Page 45 of Easy Out

“She’s interested. You’re stacked. You’re mysterious. You come across as a total asshole. You have tattoos. Girls love that shit. Trust me. She’s interested.” With my looks, maybe, but what about me? When has a girl ever been interested in me?

When have you let a girl get to know the real you?

“Right. Well, time will tell. Currently, I can’t even get her to text me.”

“Text her instead. Why are you waitin’ on her?” I don’t know.

Because I don’t want to bother her.

Because this girl is shaping up to be someone I never expected wanting this much.

Because she’s completely out of my league.

“I’m glad Lauren has you,” Nash says out of nowhere. “With everything going on with Matt, she needs someone looking out for her.” That comment raises my hackles.

“What’s going on with Matt?”

“He got blasted during a scrimmage and tore his rotator cuff.”

“You’re shittin’ me? Well, hot damn. And you’re just now sayin’ somethin’?” Wyatt asks.

“We were watching the game.”

“Yeah, but you’ll be startin’ the game now. Congratulations QB1.” Wyatt lifts his glass to toast Nash. We all clink beer bottles and congratulate him. This is a big deal. I almost feel sorry for Matt. No one wants to be injured so bad it takes you out of the game you love.

“Don’t remind me.”

“This is good for you, Nash. It will get scouts looking at you early,” Koa says, encouraging him.

“I know. It’s just a lot of pressure.”

“It’s not like he was any good,” I say.

“He won games.” I scoff. Please. The team won games.

“Right. That’s why the defense has more points scored than the offense so far this season,” I point out.

“Hate on Matt all you want. Our offense is solid.”

“Are you ever going to tell me what happened between him and Lauren? It couldn’t be that bad if you’re cool being on the same team with him,” I grit out. There is no way I could stomach being around a guy who put their hands on a girl. “And don’t tell me it’s not your story to share. You can tell me your side of things, Nash.”

“I don’t have a choice. I have a football scholarship. If I could get him off the team, I would. Trust me. At least now he won’t be playing. This has only given him more anger and free time.” Nash takes a long sip of his beer. “My first year here, I took Syd and Lauren to the football kickoff party.

“The three of you had an early practice or something and decided to stay home.” I vaguely remember that. It was a long time ago. I can’t get over the fact Lauren went to a party. If I went, would I have spent time with her and felt this same connection I feel now?

“Everything was cool at first. The girls were having fun dancing and hanging out. The two of them together are trouble.” He shakes his head, but he’s smiling. “I made a point to never let them out of my sight. Matt approached us when we were watching a beer pong tourney.

“I could tell Lauren and Sydney thought he was good-looking,” Koa growls quietly beside me. “He is a charmer. A flirt. And he worked them over good. He was particularly interested in Lauren.

“I left them to go to the bathroom. When I came back, it was just Syd waiting for me. She said Lauren went with Matt to check out the cornhole game or something. I was mad she left Syd alone, but knowing Syd, she pushed Lauren toward him.” The fact that he was worried about Syd and not Lauren really irritates me.

“Thirty minutes later, Lauren finds us and said she was ready to go home. Her eyes were wide, her hair was ruffled, and she was straightening her shirt.” My hands itch to hit something—preferably Matt Dailey.

“I don’t know what happened exactly. I can only make assumptions based on her appearance and the fact she never wanted to go back to the football house.”

“She has never gone to any party again,” Koa says.

“Yeah, well. I still feel like shit over the whole situation. Lauren won’t talk to me about it, either. She claims she’s okay, but I don’t know.”

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