by K. G. Reuss
“Can’t. I’m working. Ava is going, though.” My eyes slid past him again. Stephanie was approaching us, a scowl on her face. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Besides, looks like you won’t be lonely.”
“Lexy, it’s not like that.”
“Sure.”
“Lex—”
“Hey,” Stephanie interrupted, her eyes raking over me, her lip curled up in distaste.
“Hey,” I muttered back.
“You must be Lexy, the girl he’s been stuck with for the project.”
“Yep. That would be me. The old ball and chain,” I answered. I glanced at Travis to see him frowning at me.
“You know it’s not real, right? Your marriage?” She made air quotes. “You’re kind of killing Trav’s vibe with your cosplay.”
“My…cosplay?” I considered her then Travis then her again. “You mean roleplay? Cosplay is when people dress up like their favorite—”
“Whatever,” Stephanie scoffed. “Just do your homework and leave Trav alone.”
I let out a soft laugh and assessed Travis who hadn’t said a damn word. He was still studying me with a peculiar look on his face.
“Sure thing. He’s all yours. See you, Trav.”
“Wait. Lexy!” he called out to my retreating back, snapping out of whatever trance he’d been in. He caught up to me again and grabbed my arm.
“Travis, I need to go. I can’t be late.” I tugged away from him and offered him the best smile I could.
“Lexy, come on. Are you mad?”
“Nope.”
“It’s not like that with her—”
“Seriously running late here.” I swiveled to go, but once more, he was beside me. This time he didn’t stop me. He sauntered next to me as I made my way to my car.
“Lexy, you’re mad. Talk to me.”
We reached my car, and I pivoted toward him, offering him another smile.
“I’m not mad. I’m late. Tell Alex Mom wants him to call her tonight since he didn’t answer when she called him earlier. And please make sure Ava makes it home OK after the party. Got it?”
He nodded, his green eyes sweeping over me quickly. “Are you sure you’re OK?”
“Positive. I’m just late.”
He frowned before giving me a nod and backing away. “I hope you have a good shift. We’re having another party Sunday—”
“I’m working a double on both Saturday and Sunday,” I answered, sliding onto my seat.
“Why? Are you guys that shorthanded?”
“That, and I need the money.”
“Lexy, come on. Let’s hang out on Monday. I started work on our presentation for the project—”
“Email it to me. I work Monday and have classes all day.” I put my seatbelt on and started the engine.
“Fuck, Lexy, when will you have a day off?”
“Why do we need to hang out?”
“Because we’re married—”
“Travis, it’s only on paper. Just go have fun this weekend. I don’t need to know about anything you do. Just be…you.”
His eyes darkened again, and he took a step back, his mouth turned down into a frown.
“Fine.”
“Good. I gotta go. I’ll, uh, talk to you some other time. Good luck tomorrow at the game. I hope you guys win.”
He didn’t answer. He only stared at me as I pulled out of my parking spot. When I glanced in my rearview mirror, he’d started across the parking lot, leaving Stephanie by herself.
For now, anyway.
Something about that made my throat tight and my eyes burn.
Thirty-Four
Travis
“Drink it down!” Mason shouted as I tipped the cup of beer back and swallowed the contents. He clapped me on the back as I chucked the cup behind me. Not only did we beat our opponents yesterday, putting us one step closer to a conference championship, but we’d just won an epic battle of beer pong against some partygoers. To celebrate, Mason wanted to drink.
It was Sunday. After holing up in my room all Friday night alone and working on homework and then disappearing after the game last night so I could think about Lexy, Mason and Alex practically pulled me downstairs to join in the party. They’d given me all kinds of grief for skipping out on the celebration of our win.
She hadn’t texted me back. I’d asked her how work was but got nothing in reply. I knew she was working a double. The thought of her on her feet, waiting tables all night, made me feel sick inside. I hated she had to work so hard. I hated she seemed pissed at me. I hated she wouldn’t tell me what was wrong.
Sue me. I gave a shit. I’d worked that much out from my feelings.
“Where’s Alex?” I craned my neck around Mason to find Alex and Ava with their heads together. She was giggling at something he said. His hand was on her waist. They were close. Really close.
“Check that out,” I said, nudging Mason.
He glanced at them and nodded. “Saw that coming.’
“What?”
“I think they’re fucking. Or damn close.”
“Ava is off-limits.”
Mason scoffed. “So is Lexy, and yet look at you. Married to her.”
“Hey, shut up, man!” I hissed, my words slurred. “No one knows it’s for real.”
“Bro, you hid in your room all last night and missed the party. You dodged Stephanie. Tonight you’re here, but you know damn well you aren’t really here because you keep checking your damn phone, hoping Lexy has messaged.”
I grunted. He wasn’t wrong.
“Why don’t you tell her how you feel?”
“I don’t feel anything,” I mumbled. We walked to the keg and got another drink.
“Fucking liar.” Mason laughed. “If you don’t feel anything, then maybe I’ll ask her out.”
“The fuck you will,” I slurred at him. “I’ll break your fucking thumbs, dude.”
Mason smirked. “And you don’t feel anything.”
“She’s mad at me.” I took a long sip and smacked my lips. I was so wasted I could barely stand. “She saw me talking to Steph.”
“Steph is an easy lay, man. Everyone knows it. Take one look at her, and you can tell.” He nodded to her as she rubbed up against someone, their hands all over one another. “And you’ve been without any pussy for a record amount of time. I mean, I see Lexy’s point.”
“Fuck that. I made her a promise, and I intend on keeping it.” I lifted my hand and stared down at the silver band on my finger. “I need to talk to her.”
“Then why are you standing here like a drunk fucker instead of being with her? Her shift has to be nearly over. It’s almost eleven.”
I nodded and had to steady myself on the counter. I was so dizzy.
“Why don’t you tell her you want to try this marriage thing for real. Maybe it’ll work out in the end, and you won’t have to get that damn divorce.” His words slurred slightly, and he blinked.
“You’re right,” I slurred back. “I need a fucking ride, man. Who hasn’t been drinking?”
“Jay,” Mason called out. “Jay! You drink anything?”
One of our cornerbacks walked over, a bottle of water in his hand. “You assholes know I don’t drink. I’m a pristine football machine.”
“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Organic.” Mason waved him off. “Our boy needs a ride over to Fred’s Diner. Think you can give him a one?”
“Sure, man. Just don’t puke in my car. You looked wasted.”
“I’m so fucked up.” I laughed, stumbling forward. “But if I don’t go, I’ll chicken out.”
“A girl? It’s gotta be a girl.”
“She’s the best girl,” I slurred. “Just don’t tell Alex.”
“Ah, Lexy.” Both of Jay’s faces winked at me.
I nodded and tipped my beer cup at him. “You got it, my man.”
“He’s got it bad for her but has been fighting it,” Mason explained.
Jay grinned and pulled his keys out. “Then let�
�s go get you embarrassed.”
“Let’s get me laid.” I snickered as drunk Travis took over and stumbled after Mason and Jay. I caught sight of Alex and Ava kissing in a corner. Or at least I thought that was what I saw. It was hard to tell with my head spinning.
Good, if they were screwing around, it gave me the free pass to Lexy.
All I needed was another night with her. Just to know…
“Get your ass in, Heisman.” Mason laughed, opening the back-passenger door for me.
I crawled in and sprawled across the seat. “Take me to Fred’s. I’m doing this.”
The guys laughed as they piled into Jay’s sedan. The engine rumbled to life, and we left the party. I lay on the seat, my body at an awkward angle, as I tried to get my head together enough to figure out what I was going to do. Or say.
I’d been thinking lately. We could make it work. Thinking we should try this for real. And we should have sex. Drunk Travis liked the idea, but he didn’t have shit for details. It would have to work. We’d be together for the duration of the project. Be happy. I mean, make each other happy before we left. It would be friends with benefits. No enemies with benefits.
It was a good plan.
“We’re here,” Mason called out ten minutes later.
“We’ll wait for you,” Jay added as he let out a snort of laughter.
I stumbled out of the car as Lexy emerged from the diner next to some guy.
“He’s going to fuck this up,” Jay said with a laugh.
“Yep. She’s not alone. This will be fun,” Mason answered. “Travis, don’t lose your shit.”
“Fuck that dude. She’s my wife,” I slurred, staggering over to her.
“Lexy! Hey, baby!” I shouted.
She snapped her head in my direction, pausing as she took a step away from the diner geek at her side.
“Travis?”
“Hey,” I said, stumbling.
She caught me before I ate dirt, her small frame barely able to hold my large one up.
“Are you drunk? How did you get here?” Her blue eyes swept over me, her brows crinkled.
I gave an off-handed wave to Jay and Mason still in the car as I straightened myself. “Jay and Mason.”
“Lexy, you OK?” diner geek asked, approaching.
“She’s fine, dish boy,” I slurred. “I got her.”
Dish boy. Diner geek. All the same. He ignored me and stared at Lexy.
“I’m fine. Thanks, Caleb. Travis, don’t be a dick.”
Caleb nodded before tossing me a glare. I sneered back at him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Caleb said.
“Yeah, tomorrow,” Lexy answered, watching me as I swayed where I stood.
As soon as dish boy was gone, I gave Lexy a big smile. “I missed you.”
“Travis, how much have you had to drink?”
“I wasn’t counting.” I closed my eyes and tried to steady myself. “Enough to know I’m an asshole but not enough to care.”
“Nice,” she muttered. “Look, I’m really tired. I have class in the morning and then wor—”
“Fuck me, Lexy.”
“What?” she squeaked out, her eyes wide.
“You heard me. Let’s go back to your place. It’ll be fun. I promise I won’t throw up.”
“Jesus, Travis, is this how you get laid? I’m seriously questioning your ability to do anything right now, let alone fuck.”
“Baby, I know how good it would be. Come on. I’m begging you, Lexy. I haven’t been laid in a long time because I got married. My wife holds out on me. She’s a delicious tease.”
I stumbled against her and wrapped my arms around her waist, my face buried in her neck.
“Honey pot, you smell like fried fish and one-dollar bills.”
“Lexy, you OK?” Mason asked.
I hadn’t even heard him approach. I didn’t untwine my arms from around Lexy. She felt nice in my embrace. She didn’t hold me back though, something I found troubling.
“We can take him if you want,” Jay offered.
“Don’t make me go back, baby. I want you,” I slurred, inhaling her scent deeply and holding her tighter.
“Uh,” Lexy let out a nervous laugh. She kept her arms at her side.
“Come on, man. You’ve embarrassed yourself enough,” Mason said, untangling me from Lexy.
I took in the look on her face. She looked upset. Disgusted. Confused. I hated it. Her pretty face should only ever display joy. I fell to my knees in front of her.
“Oh shit. He’s not done.” Jay chuckled.
“Travis, man, come on—” Mason started, but I shook my head.
“Honey pot, please let me come home with you. I’m here on my knees begging to go home with you.”
“Is he really begging a girl to take him home?” Jay asked. Mason laughed.
“Ignore them. They’re assholes,” I mumbled, barely able to keep my eyes open. “Please. I’ll be good. I just…I just want to spend the night with you.”
Silence hung in the air as honey pot decided my fate.
“Help me put him in my car,” Lexy sighed.
“What? That worked?” Jay called out.
“Damn, he’s got game.” Mason snickered, helping me to my feet. “Come on, Romeo. Looks like your plan worked.”
“She loves me,” I slurred, stumbling along beside Mason, my eyes half-opened. A moment later, I was seated in the passenger seat of Lexy’s car, my seatbelt in place.
“If you need me, call me,” Mason said as he stood by Lexy’s door. “He’s really fucked up right now.”
“Couldn’t tell,” Lexy muttered.
Mason chortled as Lexy started the car. A moment later, we were driving, the wind in my face from the open window.
I had no idea how long the ride lasted because I seemed to have blacked out. When we got to the apartment, Lexy helped me out of the car. I grabbed her and swung her in a circle before pulling her to me. She let out a confused laugh as I held her in the parking lot, swaying with her in my arms.
“Remember when we danced together in high schoo?” I asked.
She stilled in my arms. “Yeah. Prom.”
“I have a confession.”
“What?” She looked up at me.
My head was spinning. I hauled in a deep breath, trying to clear my head. I’d never told anyone what I was about to say to her.
“It broke my heart you got dumped, but it also made me happy.”
“Nice,” she muttered. “Glad my broken heart made you happy.”
“Shh.” We stopped swaying, and I pressed my finger clumsily to her lips. I had to concentrate hard on saying my next words. “I was happy because you deserved better. I didn’t want you to waste your time with that guy. He was a loser.”
“Tony Abernathy was your friend,” she said, saying his name.
“Yep.” I popped the P. “But he was a player. He fucked Shelby Somers the night before. I punched him in the face when I heard him say he was going to nail you at prom. I made him cancel on you.”
“What?”
“There it is. My confession. I wanted to make it better, so I danced with you hoping you’d smile, even for a moment. You did. Wasn’t much, but it was all I had.”
She didn’t say anything for a long time as I tried to hold my head up. I’d drunk way too much.
“Come on, Travis,” she finally said, her voice soft. “You should sleep.”
“Will you sleep with me?” I asked as she helped me into the building and up the stairs. I tried my damndest to not topple into her. “Like stay with me and not leave me?”
“I’ll stay,” she whispered. Relief flooded through me. She took me straight to her bedroom where she helped me sit on the edge of her bed. I swayed in my spot, seeing two of her. She knelt in front of me and removed my shoes and socks.
“Pants too,” I mumbled, flopping back in bed. “I can’t sleep in jeans.”
Wordlessly, she moved forward and fumble
d with the button on my jeans before gently tugging them down my legs and tossing them to the floor.
“Shirt too,” I said in a slur.
Her fingers brushed against my torso, sending sparks through my body as I sat up for her to remove my shirt.
“Lie down,” she said gently, pushing me onto my back. She covered me with her blanket and stepped away.
“Where are you going?” I called out.
“I’m going to shower. I smell like fried fish and one-dollar bills.”
I chuckled and relaxed against the fluffy pillow. The shower turned on. The squeak of rings sliding on the shower rod meant she had gotten inside. I imagined the warm water pelting her naked body, her hands lathered with soap as she washed herself. My cock ached in my boxers as I listened to the falling water. It took all I had to stay awake even though my eyes were closed.
The bathroom door opened, and then she came into the room. I cracked one eye open and saw her with only a towel around her, her long hair loose and wet. She padded to her dresser where she pulled out her panties, shorts, and a tank top.
She disappeared into the bathroom with the items only to return moments later, dressed in them.
“Travis?” she murmured, coming to my side with a paper cup in her hand.
“Yeah?”
“Here. Drink this water.” She offered me the cup. I half-assed sat up and slurped it down along with the aspirin she handed me before I let my head fall back, my world spinning.
Moments later, she crawled into bed beside me.
“Come here,” I called out. She hesitated then slid closer to me as I rolled to face her. It took me a minute for my eyes to focus on her in the darkness, and when they did, I could only make out her faint outline.
I reached out and tugged her the rest of the way to me. I ran my nose along hers. Her hand rested on my bare chest, her breath coming in short, soft sounds.
“Don’t be mad at me, Lexy.”
“I’m not,” she murmured.
My forehead rested against hers as my hand trailed along her waist to the cleft of her ass. She didn’t tense beneath my touch.
“I’ve been thinking,” I started. “I-I want to be more married.”
She let out a soft chuckle. “How much more married can we be? I have to change my last name.”
