Page 40 of Away Game

Fin’s eyes were black pools of lust as he watched me. “Always.”

I wasn’t sure if he was talking about me or food, but I knew he’d only take one out of the two, and it wasn’t me.

“How about we get out of here, go to The Bar, and grab something to eat? It is a Friday, after all.”

“Sure, I guess.” He shrugged, placing his book on my bed. “I can’t cook anyway.”

If he wasn’t down, I would have laughed at his comment on cooking. All Fin did was heat the meals that were brought to him.

He looked down at himself and then started to walk out of the room. “I’m going to slip on a pair of shoes.

I waited by the stairs for him, and then we descended them together. The second we stepped outside, Fin looked over at me. “Do you mind if we walk? I need the exercise. I’ve been a sloth all week.”

It didn’t bother me to walk. Typically, I walked to my classes to not waste gas or put unnecessary miles on my already aged truck.

Since our house was at the end of the street and there wasn’t a sidewalk, we walked in the middle of the road. At night, I didn’t venture out by myself anymore. To the outside world, I portrayed that I was over the incident at Alpha Mu, but every time I walked past their house, a shiver went down my spine. The Greek house had been reprimanded, but so far, no one had spoken up about who drugged me or whose idea it was to convert the gay out of me.

“I can’t believe they have the balls to have a party,” Fin gritted out as we passed the Alpha Mu house. The entire house was lit up from the inside, and you could hear the faint beat of music from the street. “They need to be shut down. Permanently.”

I didn’t disagree, but I wasn’t sure what we could do about it. Coach told me to let the school deal with it, and he’d make sure Alpha Mu didn’t get away with what they’d done to me.

“The Dean hasn’t done shit,” he argued as if he heard my thoughts.

“We’ve got to give them time. No one’s talking.”

“I bet if we got a few of the guys in a room with a select few Alpha Mus, we could convince them to give up a name or two.” His tone was dead serious, giving me pause.

“We can’t,” I started.

“I know, but it would be effective.”

Our steps quickened once we passed by, and in no time at all, we were walking through the doors of The Bar. It was busy with a crowd of people standing, but we found a small table in the corner that fit two. It was strange being here without the rest of the guys. I didn’t know how to be around or speak to Fin like this.

“Even though I’ve been a literal slug this week, I’m going to have a burger and onion rings,” Fin said as he looked over the menu. Lowering it, he eyed me. “What do you say we get a pitcher of beer?”

Frowning and hating to tell him no, I had no other choice. “I wish I could, but I’ve got to play tomorrow.”

His eyes scorched me as he continued to stare at me from across the table. “Maybe I’ll have a pitcher all to myself, and I can forget for a couple of hours.”

“Or you can talk about it,” I suggested.

“What’s there to talk about? I’m out for the season; I might be homeless by next week, and I… never mind. Why don’t we talk about you?”

“I think you’ll find my life boring.”

“Probably,” he laughed out. “Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”

My head swam. I felt like I had whiplash with this Fin. Playing his own game, I shot back. “Why don’t you have a girlfriend?”

Fin’s eyes narrowed before one side of my mouth tipped up slightly. “I haven’t found one I’m interested in.”

“Why don’t—”

“Stop,” he gritted out. “I can’t do this now.” Or ever, I swore I heard him say under his breath.

“Fine, let’s just eat and get the hell out of here. I still have homework to do.” This dinner couldn’t be over fast enough.

Tiffany took our orders, and we ate silently across from one another. Every time she came to check on us, it was obvious Tiffany could feel the tension radiating off of us, but she didn’t say anything. At least Fin left her with a big tip to make up for his lack of civility. His only response had been to grunt and nod. Once we were done, we couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I’d never been happier to have homework to do in my life.

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