Page 28 of Rookie Season
I cringe, trying to block out the awful memories.
“We were just making out, and then he tried to take things further than I was comfortable with.” I dig my fingers further into the sand, so cold and damp beneath the warm, dry surface layer. “But he didn’t end up forcing me to do anything…” I look over at him gratefully. “All thanks to you.”
“I should have killed him.” A ruddy flush spreads over Fisher’s pale cheekbones as he grits his teeth. “Scum of the earth asshole.”
I’m forever thankful for Fisher happening to be walking past the door of the bedroom Tyler and I were in. He heard me begging him to stop. Heard me sayingno.
And he didn’t waste a second throwing the door open and wrenching Tyler off me, pushing him against the wall. After throwing him out of the house, he came right back to check if I was okay.
I was drunk and confused and utterly mortified. I turned down Fisher’s request to call the cops. Then I also said no when he asked if he should go find my friends for me. I assured him I was fine, and I just wanted to be alone. So he obliged, helping me get outside and get into a cab safely—but not before putting his number in my phone and telling me to call him if I ever needed anything.
Five months later, I made that call when I had nowhere else to turn. And it’s how I ended up right here, right now.
“And for the record,” Fisher goes on. “I still think you should report him. But that’s up to you, and I support you no matter what, whatever you ever choose to do.”
His words are kind, but I’ve done my research.
If I reported anything, it would ultimately be my word against his. We were all drinking that night. Tyler was—still is—a USG golden boy, beloved by everyone there. He didn’t injure me, and I initially went upstairs with him willingly. Oh, and it turns out he had a girlfriend at the time it happened. One he insisted he’d broken up with but actually hadn’t. A bitter girlfriend who now hates me because she thinks I tried to hook up with her boyfriend behind her back and would vouch for Tyler.
Chances are, saying anything would lead to me being even more humiliated and having to continually relive the memory of him grabbing my wrists and sliding his hands up my shirt, of his rancid breath in my face as he hissed foul insults at me, as people looked me in the face and called me a liar.
“I’m eternally grateful for how you handled the whole thing,” I tell Fisher with a decisive nod. “You were my saving grace that night, and then you were also nice enough to let me move in with you guys.”
“Lucky for me you’re turning out to be a damn good roommate.” Fisher, understanding the conversation about that night is over, smiles and slings an arm around me. He pulls me into a friendly hug. “You know I’ve always got your back, Ally. You’re like a little sister to me at this point, so whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me now.”
I smile at him thankfully. It’s nice to have a friend, especially one who knows I’m not any of the things people back at USG say I am.
Things are looking up.
We stand up from the sand and stretch. I repeat these four little words to myself over and over as I hug Fisher goodbye and decline a ride to work, opting to walk there and savor the sun on my face a little longer.
As I walk, I quickly realize that my attempt at a sunshiny new outlook is clouded by thoughts of Noah. It sucks that he’s having issues with his teammates, although it kind of explains why he’s so full of doom and gloom all the time.
But it doesn’t explain why he’s always extra grumpy aroundme.
CHAPTER 13
NOAH
I’m lyingon my back on Mitch and Andie’s sectional while my two younger nieces, Laini and Harlow, are playing spa. I won’t lie; it’s nice to lay here after a long practice this morning. If Laini wasn’t currently painting my fingernails, or if Harlow wasn’t rubbing some strange gunk on my face, I’d probably be asleep.
Whatever product is being smeared across my forehead smells like cotton candy and I can only assume it has glitter in it. I’m going to need another shower when I arrive back at the loft tonight.
Mitch is on the back deck grilling burgers, and Andie should be home from picking up Paige after dance class any minute now.
“Okay, done!” Laini announces.
I peel one of the cucumbers off my eye and bring my hand up to see the damage. My nails are painted bright purple.
“It matches the purple on your hockey jersey!” Laini says, looking so proud of herself. She runs a hand throughher tangled blonde hair, which leaves a streak of purple nail polish. Hopefully that’s easy to get out…
I smile. “It really does. Good work.”
She preens, eyeing her youngest sister. “Did ya hear that Harlow? Uncle Noah likes his nails.”
Harlow pouts, removing my other cucumber and looking down at me with her big, brown eyes. “Uncle Noah, did you like your facial, too?”
“Of course,” I say with conviction. “Best facial I've ever had.” It’s not a lie, because this is my first facial.
