Page 103 of Released from the Sin Bin

Looking down at my outfit, I contemplate changing into one of my many short skirts I used to wear for Vic.

Ken has just got in and is using Jocelyn’s room to get ready, but Carter should be here any minute.

My high waisted pleather pants will have to do. I don’t feel comfortable wearing those skirts and I’m running out of time. The shirt I’m wearing has a deep V and boning to push my breasts up without having to worry about a bra. Jocelyn said I look hot, and more importantly, I’m comfortable.

I just finished pinning a couple of strands of hair away from my face in braids when our doorbell rings.

“Willa, can you get that?” Jocelyn calls out from the bathroom where she’s still doing her make-up.

All the girls are already out or still getting ready for their own night. I run down as fast as I can in the wedged booties I’m wearing. I’m too nervous to wear heels, but so far the wedges are working.

“Hey.” I open the door to see Carter in his leather jacket with a fresh haircut. The sides of his hair are shorter, but he still left the straight strands longer at the top and gelled to the side. His short beard is neatly trimmed, and he even has on a nice dark green button up that brings out the lighter browns in his eyes.

He sucks in his lips and rumbles a greeting at me.

“You look nice.” I give him a once over.

“Is Jocelyn and what’s his name around?” He looks past me into the house.

“They’re still getting ready upstairs.” I point up the steps and step back to let him in.

“Good.” His hand presses against the doorframe as he leans over me. “You look fucking gorgeous tonight.” His eyes slowly roam down from my face to my toes, biting his lip to make my legs clench shut.

“Oh,” I breathe out.

He leaps from the doorway at the sound of Jocelyn coming down the stairs with her cousin, my date, following behind her.

Ken smiles when he sees me. His cheeks turn a slight shade of red when our eyes meet and he runs a hand through his light golden brown hair.

Jocelyn bounces down in front of him, breaking our eye contact.

“Hi,” she greets Carter and rises on her toes to kiss his cheek. Leaning her body against his side, and hanging onto his arm. “Are we ready?”

“Shall we?” Ken holds out his arm for me to take as we head outside to the cars.

“Why don’t we all get in my truck?” Carter stops Ken from walking me to his car. “There’s plenty of room.”

“Sure,” I happily agree and climb into the backseat with Ken.

O’Halloran’s is packed for a Friday night with mostly locals and the few students that frequent it. Jocelyn hasn’t stopped touching Carter since we sat down.

“I’m so happy we got a chance to do this,” Ken says, pulling my attention away from watching Jocelyn’s hand slide down Carter’s arm and into his lap.

“Me too.” I twirl my drink in a circle on the table. “Jocelyn said you had an interview?”

“Yeah, once I graduate, I plan to train with the players for a college team like I’ve been doing with my internship. I’ve been traveling to different schools that accepted my application to start in the fall.” He goes on about the interview process. The long trips, and the different facilities at every school.

Carter clears his throat across from us and shifts to listen, and I can only imagine what Jocelyn is doing to him under the table.

I don’t want to know.

I don’t want to see.

It’s not my place to find out. He’s just my friend, and he can hook up with and date whoever he wants. I set them up. This is a good thing.

“Is that going well for you?”

“What?” I shout louder than necessary.

---