Page 69 of Personal Foul
“What I really think is that you’re wasting perfectly good dick.” She levels me with a look and the laughter rumbles through me so hard I have to set the drinks down to keep from spilling them.
“I’m sure it’s not being wasted. You’ve seen him. He can find plenty of other women to assist.” I smile as I say it, but the slither of jealousy in my gut tells me the truth.
“Uh-huh. Which is why your face looks like that when you say it.”
“This is just my face. And I don’t have time to give him what he needs. Between here and school and Gramps…”
“Sweetheart, listen to someone who has years on you. You don’t get to be 22 again. Guys like that one don’t come around very often, if at all. Don’t waste all your chances for happiness trying to give everyone else theirs.”
I sigh and look at her and then back down as I finish pouring the gin and tonic. Tammy, for all of her joking, sometimes says things that hit a little too close to home. I slide the drinks toward her, and she gives me a meaningful look before she sashays off to deliver the orders, one that says I’d listen to her if I know what’s good for me.
* * *
I’m mostof the way through my shift at the bar when my phone dings and I see a message from Waylon. I frown, hoping that nothing is wrong with Kenz.
Waylon
Are you working right now?
Yeah. About another hour on my shift. Everything okay?
No. Do you think you could come by my place after? I can pick you up if you need a ride
Sure. I can catch the rail. It’s just a couple of stops. What’s wrong? Is Kenz okay?
It’s Easton. I think he needs you
Shit.My stomach bottoms out, and I immediately worry about what exactly East has told Waylon, and whether that information has gotten back to Kenz. The girls will be furious at me for keeping all of this from them and I don’t have it in me to have those conversations tonight. I also don’t have the energy for Easton. I can’t imagine he has anything positive to say to me. We’ve barely spoken about anything but the project, and whatever friendship I’d hoped we could salvage out of the wreckage of our stupidity has been non-existent. I decide to play stupid when I text Waylon back.
I don’t know what Easton would need from me?
Waylon
Things didn’t go well for him at The Combine. He’s in a bad place. I’ve never seen him like this. If you don’t want to come, it’s okay. But I think if you have it in you, he could use you here right now
I can tell from what Waylon doesn’t say, that heknows. Maybe not everything. But enough that I might as well drop the pretext.
I’ll be over when my shift is up
Waylon
See you then
An hour and a half later and a quick rail ride, and Waylon is letting me into their apartment. I glance around, worried Kenz is going to jump out from a corner and lecture me on keeping things from her.
“She’s not here. I told her I needed to help Easton with some stuff tonight.” Waylon closes the door behind me.
“Are you sure he wants me here? Our last real conversation was not a good one.”
“He mentioned. But I still think he wants you.”
“What all did he say?”
“Enough to know something’s going on between you two. He’s very drunk. He didn’t volunteer it, just became obvious.”
I wince and stare down at the floor.
“Was going on. It’s not anymore.”
