Page 17 of Chase
“Now I know you ain’t talkin’ to me like that.” He has a southern drawl, a red faded haircut sticking out under a Havenwood Football Devils black hat, and a bigger build than mine. He looks and sounds like her.It must be her brother.
He stares me down and I have no doubt this scowl has scared off football teams across the country. I don’t give a shit. I scowl right back. This guy, who I’m assuming is Davis Higgins, steps right up to me.
“Jesus fuck, Chase, talk about a shitty first impression,” Drew mutters from my right and gently pushes me to the side and out of the line of Davis’ fiery glare.
“Let’s try this again, guys. Davis Higgins, meet Chase Wilton. Chase, this is our new QB1 and Sloane’s brother,” Drew offers introductions and neither of us extends hands to shake.
“Chase, huh? You the hockey player?” He grits out as if he’s heard of me. He’s been here for all of five minutes which means his pretty sister must have mentioned me to him. The thought makes me smile, a real shit-eating grin that makes Mr. Hot Shot QB1 nostril’s flare. My dimples pop and I swear there’s steam coming from his ears.
“Why you asking?” I spit back still smiling.She was talking about me.What did you tell your brother, gorgeous girl? Did you tell him how I’m basically obsessed with you? That I think you’re the only star in my otherwise pitch-black sky? That you’re the only color I see in my gray-looking world?
“I’m not askin’, I’m tellin’ you to stay the fuck away from my sister. Stop your goddamn games, go play with someone else,” he snarls out. He’s all puffed up and making his presence known. He can fuck right off with that.
He grabs the brim of his hat, tips his head towards B, and says “Evie,” as if he’s some gentleman all of a sudden. He gives Drew a stiff chin lift and then bumps into my shoulder and walks away. What a dick. I didn’t screw the top back on my bottle and take a longer shot this time.
“Now that's no way to get on your future brother-in-law's good side, man,” Max says and smacks me on the back and I nearly spit out my shot from how hard his hand hits.
“Are you okay?” B asks and places her hand on my arm. “He’s usually nicer than that.”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I tell her and her phone screen illuminates in her hand. She holds it up and I see Sloane’s name on the screen with a message notification. Just seeing her name makes going toe-to-toe with her chump brother worth it.
“Sloane’s here, I’m going to go say hi if you’re sure you’re okay,” she says. “Want to come with me?” she adds with a steady voice with no signs of any nerves. My immediate answer is yes but I shake it off. I can’t have what I want.What I want doesn’t matter.
“I’m gonna head out, I’ve had enough of all this for one night.” I don’t bother saying goodbye to anyone else. I’m still pissed. They can suck it. If I stick around, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep myself in line.
It takes me a minute to get out of the crowded kitchen and I swallow down another mouthful of tequila before walking into the congested living room. I weave through dancing bodies and find my brother where he always is.
He’s sitting on a couch with girls on either side of him and has one perched on each knee. He still looks mad as hell and isstill staring at his damn phone. I don’t know who he’s texting but he looks murderous even as one of the girls is draped over him and kissing up and down his neck.
“I’m going home,” I tell him and swallow another gulp of tequila. I step away to get the hell out of here and two girls reach out and try to pull me down. I’m tipsy, wobbly, and nearly fall forward onto a couch full of sorority sisters.
“What the fuck man, you drunk?” A asks and taps two girls on their knees. The look of pure joy on their faces is hard to miss. They must think they’re the ones he’s taking upstairs. That’s all he usually has to do to have them running after him. “Not tonight, move over,” he tells them, and just as fast as he makes them smile, he disappoints them.
“I’m fine, I’m leaving,” I tell him and he tugs me onto the couch. Another girl squeals and three of them move for me to sit next to A. If I’m going to sit then I might as well drink the rest of this crap. I nearly gag on the next shot.
“Why are you so fucked up? You never drink like this during the season, it’s like your golden rule. What the hell is going on?” He says and swipes the bottle from my hand just as I was about to take another shot.My golden rule.He’s right. It is.
I don’t like how slow and sluggish alcohol makes me on the ice so I only have a beer when we party. My golden rule has changed though. Now it’s “stay the fuck away from Sloane and give Evie space to heal and thrive without fucking it up.”
He starts to shake his knees and the two sorority girls fall right off. He doesn't even bother looking at them. No, my brother keeps staring at me, willing our triplet-speak to give him all the answers inside my fucked up head.
“Bro, this shit can melt metal pipes, why are you drinking this?” He asks after sniffing the mouth of the bottle.
“What’s that saying? One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor? It’s my goal for the night,” I tell him with a fake-as-fucksmile. His stone-like face doesn’t crack in the slightest. I guess he doesn’t think my joke is funny.
Instead, he shoves his water bottle into my hand, “Drink fucking water, you’re gonna be hungover as shit tomorrow, Coach is gonna string your balls up by your skate laces.”
My head starts to slightly spin as I lean back on the couch and finish off A’s water. I really want to get the hell out of here. Lay in my bed and fucking wallow. Drown in my own self-pity. Tonight sucks donkey dick. I’m drunk, and aggravated, and I want to see her even though I shouldn’t want to see her. My brain and my heart are battling again and I feel literal pain in both parts of my body.
The pain can’t compete with the guilt that's built up inside of me. It weighs me down and feels like cement is coating my goddamn skin.
The angel might as well be shoveling more of my past mistakes down my throat and it burns more than the alcohol I’ve been drinking when I try to swallow it all down. The guilt I have for what I did to B and for wanting a girl I shouldn’t but can’t stay the hell away from, churns in my stomach. The deep throb in my head begins to pulse and an ache in my chest pangs over my heart making it hard to breathe comfortably. It hurts so fucking bad.
I place one hand over my forehead and the other over my sternum in an effort to make all the hurt go away; there are physical, emotional, and mental pains that live inside me all the fucking time.
The feelings I didn’t want to feel tonight are pulsing under the surface of my skin. I think they’re trying to break out of my body. I feel my brother’s hand grip my knee and squeeze.
I take a deep breath and try to get my bearings. I try to stop the room from spinning, my head from pounding, and my heart from bleeding. I scan the room for her perfect face. I try to listenfor her soulful voice. I need a hit. Just a little taste.I know you’re here, where are you, gorgeous?
