Page 11 of Careless
He wasn’t mine.
“Did they really hit on you?”
“It doesn’t matter. They’re your friends, and I’ll be better about them. I’m sorry that I’m an asshole. I’m just tired. We lost.”
The dejection in his voice slapped me, and I cursed once again.
“I wasn’t checking the scores. I was too busy cleaning up all the vomit, and well, I’m sorry, big brother. I’m sure you kicked ass.”
He snorted, though the humor had long since fled his expression. “I let two in during the last period, so not too great. Coach wants to kick my ass.”
“Are you in trouble?”
“No, maybe. We have a young D-line, and they’re having issues, so I’m having to step up. It’s just, well…it’s work. I’m one of the old men on this team, and it takes me longer to recover.” He pointed at his black eye. “This was from an elbow in the locker room.”
I burst out laughing, even though I hated seeing Atlas hurt. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, because I’m an idiot. Or these young kids are idiots. I didn’t realize how young they were. A couple are younger than you. Infants.”
I scrunched up my nose. “I really would appreciate it if everybody would stop calling me young and infantile. I’m an adult. A woman. About to graduate college and get a full-time job. Maybe even get my own place.”
“Why would you need your own place? You could live with Rune or Mom and Dad. Hell, live in my empty house that I have up there, and I only stay at when I’m in town.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes because he was just never going to get it. That I was an adult. With fully functional feelings that sometimes needed space. It wasn’t like I was going to go out and buy a place of my own and go into crippling debt without thinking about it, but it would be nice to think that maybe they would assume I wouldn’t be alone. Or I would want to step out on my own.
But I didn’t say any of that. It would just be talking to empty space at this point, when I knew everybody had their own words.
“Enough about me. Are you really okay? Did you put ice on that?”
“I did. Don’t worry. I’m taking care of myself. I just wanted to see how you were after that lovely twenty-first birthday. How much of that puke was yours?”
“I made it into the toilet and only did so because of the sugar. But I’m fine because I drank water. That’s what happens when you have a brother who owns a bar and grill, and his best friend owns a brewery. They make sure you’re fully hydrated. I had to pee like one hundred times, but I digress.”
“Too much information, little sister.” He paused. “Wait. The four Ls made you clean up after them?”
“They were guests.”
“So were you. And they’re fucking adults too. I don’t understand kids these days.”
I truly didn’t want to think of the four Ls at the moment. Not that we weren’t friends, but because Atlas always got grumpy. “And on that note. I need to go shower. I feel gross, and I just want to go to bed.”
His brows rose. “It’s six thirty in the evening. I guess when you said you were an old lady, you meant it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Have fun. Don’t end up on the front page of the gossip column when I’m not looking.”
“You know I will. I can’t help it.” He let out a sigh.
Poor guy. “I love you.”
“You too, kiddo.”
I said my goodbyes and went to take a shower. I was a little tired from cleaning up after the girls. They had cleaned up most of the things on their own. But any vomit that had been in the bathroom had made them feel queasy. I hadn’t minded cleaning up after a hard night. After all, a job was a job. I’d worked in offices and retail all during college, and the four Ls hadn’t. My parents had a steady income and had been able to send me to a nice college, but I still needed to work for room and board.
I didn’t mind that I was a different socioeconomic level than my friends. I only minded that they dared put their hands on Callum. No, I wasn’t going to think about that. No, no, no, no.
I was just stepping into the shower when my phone buzzed again.
Thankfully, it wasn’t a video call, so I answered.
