Page 159 of Goalkeeper
Spencer
“What the hell am I supposed to do? She’s barely talking to me, and I can’t blame her. I was a dick of epic proportions.”
We’re in the weight room and I’m spotting Zac while Chase and Meysy work on kettlebells.
“You need a grand gesture,” Chase says, like he’s some expert on romance. Still, he’s right.
“I need a Mr. Cottontail moment,” I say more to myself than to the guys.
“Yeah, I’m not sure that’s what I meant…” Chase shakes his head.
“No, it is,” I assure him, because that’s exactly it. I need to show Paige that she is the most important thing in my world. I lost sight of that for a moment, but it’s so clear to me now. Hell, if I wouldn’t have been such a whiny, self-absorbed bitch that day, I could have left my car on the side of the road and we’d have made it back in time for me to at least show up to the game. Yeah, I wouldn’t have played, but I’d have been there. And I’d still have Paige.
“Too bad you can’t go back to that party and make a Jenga tile that saysForgive Me When I’m an Asshole,” Meysy jokes.
“Oh, my God, you’re a genius, Meysy.” I never thought those words would leave my lips, but they’re true. “When we’re done here, we’re having arts and crafts time. We need to make a supply run.”
Two hours later, our living room is a freaking mess. There are Jenga tiles everywhere and I’m pretty sure we’ve stained the carpets in a few spots with Sharpie. But I’m not worried about it.
“What are you gonna do if this doesn’t work?” Zac asks.
“That’s not an option. And where the hell is Herrera? He left the store at the same time we did, and he has the twinkle lights.”
“He just pulled up,” Birdy says, checking his phone. “And he’s got a plan.”
The front door opens, and Herrera walks in, followed by Emma, who doesn’t look too happy.
“This is why you brought me here? Because I’m not dressed to fight, but I’ll do it,” she says, and I swear to god, she reaches for her earrings.
“Slow down, killer,” Herrera tells her. “Briggsy needs your help. Tell Paige you feel like going out, and bring her over around eight tonight.”
“Oh. Hell. No.”
“Please, Emma? I’m desperate here and I’m not above begging if I have to.”
She looks at me like I’m a bug under her shoe. “Give me one reason why I should help you.”
“Because I love her. And you do, too. And you know how much she loves me.”
She huffs, and for a second, I wonder if she’s going to walk right out of this house. If so, I’m going to need another way to get Paige here tonight.
“Fine,” she says, “but if you fuck this up, Briggsy, I’ll dance on your grave.”
I don’t doubt her for a minute.
Paige
Classes start in a few days, so, of course, Emma talked me into going out tonight. I am so not in the mood, which is strange for me. Although, maybe not so much. I barely partied at all last semester. I had a much better time hanging with Spencer than I ever did at a kegger. But, I’m not thinking about Spence tonight. I’m thinking about the Kappa party we’re walking to and how much fun it will be to catch up with people I haven’t seen in ages.
I stop at the corner of Poplar, waiting for the light to turn, so we can cross down to the Kappa House, but Emma tugs at my elbow. “Quick detour,” she says, as we keep heading down the street. It’s a street I know well, since the hockey house is a block ahead on the left. The multicultural house is a bit farther down. Maybe Emma needs to stop there, first?
“Where the hell are you taking me, Em?” I ask, just as we approach Spence’s house, and Emma stops abruptly.
“I just need to pop in real quick. Herrera has the book I need for my Psych of the Exceptional Child class and he said I could borrow it this semester. I’ll just be a sec,” she assures me and trots into the house.
Ugh. Why can’t she swing by tomorrow, when I’m not with her? And what the heck is she going to do with a textbook while we’re at Kappa?
These questions, and more, run on a loop through my head as I freeze my ass off. Why is it that we can send astronauts into space, but we can’t figure out how to simultaneously dress appropriately for the cold-ass Vermont winter while still looking cute for a party? If you bring a parka, you risk losing it or having it smell like smoke or Fruit Loops for the next week. But if you don’t, you risk hypothermia.
