Page 45 of The Transfer
Good heavens, Carter. We don’t gossip like women.
Carter has added Williams to the group chat.
Williams
Never talk about Lindsey again, Carter. I will murder you with zero guilt.
Carter
Easy, Williams. That escalated quickly…
Moore
Moving on …
Carter
Thank you, Moore. I think we were all just agreeing that I am the best at naming things.
Jordan
…
Carter
Just wait, I’m coming up with the best name ever. The following are my top ten:
Williams, Jordan, and Riggs have left the group chat
Carter
Rude.
Moore
THIRTY-THREE
REAGAN
Mack and I are having a girls’ night at my apartment before she flies back to California on Sunday. She was subdued for most of Thanksgiving, especially after Trey showed up. I could tell she had been crying when she came back in the house, but I didn’t want to upset her more by talking about it then.
After pizza and pedicures, we are getting ready to load up on bowls of ice cream before gorging ourselves while we binge-watch our shows.I miss this. I miss her.
I hope she ends up back near Carolina at some point. Trey currently has a contract with LA, but he can be called up or traded at any time. Hockey works differently from basketball. The NHL will draft players and then allow them to continue playing in college, which is what Trey is doing. Once the NBA takes you, college ball is over.
“Mack, can we talk about you and Trey? I know that you were upset on Thanksgiving. You know I’m here for you, no judgment.” My best friend looks at me, and tears instantly well up in her eyes. I grab her and hug her tight. She sobs. I hold her and cry too, hurting for my friend and all she is going through.
After a few minutes, she sits back and wipes her eyes. This beautiful, bold woman looks nothing like herself.What has happened to her?
“I haven’t wanted to put a damper on the holiday. Things with Trey haven’t been good for a while now. I told him before Thanksgiving that I wanted to take a break.” I give her a look of shock even though I already heard that.
“What’s going on?” I ask, hoping she will finally share with me.
“I know we have been drifting apart some. He is so popular and busy with hockey and endorsement deals. We haven’t had a lot of time together. When he has free time, he wants to go out or go to parties, and that isn’t really my scene. One night, I decided to show up and surprise him at a hockey house party. I saw a girl all over him. Reagan, she was sitting on his lap! He wasn’t doing anything, but he also wasn’t discouraging her. Anyway…I was about to turn and leave when one of his teammates yelled at me. Trey heard and, of course, shoved the girl off his lap and came after me.”
“Okay, what happened after that?” I sit on pins and needles, waiting for her response.
“He tried to give me all sorts of excuses, but he constantly tells me that I’m never with him and blames me for not wanting to go out and party. He always turns our fights around and makes me the villain. I told him I wanted a break. He freaked out, and ever since, he has been calling, texting, and invading all my time and space. He even accused me of cheating on him! Can you believe that?” She is furious, and I don’t blame her.
