Page 34 of Game Changer

Maybe you’re overreacting. Maybe it’s totally fine for you to be seen in public with another woman?

Fuck.

Jeremy: You still panicking? Have you taken your meds? You seem a little… off.

AJ: I’m fine. Other than having a wife and girlfriend in the same city, I’m totally fine. Shit. I shouldn’t go out with her tonight, should I?

Jeremy: Fuck Britt.

Jeremy: Wait, that’s not what I meant. Not like that. Go bed Lisa, screw princess Britt. Screw her to hell. Live your life.

AJ sat staring at the clock on the wall. He felt as though it was taunting him with every second that ticked by.

Dang that’s a loud clock. You can’t sit here for three hours watching the clock.

Laundry? Maybe do laundry.

His phone started to ring.

“Hello?” he paused “What’s wrong, Chris? Chris, is that you? Slow down and take a breath, man. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Chris, one of his teammates, was clearly upset. He was crying, gasping for breath and AJ couldn’t make out much of anything. After some coaxing to slow down and breathe, Chris had relaxed enough to tell AJ that he had caught his fiancée cheating on him weeks before they were due to get married and he was beside himself.

“I’m on my way, ok? Don’t move. Don’t do anything stupid, ok?”

AJ: Chris is having a meltdown. Alexis cheated and he’s talking about breaking the other guy’s legs. Or jumping into the Tennessee River.

Jeremy: Not your circus. Let me handle it. You have other things/woman to handle.

AJ: Can’t. He came to me. I told him I’d be there soon. Lisa will understand.

Jeremy: You need to get your anxiety under control, man. Don’t let this Britt thing ruin whatever potential thing you could have with Lisa. Ok?

AJ: I’m not. He needs me. Left her a voicemail.

Jeremy: Sure. Keep me posted.

AJ could always tell when his friend disapproved. Over the years they’d found a groove where they’d each say their piece, let their position be known and leave it to the other to act and make decisions. Jeremy didn’t need to say anything else, AJ already felt guilty and reflective. He’d already been more vocal about this ‘thing’ with Britt than he had been about anything for a long time.

Is he right? Am I slipping?

When he arrived at Chris’ house, AJ found Chris in his home gym, taking shots at his punchbag.

“You should stop that, Chris,” AJ warned. “Where are your gloves? You’re going to crack your knuckles open if you’re not careful. Aren’t you tired after practice?”

“I don’t care.” Anger flashed across his face and he swung harder at the bag. “I have to go find that sorry son of a bitch, Age. I have to kick his ass. I can’t live without her, I just can’t. I need to get her back.”

“Chris, that’s not going to work. None of it. You said she’s made her decision and going off to attack a football player across town isn’t going to bode well for either of you. Don’t get me wrong, I mean, my money is on you every day of the week. But you can’t just go around beating people up.”

It took over an hour for AJ to help Chris calm himself down. He’d finally convinced him that going to beat up the unsuspecting football player wasn’t the best way to deal with the situation. However, Chris had countered that particular negotiation with the suggestion of going out to get drunk, instead. AJ objected. Chris played the guilt-trip card and AJ resigned himself to a night at the bar, thinking that he could at least keep an eye on Chris without him feeling like AJ was babysitting him.

And if Chris happens to catch the eye of a nice girl, maybe a one-night-rebound could help him get over his cheating ex. You realize that thoughts like this are why women hate the male species, right?

***

Standing at the bar, AJ felt tense and uncomfortable. Not least of all, he felt guilty. He’d bailed on Lisa on what was supposed to be their first date and, instead, was standing in the bar with some of his best friends. Undoubtedly they were going to get drunk.

This is going to be a messy night. Maybe give Jer your phone so you don’t drunk-dial Lis?

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