“I know I love her.”
“That’s well and good, but this is your one chance to do what thousands of other players in college right now can’t do … go pro. Do you want to throw that away, Austin?”
“No, Coach.”
“Exactly. The best way to do it is leave her alone. Don’t even talk to her again for now. By the time the semester is over, she’ll be dying to get back with you. At that point, you can explain your long-term goals to her. Trust me, son. This is for the best.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded, trying to let his advice sink in.
“Now go get ready.”
“Yes, Coach.”
I lied to my coach, a man I respected. But I didn’t care, I had to know Brooke’s reaction to the letter. She was the main priority now.
THIRTY-FIVE
Brooke
I woke up with Austin on my mind immediately. We hadn’t spoken in a few days, not since I had told him it was over. Maybe he had wanted to break up too?
My phone rang as I stretched in bed. I grabbed it off my nightstand, hoping to see Austin’ face on the screen. It was an unknown number. What the hell?
“Hello?”
“This is a collect call from the Buffalo Jail. Do you accept charges?”
“Yes,” I said then sighed.
“Brooke?” Jocelyn asked.
“Yeah. What do you want?”
“Will you please come and bail me out? I’m so sorry about everything.”
“Are you insane? I don’t have the money to do that, but even if I did, why the hell would I do it after you told them I was with you that night?”
“Brooke, I’m sorry. I’m so screwed up.”
“Sober up Jocelyn, get some help.”
I ended the call and turned my phone off completely, knowing she would try to call again, whittling away at my resolve until I felt bad and helped her. She had to learn, and I had plenty of my own problems to deal with.
As I got dressed and ready for my day, Austin kept popping into my thoughts. I missed his body, but I also began to realize I missed his laugh and good vibes too. By the time I left the house, I was running behind, so I didn’t stop to read the campus paper like I usually did.
Walking through the Quad to my first class, a swarm of what looked like freshman rushed up to me, asking questions and shoving voice recorders and cameras in my face. What the hell was going on? I wondered as I kept walking, trying to brush them off.
“What do you think of the letter?” one asked.
“Any comments on the football program here at Buffalo State?” another woman asked.
“What are you talking about? Leave me alone. I’m late for class.”
“We just need a statement…”
“Leave her alone!” Teddy said, appearing out of nowhere.
The others scattered.
“Thanks,” I said. “You’re Austin’s roommate, right?”
He nodded.
“What were they going on about?”
“Damn freshman trying to get a story.”
“A story? What are you talking about?”
“You haven’t read the paper this morning?”
“No. I’m late for class.”
“Oh. You should read it.”
“Tell me while we walk,” I said, taking off toward the medical sciences building.
“Austin wrote a letter to the editor about you and him, professing his love.”
I stopped.
“What? You’re kidding, right?”
“No. He said it was the only way to prove your innocence.”
“I haven’t heard from him since the other night. Did he get kicked off the team?”
“No, not yet. He loves you, but his coach is all over him about this, and he told me he has to cool it off with you for a while, at least until the end of the semester.”
“It’s okay. Tell Austin I understand.”
“I will,” he said. “Can we talk later? Over a beer maybe?”
“Sure, call me or something,” I said as I dashed away, not wanting to be even more late.
“I don’t have your phone number,” he called out.
“I’ll meet you at Marticello’s at six!”
I rushed to the lecture hall, but I still ended up being ten minutes late. The rest of the class all turned to look at me as the squeaky door opened.
A few of them pointed and talked to each other as I sat down in the back row and slunk down in my seat. The professor, Dr. Jones, gave me a dirty look, but she didn’t call me out.
While she lectured, I tried to pay attention, but I wasn’t able to get Austin out of my mind. Halfway through the class, I spotted a newspaper someone had left behind.
Using my foot, I scooted it over then reached down to pick it up. As I read his letter on the sly, tears formed in my eyes. He did love me more than football.
I hoped he wouldn’t get in trouble for writing the letter. Why hadn’t he called me or sent an email or something?
That scared me as much as the thought of not having him in my life anymore. Had he been kicked off the team?
Maybe Teddy would know more. I wasn’t sure how I would get through the rest of my classes that day, but I had to try.
THIRTY-SIX
Brooke
After my last class, I headed to Marticello’s to meet with Teddy. When I walked in the busy restaurant alone, it felt a lot different than when I had come in with Austin at my side. No one looked up at all as I stopped and glanced around for Teddy.
He raised his hand from a booth in the corner near the plate glass windows facing the street. I shuffled over, forcing myself to smile. When I got closer, I noticed he had company.
“Oh, hey Brian,” I said, sitting across from them facing the window.
“Hi, Brooke.”
“I hope you don’t mind,” Teddy said. “He’s always complaining I don’t take him out in public.”
“I do not,” Brian said.
“Have you talked to Austin yet?”
“No. Have you?”
He shook his head.
“Did you try to call him?”
“No,” I said then sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Teddy asked.
“That was a damn romantic letter,” Brian added.
“I know, but…I’m just not sure about him or anything anymore. He wrote that letter, sure, but what if he’s just confused and doesn’t really love me? I’m afraid to find out.”
“Uh oh,” Teddy said. “You need a drink, a little liquid courage to call him.”
“I don’t know…”
A waitress walked up.
“Two pitchers of beer and a vegetarian pizza, large.” Teddy said to the waitress then turned to me. “That okay with you?”
I nodded. The waitress left. Glancing outside at all the people walking by the front of the restaurant, I longed to be with Austin. Teddy and Brian were okay, but I wanted the man who loved me, the amazing man I loved back.
The waitress returned with two pitchers of beer, which I thought was way too much for three people until I saw Teddy and Brian both down a glass quickly.
Before the food arrived, my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced at the screen. Austin! I tapped the screen and put it to my ear.
“Austin?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you to call me.”
“I’m sorry. I saw your letter, and I don’t know what to say. Did you get kicked off the team?”
“Coach isn’t happy, but I don’t think he can throw me off the team. Whether or not he helps me get into the pros is another matter entirely.”
“We’re going to be okay,” I said confidently. “I know it.”
“Me too. Where you at? Home?”
“No, I’m at Marticello’s with Teddy and Brian. They’re giving me moral support and advice.”
“Ah, like they did for me last night. Tell them I said hey.”
“Austin says hey
.”
“Hey, Austin,” they said in unison.
“You want to come join us?”
“No. I’m not really in the mood to be in public right now.”
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah. Can you come over after you guys are down there?”
“Yeah. I’d like to see you. We should talk.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he said.
“Bye, Austin.”
I ended the call, wishing the pizza would hurry the hell up.
“He loves you,” Teddy said.
“Oh yeah? How do you know this?”
“Just the way he looks at you when you’re together. He hasn’t said anything, but I can tell. I mean he wrote the damn letter.”
I smiled.
“He said come over after we’re done. Are you two going back home?”
“We were going to go out, but we can walk with you. It’s getting late.”
“Perfect,” I said. “You two are the best.”
Derek the frat-fuck walked up as a finished my sentence.
“They’re the two biggest fuck ups on campus. That’s what I’ve heard.”
He cackled with laughter, obviously drunk.
“Get out of here,” I snapped. “You’re an asshole.”
“Watch it,” he said. “I still owe you one.”
Teddy stood up, puffing out his chest.
“She asked you to leave, asshole.”
Our waitress returned with our pizza.
“No fighting in here,” she said. “Take it outside.”
“Let’s go,” Derek said, thumping his chest with his fist. “I’ll fuck you both up then take her home with me and fuck her up in another way.”
“You’re not even making any sense right now,” I said.
“Fuck you too,” he said, slurring the single syllable words.
“I’m calling the cops,” the waitress said.
“I don’t want to be here when they show up, let’s go,” I told Teddy and Brian.
“I’m not done with you guys,” Derek yelled from the door.
Two of his frat brothers dragged him outside.
“I’m sorry,” I said to the woman behind the cash register.
“You didn’t do anything from what I saw,” she said. “Have a good night.”
“Let’s go,” Teddy said. “He better not jump us.”
“If he does, Austin will end up going to jail for demolishing his face.”
“Yeah.” Teddy chuckled. “Let’s go.”
I followed him and Brian outside. We peered down the street, one direction then the other. Not seeing any sign of Derek, we headed toward the house they shared with Austin. I had read the letter he wrote so many times, I almost had it memorized.
“Let’s go this way,” Teddy said, nodding toward the path around campus. “It’s quicker.”
“Are you sure? It’s getting late.”
“You’ll be safe. Don’t worry.”
I clutched the strap of my backpack tightly as we walked down the dimly lit path with trees on both sides. What had been meant as a means to beautify the path had turned it into a dangerous area for anyone after dark.
Halfway to their house, I began to relax until Teddy shouted, “Watch out!”
Electricity coursed through my body. I saw a look of surprise on Teddy’s face as I blacked out.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Austin
I sat in the living room, staring blankly at the television while waiting for Brooke and the others to return. Many different emotions, some I’d never felt before, whipped through my mind.
When the door opened, I sat up, desperately wanting to see her face. Teddy came inside, followed by Brian. They both rushed by, heading toward their bedroom.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I called after them as I stood up. “Where’s Brooke?”
I glanced at the open door, hoping she would walk through. After walking over and looking outside, I realized she hadn’t arrived with them. Fuck!
As I ran to Teddy’s bedroom, I saw him standing with a tablet in his hands. Brian stood at his side, peering at the screen. Both looked up as I came in.
“Sorry, Austin. I tried to stop them, but there were too many of them.”
“Who?” I asked, ready to bash skulls. “Was it that frat-fuck and his friends?”
“No,” Brian said. “Some guy with a mohawk and a bunch of other people.”
I tilted my head to the side and looked at Teddy for clarification.
“Don’t worry,” he said, still looking at the screen. “I dropped my phone in her backpack before we ran.”
“How the hell is that going to help?” I asked.
He held up the tablet.
“I’ve got an app that tracks my phone in case I lose it.”
“He loses it a lot,” Brian added.
I walked over to them.
“Where is she now?”
“It’s not super exact, it’s a free app, but I think she’s in the park.”
“The big one?”
I saw a red, flashing dot on the map.
“There?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Let’s go,” I said.
“Wait.” Teddy pulled his phone out of his pocket. “We need to call the police.”
“There’s no time.”
I headed toward the bedroom door.
“Hold on, bro,” Teddy said. “Let me call the cops and we’ll go at the same time.”
“Tell them to hurry. It sounds like the guy who rushed into her house the other day. I took him out with one punch. He’s not going to be a problem. I’m going.”
“He’s got dozens of people with him. Some of them had bats.”
“I don’t care. She means more to me than anything else in the world.”
“Okay,” Teddy said.
“There’s not enough time. I’m afraid they’re going to hurt her.”
“You go scout it out, and we’ll meet you there,” Brian said. “We got this, bro.”
Did Brian just call me bro?
“Alright,” I said. “But if the cops don’t show up, I’m going to get her myself.”
“We’ll be there,” Teddy said.
I left the house and ran toward the park north of campus. With each step, my love for her grew even deeper. If something happened to her, I would be devastated, crushed, no longer able to function in society. Nothing was going to happen.
*
After running the long way around, I carefully made my way into the group of trees at the edge of the park. They were nowhere in sight as I crept forward, keeping hidden from view.
Was Teddy wrong? Maybe the app…
I spotted them building a fire in the burn pit a few hundred yards away. An RV was parked in the grass. Loud music blared out of it.
Where was she? Dammit!
My anger and frustration grew as I watched them. My phone rang, startling me.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey, Austin. It’s me. The cops are on their way. We’re coming too, with Trey. Where you at?”
“Trying to hide,” I snapped. “I should have turned my phone off. You have the map of where they are, right?”
“Yeah, but where are you?”
“I’m in the trees on the north side of the park. They’re a hundred yards away, maybe more. I’ll meet you guys in the north parking lot, okay?”
“Yeah, we’re on our way.”
I ended the call and turned my phone off. After watching another few seconds and not seeing any sign of Jocelyn, I walked to the parking lot to meet up with Teddy, Brian and Trey.
“Where are the police?”
“On their way,” Trey said.
“I’m not standing around here waiting on them. I think she’s in the RV, I don’t like that I can’t see her.” Or what’s happening to her, I thought grimly.
“She’s probably in there,” Brian said. “That’s whe
re I would keep her if I was dumb enough to kidnap someone.”
“There’s some crazy people in the world,” I said, shaking my head. “You guys wait here for the cops, I’m going in.”
“No way man, we’re here as backup,” Teddy said.
Brian nodded and Trey agreed.
“We’ve got this.”
*
When the man with a Mohawk exited the RV, I took off running through the woods. My plan was to come out on the side facing away from everyone, but I left the woods early.
No one noticed me as Trey, Brian and Teddy entered loudly from the other side of the field. They made it sound like there were twenty of them instead of three. I hoped the cops got here before the crowd got to them and realized they were only a trio. I saw a lot of the other people moving toward them hesitantly. Fifty yards away, I increased my speed.
I heard both groups of people yelling at each other. Forty yards. Just a little bit longer. The thought of Brooke in trouble gave me a burst of energy. Thirty yards.
A gunshot rang out. What the hell? I didn’t slow down. Everyone scattered in different directions. Fuck! Twenty Yards. Ten. Zero.
I rushed up the ladder on the back of the RV, staying low as I crawled across the roof. The yelling and commotion from the others helped hide the noise I was making.
When I glanced out at the field, I saw a man brandishing a gun. He waved it into the air and fired again, laughing hysterically.
“I am the law!” he shouted.
At the center of the RV’s roof, I saw a hatch. I pulled the handle, sighing in relief as it swung open. I glanced down, but didn’t see anyone.
I sat in the opening and grabbed the other side with my hands to hold myself as I jumped down. As soon as I landed, I crouched into a fighting stance.
When I didn’t see anyone in the front half of the RV, I rushed down the hall to the back.
“Brooke?” I called out.
No answer. I kicked the bathroom door open and glanced around. Nothing.
Fuck!
I looked down the hall toward the front. Still seeing no one, I moved to the very back of the RV with a door to what was probably a bedroom.
“Brooke?” I called out, turning the doorknob.
The door was locked. I took a few steps back then rushed toward the door. It opened when I hit it with my arm. I saw Brooke passed out on a bed.
No!
I went to her.
“Brooke?” I asked, lightly slapping her cheek. “Wake up, Brooke.”
Mr. Beast_An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 73
