Page 7 of Hits Different

“He was focused on soccer”. My lips twitch. “But I think he enjoyed playing the field”.

“Very funny”.

“Thanks. I’m here all week”.

“Why aren’t you friends anymore?”

Before I can respond, her phone chimes.I answer the question in my head.

Brandon was always destined for big things, and the entire world let him know it. Teachers. Coaches. Parents. And then there was me. Nobody was falling over themselves to tell me I could be something too. In some ways, it was liberating when we went our separate ways because the endless comparisons where I came off worse would finally stop.

But that’s not what ended our friendship.

Vanessa scans the text she’s received. “Brandon’s going to be okay”.

Relief floods through me.

“Mild concussion. Bruised ribs. Nothing any self-respecting athlete won’t be bragging about in a few days”. She smiles reassuringly. “But nothing to worry about. He should be discharged tomorrow”.

For a moment, I can’t formulate any coherent thought. Brandon is okay. I can just picture his cocky face raising an eyebrow at me.C’mon, Di Rossi.Did you really think a little thing like a three-player pileup was going to slow me down?

Vanessa touches my arm, andI snap back to reality. Brandon’s fine. I don’t need to think about him anymore. I’ve got a beautiful woman curled up in my lap. Focus, Di Rossi.

“His team are staying at Prism”,she adds, as I start exploring her neck with my lips. Her skin is warm, and tastes like coconut butter. “My dad mentioned it on our conference call this morning”.

The Prism is a fancy ass hotel in the middle of the city. Her dad owns a dozen all over the country. From what I can tell, Vanessa has a standing reservation in all of them, depending on which city she decides to party in.

We spent a night there once, right after she’d caught her ex-husband with one of the waitresses. It had been her idea. No way I could afford a place like that.

“You remember the night we spent there?” I murmur, slipping a finger between her thighs. “The hot tub. The four-poster bed. Then the hot tub again…”

“When we got caught by room service?” she giggles, then screams as I slip to my knees and gently spread her legs. Seconds later, her nails are digging into my shoulders so hard they draw blood.

What can I say, imaginary hotel sex is hot.

* * * *

One hour later, I’m late for training. Vanessa’s freshening up whilst I haul ass getting dressed. I grab my phone just as it starts ringing. “I’m almost there, I swear”.

“Di Rossi?” It’s Marshall. He’s pretty much the last guy from the fraternity I’m still on speaking terms with. “Listen man, bad news. Our venue for the party cancelled”.

“Too bad”. I was pretty sure I was off the invite-list anyway. Vanessa slips back into the room and raises her eyebrows.Party’s off, I mouth, though I highly doubt a sexy ass businesswoman cares how a bunch of frat boys celebrate the end of the semester.

“I was hoping that it’d be a good opportunity for you to reconnect with the boys”, Marshall trails off awkwardly. “Before we all leave for the summer”.

“Who says I want to reconnect with the boys?” I say, ignoring the look from Vanessa.He’s trying, Parker.I hear voices in the background, then Marshall coughs. “Darwin won’t be there. He already left for his parent’s place in Vermont”.

“Have your party at Rosebud”, Vanessa cuts in.

“Really?” Marshall says, down the phone.

“Really?” I echo, incredulously.

“Really”, she says firmly, taking the phone from me, “We’d be delighted to host you this evening. Parker can set you up on the guest list. And if he plays his cards right, he can finish early and join you. To reconnect”, she adds meaningfully.

Marshall rings off. Vanessa turns to me, and before she even opens her mouth, I know what her third question is going to be.

“Why don’t you just tell everyone what really happened that night?”

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