Page 14 of The Drop

I can’t help but lean against the wall, watching him grab pizza boxes and bits of trash off the island and countertops and throw them in a bag. He’s wearing a black athletic t-shirt and shorts, his hair wet like he’s just showered; he’s still humming as he turns and sees me standing in the doorway and abruptly stops, looking like a deer in headlights.

“Cute song choice,” I say, smirking as he shoots me a glare while wiping crumbs off the coffee table into the trash bag.

“Ha, ha, you’re lucky I even turned up to do this,” he tosses my way as he finds more paper plates to throw away. “Who even bets someone to clean their apartment?” he scoffs.

Another hazy memory comes into my mind of Cami jumping up and down after finally winning a round of bullshit.

“Well, if she had won, she would have had to clean yours,” I justify while shuddering at the thought of how messy the boy’s apartment probably is. “Where are the rest of your boys, anyway?” I ask, walking further into the kitchen to grab water from the fridge. He follows, and I chuck a bottle at him, which he catches easily, even though he's caught off guard.

“Showering off practice.” He shrugs.

“You’ve already been to practice and back this morning.” I gape at him, checking my watch. “It’s ten in the morning.”

“Not a morning person, huh?” He chuckles.

“Not after going to bed at what was it… Three am?” I ask.

“Four, and trust me, it wasn’t pretty. Bear chucked up twice.” He grimaces. “He thinks it was all the bouncing on the sofa to Blink-182.”

“Gosh, we listened to all the music genres last night, didn’t we?” I laugh, covering my mouth as it turns into a yawn. We had stayed up late. Or early?

“It was a good night.” He smiles at me, and my brain can’t help but mini-swoon. I need to slap myself. I’ve just ended afive-year relationship in the last twenty-four hours, and from the brief Grant Anders run-down Cami gave me yesterday, he’s a bit of a player, and one I should stay away from.

“Well, thanks for cleaning up.” I awkwardly give him a tight smile, crossing my arms over my chest.

“No problem,” he scratches his neck. “Um, how are you doing?”

“Ah, a little hungover, but I’ll shake it off.” I shrug, waving my hand while taking another chug of water. “I meant, you know, with everything yesterday?” He lets out a laugh but tries to cover it with a cough, and I feel my face go red as I painfully swallow the water. Of course, that’s what he meant.

I suddenly remember drunkenly spilling the beans to him as Cami and Adam duetted Olivia Rodrigo’s traitor. How appropriate. “I told you everything, huh?” I grimace while playing with the top of my bottle and avoiding looking him in the eye. “Kind of embarrassing, right?”

“For your mom and Jim, sure.” I look up and he’s staring at me intently. “No one could pay me any amount of money to do that to someone; it’s wrong on so many levels.”

We hold our gaze, and it feels nice to hear it from someone who isn’t Cami. I had been justifying some of it in my head, but his comments have firmly reinforced it in my brain.

We are jolted out of our moment when his phone alarm blares.

“Sorry.” he pulls it out and turns it off. “I’ve got this bonding thing booked for the Rookies with the rest of the team.”

“That’s nice.” I smile. “You don’t haze them then?”

He laughs at that. “No, no hazing, although I’m sure Adam might be up for it.”

“Seems the type.” I nod, and we grin at each other again.

“What’s your plan today?” he asks while picking up the garbage bag, and I walk him to the door.

“I’ve got to speak to my mom.” I sigh. “Then, I’m hoping to shake off what is bound to be one of the worst conversations of my life with a run and checking where all my belongings have ended up.”

He whistles as he slips through the door, and I lean against it. “Sounds like a fun day.” He gives me a small smile. “I hope it goes well, though.”

“Thanks.” I smile back and begin closing the door.

“If you ever need a running buddy, I’m always up for it,” he says as he walks backwards to his door.

“Even after playing a hockey game.” I quirk an eyebrow.

“Hey, it might be your only chance to keep up.” He winks, laughing while unlocking his door, and I roll my eyes, slamming mine in response .

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