Page 2 of Fourth Down Forever
Relief washes over me when she says she has to go, because I didn't want to talk about Kade anymore. I only want to focus on finishing school and work. I've sworn off men.
"Sounds good. I'll be ready."
"Love you, Sam."
"Love you, Jay," I say as I hit end on my phone. Taking a deep breath, I lay my head down on the open books in front of me. I don't want to face him, but tonight I need to gather all my strength and secure the walls around my heart. Janae is my best friend, and I would do anything for her, even if that means facing my worst nightmare—the man who broke my heart.
I have two more hours left before Janae is on her way to pick me up for the joint bachelorette party. Picking my head up, I look down at the text for my biology class—it’s the last class I have before graduation. I finish reading the chapter I was on.
Chapter two
Kade
"I can't believe you're getting married!" I shout to my best friend and teammate, Shane, over the loud music that fills the club.
"I know, it's exciting!" he says, handing me a shot with a giant shit eating grin on his face. Before responding, I grab it and swallow it down quickly. Because no, I don't think it's exciting. I have to be careful though. Shane has been looking forward to finding his soulmate his whole life, and he needs my support, even if the idea of marriage makes me want to jump off a building.
Slamming the glass down on the bar, the alcohol burns as it slides down my throat, sending a shiver down my spine. Giving him a small smile, I say, "Mmm...that was good. Aren't you afraid of being with the same person night after night?"
It doesn't take a world class therapist to diagnose me with a phobia of commitment, and I can blame my good ole parents for that one. Growing up, I never saw a healthy relationship mirrored for me which is the opposite for Shane.
His parents are still together, and his dad would do anything for his mom. No wonder he’s always yearned for a relationship like that. My parents, on the other hand, cheated on each other throughout their marriage. They finally called it quits when I was twelve, which honestly was twelve years too long, if you're asking my opinion. When they divorced, the fighting didn’t stop. No, it got worse, because they fought over everything. Including me. Especially me. I would be put into terrible situations where I would often be forced to choose between them. Sometimes I would use it to my benefit, but I mostly wanted them to leave me alone.
Which is why I vowed to myself that I would never marry, or enter any other long-term relationship, because all it does is bring heartache for everyone involved. The day I was drafted to the Las Vegas Vipers and started making my own money, was the day I started putting up walls between me and my parents. Now I only see them once a year on their respective dates and I like it that way.
Shane shakes his head. "No. I'm excited for it—never having to come home to an apartment all alone, always having someone who will have my back no matter what. That sounds like a dream."
"Or having the same dull sex every night. Never tasting a new pussy. Having her nag on and on about how busy you are with football," I counter. Honestly, I could go on and on about how marriage is a death sentence, but I know my audience and I quell my thoughts. Instead, I raise my hand and focus on getting the bartender’s attention.
Not just any bartender either, the hot elusive one. She's like an urban legend around here. Many have tried to get with her, but she's never taken the bait. Tonight is going to be different.
I watch the short blonde, tight jeans hugging her ass perfectly, a black cropped halter top showing off a sliver of her stomach.When she turns away, I see a fairy tattooed on her lower back and lick my lips. Before the end of the night, I'm going to have that girl riding me as if I was a stallion, because I need to forget a curvy woman who haunts my dreams.
"What can I get you?" she asks me as she leans over the bar, pushing her breasts together. I can't help but drop my gaze down to those two round globes that my hands are itching to grab. Knowing I can't look for too long if I want her later, I make sure to bring my gaze back to her face. Women like to feel as if they aren’t objects for sex.
"Can I get a scotch on the rocks?" I ask as I look over at Shane, waiting for him to order.
"I'll have two beers," he answers.
"Got it," she says, turning away. Two minutes later, she's dropping them off. We both grab our drinks and I give her a wink, but don't linger. Nothing is more off-putting than a needy man.
Heading to the table that we reserved for this thing, we both drop down in the booth and join a few of our other teammates. Shane hands our other best friend, Blake, a beer. He takes a sip. "Thanks, man. When does Janae and her friends get here?"
That question grabs my attention, swinging my head over toward Shane. "I thought this was a bachelor party. You know, men only." I say, raising one of my brows at him.
"I told you that Janae and I were having a joint bachelor/bachelorette party," he explains.
I roll my eyes but ask, "When did you say that?"
"From the beginning, but I reminded you of it earlier this week after practice," he replies when Blake chimes in, "Are you surprised? Those two are never far from each other."
"I guess not," I say, shrugging my shoulders. But that's when Blake says something that really surprises me.
"You just pushed it out of your mind because you knew Sam would be here,” he teases with a smirk.
Shaking my head, I respond, "No. I don't even think about Sam."
Shane and Blake look at each other, and something passes between them that I can't quite put my finger on before they burst out laughing. I just stare at them.How could they even think I still have feelings for Sam? Besides, she is the one who ghosted me, not the other way around.
