Page 156 of Steeling Her
“I just came in to see how you were doing.” I furrow my brows, wondering why has a sudden change of heart. “Look, I know we’ve had our fights and what not, and in the end, you got the girl, but I heard what they said in Coachs office—”
“You were eavesdropping?!?” I boom back.
“It was kind of hard not to with all the screaming you were all doing in there, Nick,” he defends himself. I know he’s got a point. It was just us left in the locker room. So, he essentially had no option but to listen to the screaming match between me and my dad. “I don’t think it’s fair to have done that to you,” he continues but I interrupt him again.
“Why? Why are you even caring right now, Averman? You get to have your shot! You get to have her now while I have to marry football!” I shout back, and with the look he’s giving me, I begin to feel guilty for the rash outburst.
“Because I don’t love her, Nick. Yeah, sure, she was hot and a pretty cool girl, but I would never step on another guy’s toes if I knew he loved another girl. It’s not me, despite the shit you did to me.” I was about to speak up with that but he shakes his head to stop me and let himself continue. “I’m sorry for egging you on. I didn’t realize how much you actually cared for her. I thought you only liked her because I got there first. I saw her as a prize to get a one up on you when I shouldn’t have. I was wrong, and I wouldn’t have gotten in between you both if I had known you fell for her.”
I have got a feeling this is the part where Ryan and I make up, but I’m too confused right now to even speak or move. He smiles pitifully at me. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to apologize,” he says as he stands up to exit but stops at the door once again. He turns around to face me and TJ once more. He nods to himself like he’s agreeing with his own thoughts. “If you do choose her, you got a good one man. I know you’ll be happy with her. She’s a keeper. But, if you choose football . . .”
He pauses for the longest time and watches me, then smiles gently over to me. A soft, genuine smile that takes me back a little. “Find her again. Don’t let her go, and don’t make the same mistake twice,” he offers some solid advice.
I know now that I’ve got a huge decision to make.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Never Forget
Carter
The vibration of my phone beside my bed jolts me out of my sleep that I was very much enjoying. I mumble profanities to myself as I roll over to see who is calling me at this hour of the morning. It’s a Saturday, and I was hell bent on sleeping in today so I could stay awake for the party after the game tonight.
Once I squint with one eye, I see my boyfriend’s name light up on my screen with our picture together; the picture of us on the boat from our first ever date together.
“Hello?” I answer him sleepily and slam my body back down in the cold, dark room. When this call is over, I have no doubt in my mind I will drift back off to sleep. I need it since I’ve been waking up so early in the morning and staying up late for this week. I had a test yesterday afternoon, so I had to get studying for it. Plus, I was up all night talking to Nick on some nights.
I need to keep my GPA high for myself. I know I put a lot of pressure on myself, but I want my parents to be happy with my grades. I want them to be proud of me. Learning is my thing, while sports is my brothers’ thing.
“Hey,” he responds as I try to blink myself awake but my eyes are sewn shut.
“What’s up?” I ask him when he doesn’t say anything further. The line goes silent. I wonder if he’s still there. I lift the phone back away from my face to see if he’s still on the line. He is, and I place it back to my ear. “Nick?” I ask him.
“Ugh! Yeah! Sorry, I was daydreaming there.” He laughs a little.
“Okay?” I chuckle to myself.
“I was wondering if you could meet me for coffee this morning?” he invites me, and I furrow my brows wondering why?
There’s something up with him. I can hear it in his tone. He sounds a little defeated.Maybe he’s nervous about today’s game?I know it’s a big one. As co-captain, he has a lot of weight on his shoulders this season. The title and the NFL drafting’s are coming up along with pressures of it being his last year on the college team. So, scouts attend the games more and more. pitching their ideas and plans for each of the players they want, coaxing them into thinking about joining their team. I know the drill from both sides. I grew up in that light.
“Is everything okay, Nick?” I inquire.
“Yeah . . . um, I just need to talk to you,” he says in a somber tone, one that I’m a little anxious about. There was a slight waver in his voice that has me a little more awake to this conversation, or the one that will happen.
“Okay, um . . . what time would you like me to be there at?” I ask him as I set myself up and place him on speaker. I can feel my nerves begin to act up.
“Meet me in half an hour? At the coffee place next to the library?” he informs me as I rummage through my drawers to find some fresh clothes and underwear to put on.
“Yeah, sure I’ll see you soon,” I respond back, and I wait for him to agree and say goodbye. Once he does, I hang up and get a move on.
I change into some fresh clothes. It’s sunny outside, so I wear a light white top and pair it with ripped denim jeans and white converse. I throw my hair in a bun and wear no makeup. Luckily, my skin decided to behave itself today as I clean it and place moisturizer on top of its surface. Going barefaced isn’t my usual thing but today, I don’t have the time. I don’t want to keep him waiting.
Once I’m ready, I have ten minutes left before I’m officially late. I grab my purse as I leave out the door, shutting is delicately behind me. Neither Haley nor Danielle are awake at the moment, because what idiot would be awake at nine on a Saturday.Oh wait . . .
As I saunter through a deserted campus, I make my way towards the coffee shop as the sun shines down on me. I smile as it heats me up as I walk along the pathway with my bag on my shoulder.
Not a single person in sight. It looks like something from the apocalypse. Dead leaves and burnt grass dot the field next to me because the temperatures have been soaring for the past week. There hasn’t been a single cloud in the sky all week, and it has made people smile a little more. They’re getting their vitamin D as well as get to sit outside to study in their groups. Some would even throw a ball or frisbee to pass the time for a quick break. So, it’s a little unusual that Nick wants to go to a coffee shop when it’s so hot outside?
