Page 47 of Unforgettable
She laughed, light and free. It was a singsong sound that was soothing and made me grin.
“Ryker, you’re not the only one who has business here,” she said as a matter of fact. “I gave a talk here last week. Remember?”
“That was last week.”
The bell rang, and students flooded the hall outside the admin office. Then the door opened, and Zack Cleary ambled in, looking like he’d stuck his head in a wind tunnel.
“Ryker James,” Zack said, sounding a bit shocked.
Leigh, Jessica, and Zack had been good friends. It had been ages since I’d seen him. He’d grown out his wavy brown hair, beefed up in the chest and arms, and looked good.
He and I exchanged a manly hug.
When he eased away, tears streamed down his face. “It’s awful, man. Losing your sister has gutted me.”
Join the fucking club.
Haven went over to Zack and wrapped her arms around him. “It sucks. I know.”
I then remembered her telling me she knew how it felt to lose a loved one. Maybe she would be a good listener.Fuck that.I didn’t want her to listen to me. I wanted her wiggling and screaming my name while I did things to her that I couldn’t say out loud. Well, I could, but not in school.
Haven released him. “I got your tickets.” She dove into her purse and pulled out two tickets. “Lakemont will be playing at home in two weeks.”
“Are those football tickets?” I asked even though I could see the writing. We were playing Regal College at home. “I could’ve gotten you some, Zack.”
“I didn’t want to bother you,” Zack said. “Thanks, Haven. You’re one cool chick. Ryker, when are you going to play again? I know you’ve got things on your mind, but the team really needs you.”
“Soon,” I said even though I wasn’t sure. I definitely wouldn’t be playing in the upcoming game on Saturday. I knew that much. Coach would want me to have at least a week of practice since I hadn’t played a game yet that season.
“I know Leigh would want you to play,” Zack said. “Anyway, I got to run.” He winked at Haven. “If you need a date for the game, call me.” Then he bounced out like he’d just won the lottery.
He was right. Leigh would have been on my ass if I didn’t play.
Mr. Holland returned with a shoebox in his hands. “Here you go.”
I held onto the box like it was the most delicate thing in this world to me. “Thanks. I have to get to a meeting with my coach.” My plan was to get my head around my classes, which I hadn’t been to since the semester started, talk to Coach Chapman, then get drunk, in that order. Or maybe I would drink once I left the high school. “Please let me know about the art festival.”
After Principal Holland and I said our goodbyes, I winked at Haven like Zack had. I thought about repeating Zack’s line and telling her to call me if she needed a date, but I didn’t date.
So I hustled my ass out of the building and into the hot, humid sun, which was less suffocating than inside the school.
I’d just reached my car when my phone rang.
I answered without looking to see who it was. “What?”
“Gee. Who pissed in your coffee?” Franklin asked.
A redhead with legs, big tits, and a mouth I want to devour.Not to mention, my heart wanted to burst into flames over the loss of my family.
“Kari tells me you got out of bed and that you’re back amongst the living. So I’m calling to remind you of your campus civic duty that you were supposed to start last week. I managed to convince the chancellor to cut you some slack. But those ten hours need to start soon.”
I’d completely forgotten about that.
“You’re to report to the maintenance department on campus on Thursday after your classes. Oh, and I hired a tutor to catch you up on your studies.”
I pinched my eyebrows. “Please tell me she doesn’t have red hair.”
He chuckled. “The dude has brown hair.”
