I laughed, "Thanks. I'll see ya in a couple days."
She left and I picked up and went back up to my room to change.
A few weeks later it was finals time again and I was spending a lot of time with Lindsay. We were both getting an A in our class we had together so I wasn't really worried about that final. We had started studying in her room instead of the study room.
I had invited her to mine, but she said she thought it would be too distracting with Trevor and Pete coming in and out. She was probably right about that.
My mom called when I was over at Lindsay’s one evening. I answered it, "Hello?"
"Hi! It's actually you and not your voicemail!"
"Sorry, next week is finals week and I've been studying a lot and still have practice and team meetings."
"I know, I know, I'll make it quick."
"That's not what I was saying."
"I know, I just wanted to see when you will be home and how long you are staying."
"Well I only have ten days off and I should be home about a week after finals."
Lindsay walked toward the door and mouthed "water?" at me. I nodded my head at her and she left.
My mom continued, "Okay great. Well Troy wants us all to have dinner."
"Troy? Who is Troy...Oh! Coach Haywood."
She laughed, "Yes."
"Okay. Sure."
"Well I'll let you go. Good luck on finals. I love you."
"I love you too."
Lindsay walked back in and handed me a water, "Thanks."
"No problem. Your mom?"
I unscrewed the lid on the water and nodded. "Yep. She wanted to know when I would be coming home."
"I heard you say ten days is all you get for summer break."
I playfully shook my head, "eavesdropping, really?"
"Shut up."
I laughed, "Yep. Ten days, that's it. And then around a month of easy practices and then three week Fall Camp. You going back to Oklahoma for the entire summer?"
"Not the entire summer. Julie and I are moving into an apartment together August first. So I'll be back then."
"Well that's cool."
I was glad she wouldn't be gone the entire summer. Truth be told, I wasn't sure what I was going to do without her here. I had become used to seeing her every day.
When finals were over, we all decided to celebrate by going to a party at one of the graduating seniors’ houses. I invited Lindsay and Julie and they said they would try to make it.
We headed over at eight thirty. The football parties always started a little earlier because of the curfew. At around nine I glanced over at the door and saw Lindsay and a very reluctant Julie walk in.
I stood up and greeted them. Lindsay looked around the party. Some guys were playing cards. Some people were drinking in the living room, but everyone was pretty calm. Lindsay looked at Julie, "See. Nothing scary." She turned to me. "She's never been to a party before."
"Really?" I looked over at Julie. "Well, I wouldn't call this a party. Just a get together before everyone leaves."
She was clearly uncomfortable and was still scanning the room. "Is Pete here?"
"Yeah. Somewhere."
Lindsay grabbed her hand, "Let's go get something to drink."
I led them to the kitchen and poured them both a beer from the large keg. They both thanked me and we all hung out and talked about finals. Julie held on to the beer, but I never saw her take a drink.
Lindsay slowly sipped hers as we all talked. Pete came up and slapped me on the shoulder, "Hey! You want to play beer pong?" He froze when he saw Julie, "Oh hey, Julie and Lindsay."
They both politely said hi back to him. He looked back at me clearly irritated I had invited them. "I'm good. Thanks."
He mumbled something under his breath as he walked away.
I think Lindsay was trying to make Julie feel better when she said, "He really is a Neanderthal."
I couldn't believe Julie was still upset that Pete never called. She must have really liked him. They hadn't even slept together.
At ten thirty Pete and Trevor walked over to where I was standing with Lindsay and Julie. Pete said, "You ready to go? Don't want to be late."
"Yeah I'll meet ya out there."
They nodded and went outside. I turned to Lindsay, "Well, have a great summer. I guess I'll see ya in August."
"Yeah. I'll be bored so you can text me any time."
I smiled and teased her. “Like I have time to entertain you."
She laughed, "Shut up."
"You guys gonna make it home okay? If you want I can follow you back to campus or vice versa." I didn't really like the idea of them staying at the party alone. I knew most of the guys there, but people get fucking stupid when alcohol is involved.
Lindsay finished her beer, "Yeah. Sounds good. We will follow you."
We headed outside and then Julie followed in her car.
When we got back to the dorms we all walked in together and then I told Lindsay and
Julie goodbye again.
Chapter 14
A week after the party, I told Pete bye when he flew home to Texas and then I flew home myself a few hours after that.
My mom picked me up and was excited to see me, but I think she was more excited that we were having dinner with Coach Haywood that night.
I'd never seen her as giddy as when she was running around the house straightening it up. It reminded me of how excited I was the first time Maddy came over for dinner. Idiot. Being home always reminded me of Maddy now and I was grateful I was rarely home. I looked over at my grandma, "Is this how she always acts when he comes over?"
She fixed the collar of my button up shirt my mom had insisted I wore that night, "Yes. She's like a teenager now."
I chuckled and then the doorbell rang. My mom brushed her dress down and went over to answer the door. Coach Haywood walked in and handed her flowers. She gave him a quick hug and a kiss and then he walked over and shook my hand firmly, "Ryan."
"Coach."
"You can call me Troy now."
Weird. "Troy."
He smiled and my mom ushered us into the dining room. We made small talk about school and Troy’s team the previous year. Then he grabbed my mom's hand, "Okay. Should we tell him?"
I looked curiously at my mom, "Tell me what?"
My mom wiped her mouth nervously with her napkin, "Well. Troy and I...we're getting married."
For some reason I wasn't expecting that. I knew I probably should have by the way that they were acting, but it hadn't crossed my mind. My mom looked so happy. "That's great!"
"Yeah? It's okay with you?"
I shook my head in disbelief. How could she not know I would be happy for her? "Of course. Not that you need my permission, but yeah you guys seem really happy. When's the wedding?"
"Well I wanted you to be there so the day after Christmas. That way you have to go. No excuses."
I laughed, "I wouldn't miss it."
We talked a little longer about wedding plans and then Troy left. I had assumed he probably was used to staying over, but out of respect for me didn't. I was okay with that. It would take a little getting used to the idea that my former coach was going to be my new stepfather.
I saw him a few more times the rest of my break. It was awesome to see my mom so happy.
I went back to Auburn when my break was over and got back into the habit of practice and working out.
In late July, Trevor, Pete, and I were working out at the gym when Pete asked, "You guys want to go to a party tonight? Mike invited us to his house. Supposed to be a lot of local girls."
I walked over to the treadmill and stared running, "No thanks."
He was doing bicep curls, "No big surprise." He looked at Trevor, "What about you?"
"I can't."
Pete looked surprised about that, shocked even. "What do you mean you can’t?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't think my girlfriend would like it."
He sat down at the weight bench, "Yeah. No big deal."
Pete put the weight he was using down, "Who are you dating? Someone back home?"
He shook his head and looked really hesitant, "Julie."
I turned the treadmill off and looked over at him, "Julie? Lindsay's friend? How did that happen?"
Pete looked twice as shocked as I was, "Why? How?"
Trevor started lifting and through grunts explained, "At that party before we all left. I asked if I could call her over the summer and she gave me her number. I called her and we've been talking and texting all summer."
I was with Julie most of that party, but I guess she did go to find the restroom once. I guess that's when Trevor talked to her. I couldn't believe she gave him her real number though. "So you haven't been out on a date yet then?"
"No. I'm going to take her out when she and Lindsay move here in a couple weeks."
Pete scoffed, "She's not your girlfriend then. She's just some chick you've been talking to on the phone."
Trevor got a little defensive, "I asked her to be my girlfriend a few days ago and she agreed. I like her. And I'm not going to some party and messing it up."
I started running on the treadmill again, “Well I'm happy for ya man. She's a nice girl."
Pete still looked annoyed and I wasn't sure if it was because he had gone out with Julie first or because he was losing his wingman. He started lifting again, "You know you need a chaperone to take her out?"
Trevor looked in my direction, "Yeah, we were thinking Lindsay and Ryan would double. Just for the first date."
I told him I would. I was excited to see Lindsay so I really didn't mind.
Finally on August first Trevor and I drove over to Lindsay and Julie's new apartment after practice. The sweltering August heat had really drained us both, but I could tell Trevor was really excited.
We knocked on the door and Lindsay answered wearing a hot pink sundress. I had never seen her in pink. She wasn’t ultra girly, but it looked really nice on her. Her hair was down and had been curled. "Well come on in."
We walked in and Julie and Lindsay gave us the tour of their new apartment. It was slightly bigger than the dorm suites and had a balcony and a bar connecting the kitchen and dining room.
Trevor and Julie were talking out on the balcony leaving Lindsay and I standing in the living room. "Well this is really nice."
"Thanks. We like it. Still trying to get unpacked."
I looked around at the boxes on the floor. "Yeah. We would have helped you move you know."
"I know, but Julie's dad hired movers."
I pointed to Trevor and Julie, "Can you believe they are dating?"
"No, not at all. When she told me I was totally shocked. Why she would give her number to him in the first place I have no idea. I mean she should have given him a fake number."
I laughed because I had thought the same thing. "Yeah, well he really likes her. I've never seen him like this."
Lindsay folder her arms, "He's a player."
"He was. I'm telling you he hasn't shut up about her for weeks. He won't even go to parties because she wouldn't like it"
She let her arms drop, "He better not hurt her. She's an innocent girl."
"He won't."
They came back inside and then we all went to a really nice restaurant. That double date was much better than the first one Lindsay and I were a part of.
We all caught up with each other, talking about the summer and a little about Trevor and Julie's new relationship.
Afterward we went back to their new apartment and had to get back in time for curfew so we couldn't stay very long.
I told them goodbye and told Trevor I would wait down at the car and Lindsay went to her room so they could be a lone for a minute.
When he came down and got in the car he looked incredibly happy, and I was really happy for him, but a little nervous that either he was going to hurt Julie or she was going to hurt him.
Two days before camp started I sent a text to Lindsay to ask her if she wanted to hang out. She said she would so we made plans for me to go over to her apartment around six that evening. Julie invited Trevor over too and we rented a movie and all watched it in the living room of Lindsay and Julie’s new apartment.
Trevor and Julie sat on the couch and Lindsay and I sat in chairs that were on opposite sides of the room from each other. After the movie, Trevor asked Julie if she wanted to go on a walk with him and she agreed. They left and Lindsay and I moved to the couch and watched TV.
We were both zoned out watching the television when out of nowhere Lindsay looked over at me, “So who broke you?”
I looked at her confused, “What? No one broke me?”
“Please. You don’t date.”
“Neither do you.”
“But look at you.”
I grinned, “Are you saying you think I’m good looking?”
She rolled her eyes at me, “Don’t. You know you are. That’s one of the reasons I hated you at first.”
I sat up a little straighter and looked at her, “You hated me because I was good looking?”
“Well yeah, I mean it was just another thing that made me think that you had everything handed to you. I’m sure you could have had any girl you ever wanted. And I’m sure there were plenty.”
I rubbed the stubble on my jaw and thought about it. “You’re judging again.”
“No. I’m observing. And since we have been friends, I haven’t seen you with one girl. So someone had to have broken you.”
I swallowed hard and relented, “Yeah. Someone broke me I guess.”
She looked satisfied that she was right and sunk into the couch, putting her feet up on the table. “So tell me about it.”
I looked at the front door, “Hmm. I wonder where Trevor and Julie are.”
“Don’t try to change the subject. They are fine. Just talk about it already.”
I sighed, “Fine. I dated a girl in high school. I thought we were in love and then I got a scholarship to Auburn and left. I was miserable and missed her the entire time.”
She had her head turned toward me and was sitting really close to me, listening intently, “Go on.”
“I was fucking pathetic. Pining over her. So when I went home for the holidays I went to a party I knew she would be at and we hooked up. I stupidly thought that we were back together. And thought we were together for an entire semester. And when I drove fifteen hours to surprise her at prom, I found out that she had been sleeping with a guy who had bullied her in school.”
“Wow. Your life is like a soap opera.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m sorry. So then what?”
“Nothing. I just decided that relationships were too much trouble and to focus on school and football.”
“So why didn’t you do the typical guy thing and sleep with anything that moved?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t like the idea of using women. And I’m not interested in anything complicated.”
“So did you sleep with me before or after all of that happened then?”
I had been looking toward the TV, but I turned to face her again. “Before. When I was trying to get over her after our first break up. Pete and Trevor dragged me to that party and I drank way too much. Why were you there? It was a football party, never made sense to me.”
“I had a rough week that week and a girl I worked with at the library dragged me along and I had only drank a few times before that so I guess I didn’t have a very high tolerance.”
I thought about it, “That night. I don’t remember very much. Which I know I’m an asshole, but…”
She laughed, “You don’t remember any of it at all?”
“No. I mean I remember bumping into you and thinking you were pretty, but nothing after that.”
She grinned, enjoying my ignorance. “Well I wish I could forget. It was terrible. Worst sex I ever had.”
I examined her face to see if she was lying, “Really?”
She shook her head laughing, “No. Actually it was really good. I don’t know how because we were both totally out of it, but it was.” It looked like she was still thinking about it and then looked away.
“That good huh?” She didn’t look at me. “So who broke you?”
That made her turn her head back toward me, but she didn’t answer.
“Come on, you have heartbreak written all over you. Judge too quickly, don’t trust anyone.”
“That’s not because of a relationship. I mean I had a high school sweetheart and we broke up when we graduated, but it didn’t mess me up.”
She had moved closer to me. "Well what..."
Before I could finish asking her what it was that broke her, I felt her soft lips on mine and she was kissing me. I kissed her back for a second before gently pulling back, "Lindsay...what are you doing?"
Her lips were still insanely close to mine, "What?"
"We were just talking about how I'm broken. And how I don't want a relationship."
"I don't either. Not even a little bit. That's why it's perfect."
"Why what is perfect?"
"This. We can hook up or whatever and just be friends. No pressure. No relationship."
I had to move away from her a little because I didn't want the close contact to cloud my judgement. "Lindsay. That's crazy. That never ever works. Someone always gets hurt and I don't want to hurt you."
She sat up a little straighter also. "You aren't going to hurt me. We both hate relationships. We are friends so we should trust each other. And we've had sex before so we know it will be good. Or at least I do."
This had to be a joke. She seemed serious though. "It's not a good idea."
She moved a little closer to me, "Come on it has to have been a while for you. I know it has been for me. Don't you want to get off with someone other than yourself for once?"
She had no idea how badly I wanted to, but I valued our friendship and I had watched enough TV and movies to know it doesn't work. "I can't."
Rebound (Soulmates Book 3) Page 10
