Page 139 of Fair Catch

Regardless, as I pull the front door open, I can’t really believe my eyes.

Because the last person I expected it to be is the person standing in front of me.

“Hayes.”

Thirty-Seven

Hayes

The sound of my name on Kason’s lips has my heart squeezing in my chest painfully, but not nearly as much as the way his eyes immediately take on a sorrow-filled gleam in the porch light.

Fuck, maybe this is a bad idea.

But it’s too little, too late now, so I steel myself for yet another rejection by his hand and ask for the reason I’m here in the first place.

“Can I come in? To talk?”

Under normal circumstances, I’d offer to take a walk instead, but it’s been a downpour for the last few hours and making no signs of letting up. The other option is having it out right here, but the last thing I wanna do is have this conversation on his doorstep in the pouring rain where anyone could interrupt.

I will if I have to, though. I’m already soaked as it is.

“I…” Kason glances behind him, where I can hear ruckus through the door and walls of the house from here. “It’s kinda loud in there, but we can if you want.”

My gaze flicks from him to the front window, where I can make out quite a few guys hooting and hollering and generally having a good time.

“There’s gotta be somewhere more quiet, right? Your room, or something?” I inquire, doing my best to keep the tiniest spark of hope alive despite the gutting sadness in his eyes. Yet, for whatever reason, he nods in agreement and opens the door behind him, ushering me inside.

I think the only time I’ve seen this many athletes in one place, it was at one of the football games earlier this year. Except it’s not just football players; I notice plenty of Quinton’s old teammates, and also Phoenix, who told me he’s on the baseball team. And it’s pandemonium as they’re all drinking and buzzing around while the Draft plays on the television.

Kason quietly leads me down the stairs, only for us to be greeted with the sight of even more people in a second living/rec room. ESPN is playing on an even bigger flatscreen down here, but it’s not enough to stop all eyes from falling to us when we come into view.

I quickly recognize one of them as Phoenix, glad to see at least one friendly face. He gives me a small nod, and I think it’s meant to be a hint of encouragement, as Kason leads me through the door to his bedroom. With a quick flip of the lightswitch, his room is illuminated, and I glance around, noting the familiarity of it. Besides different colored walls and a few different pieces of furniture, it’s nearly identical to his room back at the apartment.

The fact doesn’t sit right with me.

“Do you wanna sit?” Kason asks as he shuts the door behind us, flicking the lock in place.

Acting on his offer, I perch myself on the edge of his bed, leaving plenty of space for him to sit beside me if he wishes. He grabs his desk chair instead, and I try to ignore the little piece of me that dies inside because of it.

“So this is where you’ve been living,” I observe, hating myself for choosing awkward small talk to break the ice.

No, dumbass. He just has a second set of all his belongings to keep here too.

“Yeah,” Kason says slowly, lacing and unlacing his fingers with the same nervous energy I’m feeling. I guess I can at least be grateful I’m not alone in that.

Though I have no right to know, I still find myself asking, “Is that going okay?”

He nods, and I’m glad it is while simultaneously wishing it wasn’t. And I don’t think I’ve ever felt more selfish than I do right now for the thought.

“Things have a way of working out,” he murmurs, his eyes locked on his interlocked hands. “Phoenix and I were able to mend fences, start rebuilding a healthy friendship that isn’t so codependent.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” There’s an awkward pause before I find myself filling it with another stupid question. “I’d assume that’s part of the reason for the really mixed crowd out there?”

Kason rocks his head back and forth briefly, “Sorta, but the athletics here are pretty tight knit. It doesn’t matter if we play different sports, we still do our best to show up for each other when we can.”

“I’m glad you had them in your corner tonight.”

Really, Hayes? What else are you glad for? That he didn’t slam the door in your face when he saw you?

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