Page 34 of Strong Side
Noelle: Delete my number.
As soon as my message sends, another comes through before I can block this number too.
Unknown: It’s been five months, Noelle. I haven’t been with another girl since you walked out of the apartment. I’m miserable without you. I miss you.
Noelle: It’s over, Trey.
Unknown: Okay. You need more time. Don’t make me wait too long. Like I told you before, you’re mine.
I know I shouldn’t entertain his texts. It’s what he wants—a response. Yet, like I’ve always done in the past, I’m drawn into the drama and Trey’s web of manipulation.
Noelle: I’m with Casey now. The difference is, he actually respects me.
Unknown: He’ll be tired of you soon, and when he is, you’ll come running back to me, like you always do.
Noelle: You? The guy who cheated and made me feel like nothing?
Unknown: You’re so dramatic. We had our fights, but we were good together. You can’t rewrite history, Noelle. You loved me.
I block the number and put my phone back in my pocket.
Hands trembling, I fold Casey’s shirt and lay it back on the bed, then change my shirt to the jersey. After a few calming breaths, I give myself a shake. Even though it’s not the first time he’s texted from an unknown number, the fact that he’s doing it again is a problem.
I take a minute to look at myself in the small mirror that hangs on his wall. For the first time in a long time, I see someone who doesn’t look so unsure of herself, despite the unexpected text.
It’s taken me a while to see it, but I changed with Trey. I was never overly confident before him, but I was pretty secure with myself. The longer I was with him, the less confident I became. And looking back, I think it all happened so gradually, like him making comments about my clothes. Then he would talk about my friends and make fun of them for various things.
I’ll never forget, shortly after we had sex for the first time, how he talked about my stomach being soft and that it would be a good idea for me to cut calories and go to the gym regularly. Not really something you want to hear when you’re already feeling a little vulnerable.
His behavior toward me seemed to change after that, too, like he was always irritated with me. Most of the time we were together, I felt like I was walking on eggshells, waiting to see what kind of mood he was in.
And when I asked him about it one time, he told me, “I don’t have to work for you anymore. I got you.”
When I left the room to take a shower, I cried. I just couldn’t understand what I had done to make him want to hurt methat way. Then, when I came back into the room, he acted like nothing was wrong and asked me what I wanted to watch. I was so stunned and hurt. But in all honesty, that was just the beginning of how badly he treated me.
Even now, more memories pop up, and I think about why on earth I stayed with him for so long. But it’s easy to make excuses for bad behavior when you think you’re in love with someone.
And I also think if I hadn’t had Casey in my life, it would have been a lot worse. It was like he balanced out the negative parts of Trey, so I didn’t completely crumble.
“Noelle, the game is getting ready to start,” Charlie yells from outside the room.
“Coming!” I pull out my elastic and redo my ponytail since it got a little messy when I changed and walk out of the room.
Chelsea is talking to Arbor on the couch, and they seem to be getting along well. Lily is next to Arbor, listening in on their conversation.
Charlie is sitting in one of the oversized chairs, and she pats the space next to her, wanting me to come sit with her. “Sit with me so we can cheer for our guys. I don’t think these three have the same kind of interest as we do.”
Arbor stops talking. “That’s not true! I love watching the games. I just prefer to be there in person. I get bored, watching them on the television. I don’t know how you do it.”
“I love watching them play. What can I say? My boyfriend is not only hot, but he’s insanely talented. And of course my brother is also amazing. Then, the other guys, I feel like they’re all family, so I’m definitely invested.” She pulls her legs over a little more to give me room to sit.
Arbor laughs and rolls her eyes, then goes back to talking to Chelsea and Lily.
On the television, the team is lined up at the opening of the tunnel. I can see Bo in the front, with Casey and Beck slightlybehind him. Casey is rocking back and forth on his feet, and I can tell he’s anxious to get out on the field. Some of the other guys are jumping up and down behind him, tapping his helmet.
The camera cuts in close, talking about Bo and his talent, but all I can see is Casey. He’s got eye black on, and his eyes look intense, but he’s wearing a slight smirk on his face. He really is so hot. It’s crazy to me that he hasn’t ever really had a girlfriend.
Charlie nudges me. “Hey, are you okay?”
