Page 8 of His Fractured Girl

“Yeah, she’ll be there. Thankfully, Torrin and her have become really close, otherwise, I don’t think Willow would be able to handle the games. She’s not a fan of crowds.”

Yeah, I picked up on that the first time I met Willow at the kick-off party. The poor girl was stuttering as we spoke and shaking pretty hard. It was obvious from her red cheeks that she was embarrassed by it, and it made me feel so bad for her. I finally asked her if she’d come outside to chat, claiming I was getting a headache from all the loud noise. Once we were away from the crowd, she started to relax and open up, her voice smoothing out, and Bren seemed to relax too, telling me after the fact how much he appreciated it.

It’s another reason I like him so much. Most guys would prey on a girl like her and make fun of her speech impediment, or they’d manipulate her into sleeping with them then discard her like damaged goods. But Bren accepts people as they come. And now he’s got himself an amazing girl.

“I’m glad her and Torre have become close.” Torrin’s a sweetheart. But I will say, her and Luke butt heads at every turn.I guess that’s par for the course between siblings. Or stepsiblings in their case.

“Yeah, me too,” he agrees. “With how much we’re gone for practice, I’m glad she has some good friends to keep her company.” And then when he gets home, he hasherto keep him company.

The beautiful face of the fiery girl who showed up for office hours today drifts into my thoughts. I’ve never met anyone like her. Someone so determined and tenacious, or so beautiful. I was mesmerized by the entire package. Sophie’s long, dark, wavy brown hair; those crystal blue eyes shimmering with irritation when she was talking to me about her grade; the cute little dimple on her sweetheart cheeks, which was determined not to make an appearance when I asked her to the party tonight. And then those curves…. Man, I could sink my teeth into her and take a bite.

“How’d you and Willow meet, by the way?” I take a sip of my drink, swallowing down the need clawing its way through my system. It’s been quite some time since lust has burned low in my gut, and even longer since I’ve been interested in pursuing a girl. But she shot me down, didn’t she?

“I was in a freshman chat room online, looking for kids from my area who were coming here in the fall, and she chimed in. At first, I thought it was a guy I was chatting with.” He chuckles at the memory. “Her handle was Will2025TE, so I didn’t even think twice. We were going back and forth for a few weeks before I learned the truth. It felt like I was shooting the shit with a bro. We were cuttin’ up and were into all the same things: video games, the same type of music and action movies. She even loves watching football, and her fantasy team crushed mine. When I found out she was a girl…” He shakes his head on a whistle. “I couldn’t get over it. I’d met my perfect match. It was just too fucking good to be true. But when I started asking if we couldmeet up in person, she got skittish and ghosted me. So, I pretty much turned into a stalker.”

I bust out laughing. I bet he did. Finding someone that you can be real with is hard. Then finding someone as beautiful who likes all the same things, that’s rare. After my encounter with Sophie this afternoon, I already creeped on her social media, but she has no public accounts. Which I have to say intrigued me more. Most girls are so wrapped up in that shit, it’s all they care about. But unless her name in the system isn’t accurate, she’s not online.

“That’s priceless, dude.” I give him a fist bump. “So, how’d you finally get Willow to go out with you then?”

His cheeks turn as red as an apple, and he starts shaking his head with a sheepish grin. “Let’s just say, I can be very persuasive.”

Interesting. Maybe I should’ve been more persuasive and made Sophie come to the party tonight as part of her grade. Forced her into the date so she could get to know me better. I had three girls come up to me before class trying to get an invite, but the one girl I wanted here couldn’t get out of my office fast enough. She practically ran from me. And man, did that make me want to give chase.

“Well, you got yourself a good one.” I tip my chin to him.

“Yeah I did.” He nods. “Actually… I think I might go spend the evening with my girl. Would you mind if I dipped out?”

He doesn’t have to stay on my account. If I had a girl like that waiting for me at home, I’d be rushing off too.

“Of course not, man. Thanks for stopping by.”

“I’ll see you at practice tomorrow.” He gives me a pound on my fist then leaves, and I go grab another bottle from the cooler before going in search of Lukas. I’m not surprised to find him swarmed by a flock of girls who are all singing his praises over our last game. He shoots me a look as I approach, wanting meto save him. Have to say, it does get old. As soon as a girl learns who we are, they want to latch on. Wouldn’t phase them if we were alphaholes or not. They’re all about notoriety. They want to be able to brag to their friends how they scored with the great Travis Hunt or Lukas Williams. It’s like it gives them some sort of clout.

I’ll admit, back when we were freshmen, it was fun getting all the attention. Plus, with how crazy our schedules were, easy was good. But now that I’m a senior, I’ve outgrown that shit. I no longer want someone to warm my sheets at night. I want someone who I can snuggle up with on the couch and vent about my day to. I want someone who I can wake up with on a Saturday morning and make love to before we go grab some brunch. I’m done with the shallow. And I know Lukas is too.

“Yo, man!” I hold out the beer for him. He uses the opportunity to squeeze through the pack of lionesses who are now givingmegoogly eyes, too.

“How’s the keg?” He asks, taking the bottle from me and taking a long swig like he’s trying to wash down the aftertaste of those girls. “Do we need to change it out yet?”

“I had Teck do it. So, we’re set for a few.” Though, with the way everyone’s drinking tonight, we may run dry sooner than we expected.

“What’s that? Number four?”

Yeah, I think it is. “We may have to start calling cabs soon to haul these guys back.” Last thing we want is for someone to get into an accident and for us to have an arrest on our hands for serving alcohol to minors.

Lukas turns, scanning the room, surveying the crowd. His eyes suddenly stop, narrowing a glare toward the door. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Who the fuck let her in?”

I turn my head, wanting to see who’s crashing the party, and smirk when I see his little sister strutting over. “You need to turnaround and march that stubborn little ass back to your dorm, Torrin.”

Torre crosses her arms, refusing to budge, and I’m fighting back my chuckle. She really loves poking Lukas’s buttons. And man, does he get riled. Gotta admit, it’s funny to watch the two go at it, bickering about his controlling ways, her being pissed that he’s so overbearing and treats her like a kid. Though, right now, I’m siding with Lukas. There are too many drunk bastards in this room, and Torre is too young, pretty, and naïve to fend them off. Lukas and I will have to play babysitter all night, and that’s not what either of us is in the mood for.

“Come on, Torre. We should probably go,” says the girl who told me she didn’t like parties. Now, I’m the one tensing as one sexy-as-hell Sophie steps up to Torrin’s side. It looks like she doesn’t have a problem with parties, after all. She just didn’t want to come to mine.

A feeling twists in my gut as my heart rate starts to kick up.

“I wanted to come celebrate with the team. But if I’m not wanted here, I guess we’ll just have to go to the Pike party instead.”

And now Torre’s asking for trouble. She knows those Pike fuckers are no good.

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