hospital give me and passed out. I remember waking up and taking another pill in the morning not too long before you got there. All I remember thinking was that I didn’t want any of this to touch you. I wanted to show you I could handle this so you knew I was someone who could take care of you. But I don’t remember what I was thinking the morning you showed up. I was so out of it, Avery.”

  I keep rubbing his back. “I would have understood from the start. I would have been at the hospital with you, I would have helped, if you had let me.”

  “Avery, the landlord is kicking her out, says she is too much trouble and wants her gone by the 14th of next month. She isn’t getting her deposit back, my dad’s in jail but he found her this time and could find her again when he gets out. I don’t know what to do.”

  Then this big strong guy in front of me breaks down crying and it rips my heart out. I wrap my arms around him and pull him into me and he buries his face in my neck.

  “I can’t lose you too, I’m going crazy. I can’t eat or sleep. Please tell me what to do, how to fix this,” he sobs.

  I pull away slightly, but he won’t look at me. I move down to the floor and kneel in front of him and frame his face with my hands, bringing his gaze up to look at me.

  In his eyes, in that moment, I know. Even though he lied to me, I trust this man with everything I am. The way he came and took care of me at the party, the way he handled the Jersey Chasers after Christmas break, the way he didn’t think twice about coming to help me on Christmas break, and how much he cares about his mom. This man is my everything.