Page 1 of Steeling Her
Chapter One
I Love Tequila
Nick
“How much shit do you need, Haley? You’re only going to be here until Thanksgiving, then you’ll leave at Christmas, right? You don’t need four suitcases.” My sister is one of the worst packers I’ve ever met. Actually, scratch that—all girls are the worst packers I’ve ever met. But four cases? Yeah sure, I work out everyday, but I’m praying her dorm building has an elevator I can use to get this crap into her room. She just had to buy the brightest colors for the cases too, really showing her personality to the entire campus. Blue, pink, purple, and yellow. All bright, all seen. And I have to carry them all. Well, with the help of TJ.
“Pink really brings out your eyes, bro.” TJ punches my shoulder, making me glare hard at him. I’m not in the mood for his shit as well as my sister’s. I can hear her giggling up in front of the car while I’m stand here staring at the cases.
“Shut the fuck up. You can take the pink and purple ones. I’ll take the blue and yellow.” TJ rolls his eyes and slides the pink one out, with the yellow one following.
We arrived here last week for training sessions for the football team. Our training today was brutal; the heat does a lot to your head when you’re running around. Having Maya there was a huge distraction too, if you know what I mean. Coach picked on me hard today; my head was not focused. Not hard to figure out why, that’s why coach was on my case.
“Oh, I have a few boxes for you to bring up too when you’re done with the cases.” Haley kisses our cheeks.
I know the game she’s playing. Flipping her blonde hair to one side with a cheeky smile on her face, she knows I’ll give in to her. I reach up my head, taking my cap off and rubbing my hand along my forehead through my hair, all the while sighing. Placing my cap back on, I proceed to lift the cases up for her into the main building, where she’ll be staying.
Two roommates. Two new friends. Not that she finds it hard to make any. She never shuts up. She’s got the gift of the gab; she got it from my mom.
Reaching for the door, I open it and let TJ walk in with the other two cases. We both can see and enjoy the view: girls crowded around in the reception area to get their keys and meet with their roommates. Haley already has hers, so we walk past the girls eyeing us up. Seeing their flushed cheeks, I smile to myself and TJ. What girl doesn’t want to be with a football player? A college football player—one who has scouts at almost every game he plays. Ripped body, six pack included, dirty blond hair, and a smile that makes girls’ panties wet.
“Dude, some cute looking freshmen this year. You see all those short skirts?” TJ asks me as he looks back at the young girls who are staring at us. Averting their eyes away from us, we high five each other to say we still got it.
Once we finally get to Haley’s floor, we find her standing outside the room with the door open. We push her bags through to see an empty dorm. Her roommates mustn’t be here yet? TJ pushes her bag through to what we guess is the room she claimed as hers, her arm hanging dramatically in the air like what you would do while bowling. Hearing a crash in the room, he whips his head around to see Haley tapping her foot. The terrified look on his face makes me snort.
He goes slightly red with embarrassment. “I was meant to do that.” He smiles awkwardly at her.
“Yeah, well, pick it up,” she sasses back at him. I kick her other two cases into the room.
“Our babies!” My mom burst through the open door and runs to Haley, then to me, then to TJ.
TJ is like her fourth child. I’ve been best friends with him since I was three. We’re neighbours, and we met by fighting each other. A lot. Both of us came home with bloody noses and bruises on our cheeks. Good times.
My mom’s blonde hair whips through the conditioned air like always. And like always, she had her hair and makeup done. I wonder where Haley gets it from?
Once she’s done squeezing the life out of Haley, she makes a beeline for me. I suck in a breath because she likes them long. My mom’s hugs are the best hugs; filled with love, and nothing else.
My younger sister Ellie runs through the door with my dad following behind her. Her laugh illuminates the room and she makes her way towards me with her arms stretched out. I swiftly pick her up once my mom lets up and whirl her around, making that laugh last a little longer.
I see my mom run to TJ to give him her special hug. It’s good having my family with me, but it will take forever to get my mom to leave. I already know how it’s going to go. She’ll want to help Haley get her room ready, make every excuse under the sun not to leave, will hug us all together, and then the waterworks will happen. Then she’ll blame us for ruining her makeup. Like it’s our fault for growing up.
“Son, you better look after your sister.” My dad’s large hand rests on my shoulder. “Damn son! You been hittin’ the gym lately? I can barely put my hand on your shoulder!” He laughs, patting me harder before walking over to my mom.
“Yeah, coach has a new strength and conditioning program for us. Been going everyday trying it out. Glad to know it’s working.” I smile over my sister’s head at him. Ellie takes my hat off and puts it on her head, covering her face. I can’t help but laugh at her. She enjoys swimming in my clothing.
I feel my phone buzz in my back pocket. I have a feeling I know who it is.
Unknown: I had so much fun last night! Lets do it again ;) xx
Or not. But the next message was her.
Maya: Nick, we got a hot tub at our sorority, you should come try it out with me! Pool party next weekend, but you can come over any time ;) x
Erin: You going to the party later? We should catch up, maybe come back to mine tonight? ;)
I put Ellie down so she doesn’t read the messages out loud to my family. That’s all I needed. I smile at my screen with the numerous options I have tonight. I mouth “Party tonight” to TJ, whose grin gets bigger when I tell him.
“Nick, TJ, will you grab Haley’s boxes from the car too? Thanks boys.” Not waiting for our response, she struts with her heels into Haley’s room with Ellie behind her. TJ and I groan loudly, making my dad laugh at our reactions.
