Page 23 of Unforgettable
“Well, I for one would like to see the senator lose this year,” Vincent said. “My parents hate the man.” Vincent, our team kicker, who we called Vin, had a snarl on his angular jaw.
I didn’t follow politics. In fact, I wanted to stay as far away from politicians as I could, but I knew why I hated the man.
Lucas walked over to the window with his phone to his ear. “I’m checking on one last thing for the fundraiser. I’ll be right back.” He was our organizer and party planner, and the role suited him.
“So what’s up with you and the Hale girl?” Ajax, our running back, piped in, sounding a wee bit concerned. “I would stay away.”
I chuckled at the military wannabe with a dark high-and-tight haircut. “Really? Have you seen her tits?”
Ajax slapped me on the shoulder. “Your women have meat in other areas.”
“You want a piece,” I said. “Don’t you?”
He shook his head. “Not going there, dude. Politics and me don’t get along.”
“I feel ya,” I said.
Lucas returned, running a hand through his tamed wild curls. “The other sorority on campus is available tomorrow night. So we should tackle that after practice.”
I pulled out my flask from the back pocket of my jeans and took a swig.
Vincent, the leanest of the five of us, asked, “What time is the funeral on Sunday?”
I took another swig. The last thing I wanted to do was think about that. My aunt Kari, who had shown up two nights ago, had been a blubbering mess as we’d gone through photos for the funeral director. The bodies weren’t in any shape for open coffins.
Suddenly, I wanted to puke. So I drank more.
Lucas slapped Vincent on the back of the head. “Did you have to go and open your flapper?”
Vincent regarded me with sad blue eyes. “Sorry, man. If you told me, I forgot. And my mom has been on me to find out. She wants to be there for you.”
“Noon,” Lucas said.
“I really don’t know how you’re upright, Ryker,” Erik added.
Fuck if I did either. Just thinking about the plane crash and what that would’ve been like was enough to keep me drinking for a lifetime. The other morbid part of all this was that I was supposed to be on that plane. I’d had every intention to fly to Tahoe with my family for the weekend. My dad had had a meeting with a client on Friday of that weekend in Reno and had wanted to make the trip a family getaway.
I shivered.
I’d had practice, which was the only reason I hadn’t gone. Coach had a rule that no one missed practice before the first game unless there was a good excuse, like a sickness or, as in my case, a death in the family.
I took another swig of the expensive scotch. I’d swiped the bottle from Franklin’s office. Actually, he’d given me the go-ahead to take the bottle. I hadn’t argued.
“Let’s kick back. Enjoy the festivities.” My voice came out scratchy, so I cleared it. “I want to see if my dick works anyway.” Change of plans. Instead of drowning in just booze, it was time to add a woman to the mix.
The four of my friends busted out laughing.
I glanced at my crotch. “I’m serious. Aside from the mornings, I can’t seem to get him to work.”
Vincent raised a reddish eyebrow. “Drinking isn’t helping.”
“Nah,” Ajax chimed in. “It isn’t the alcohol. He just needs someone to give him a run for his money. He’s always had it too easy with women.”
“What are you?” I asked. “A psychologist now?”
Lucas started for the door. “Come on, boys. We need to change the mood.”
For sure.I capped my flask and headed downstairs.
