Page 12 of I Hear You

“Well, Emmett, good thing you’ve never been a gentleman,” Taylor retorts.

The conversation of his latest conquest goes on for another five minutes. Taylor asking questions and trying to pull details out of Emmett and Emmett responding with what sounds like a lot of half truths. Jesse’s just listening and smiling over at Taylor like a love sick puppy dog.

Jesse and Emmett spend the next few hours taking turns playing video games. When Jesse plays, he lets Taylor wear the headset so she can do the shit talking. For a five-foot-nothing blonde who looks like she should have birds dressing her in the morning, she’s got a mouth on her when she drinks.

I try to keep myself in the moment, but my thoughts keep drifting back to the printed email in my pocket and the girl who was in my truck just a few hours ago. Analyzing every word I said, every word she said. Thinking back to every time I touched her or she looked at me. I can’t believe after five years I was actually sitting in the same car as Mads. I talked to her face to face and even shook her hand.

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a car pulling into the building. I turn around in my chair to see who's here, not realizing anyone else was invited. I don’t recognize the car. It’s a dark lifted truck that’s giving off very much–bro energy.My question of who could be in the car is quickly answered and I wince, sinking lower into my chair.

A loud “What’s up bitches?” comes from the direction of the truck, followed by the clicking of heels headed our way.

“Hey Jackie, who's your friend?” Emmett asks, puffing out his chest and tilting the beer bottle in his hand toward the clearly spends too much time in the gym driver of the bro truck.

I can see just by slightly tilting my head that Jackie walks over to her new friend and wraps her arms around his waist while he unceremoniously grabs her ass.

Although she’s answering Emmett's question, her eyes are on me.

“This is Caleb. He’s new in town. He’s gonna be playing football for Pinehurst,” she smirks with the last bit of information.

Great, not only do I have to put up with this douchebag following Jackie around like a puppy dog, but I also have to deal with him on the field.

Emmett, who gets way too much pleasure out of stirring the pot, gives me a wide drunken smile.

“You hear that Henry? Caleb here is gonna be joining us on the football field next week!”

He can hardly contain his laughter as he informs me of what Jackie just made abundantly clear.

Jackie and our new friend Caleb take up residence on the loveseat. With how close they’re sitting, you could fit half the football team on the loveseat still.

“So Henry, where’s your new friend I heard about?” Jackie asks, taking a sip of the hard seltzer she just pulled out of her purse. She says this all while doing an absolutely horrible job of hiding the disgust and jealousy she obviously has of even the thought of me with someone else.

Jackie and I dated for a few months in high school senior year. I knew she had a crush on me since we were kids, but I didn’t just avoid dating her. I didn’t date anyone. I was busy focusing on football and school. I had one goal; get recruited to a power 5 program where I could be the starting quarterback within two years. And I did it. I made that goal happen. By the end of junior year, I knew I was going to be recruited by Virginia Tech. Of course, it all came crashing down when they got news of my arrest. So, senior year, I had no more fucks to give. I asked Jackie to winter formal, and she ran with it. Not unexpectedly, she led everyone to believe we were a full on couple after that and I didn’t stop her. We had fun for six months until I got my head out of my ass this past spring and stopped leading her on. I knew I would never want anything serious with her. I knew she was just a distraction from everything I screwed up and everything I lost, including Mads.

Wait, is she asking why Mads isn’t here? How does she even know I met a girl today?

I glare at Jesse.

“Sorry dude,” Jesse whispers.

“He didn’t bring anyone with him, Jackie,” Taylor interjects while trying and failing to hold back her giggles. “But now we know why Caleb is here.” She hiccups and is full-on laughing now.

Well, Taylor’s definitely tipsy. Taylor’s always been a lightweight, but she’s never sloppy. If anything, she’s even more sweet but with a lot of extra sass. She doesn’t hold back what’s on her mind even more when she drinks, if that’s possible. I roll my eyes. My friends have no concept of keeping their mouths shut.

Jackie is staring daggers at Taylor, but quickly turns her attention to her new lap dog. Literally, this dude is practically in her lap. Are there not any hot girls where he comes from? Jackie starts petting–actually petting–Caleb's hair. I feel nothing other than a desire to just get home and go to bed. I need a good night's sleep so I can figure out what the hell I’m going to do about the fact Mads is in my town, going to my college. I’m for sure going to end up running into her, and then what? Do I tell her who I am?

I stand up, deciding it's time to get out of here.

“I think it’s time for me to call it a night. Taylor, Jesse, you guys want a ride home?”

“Oh, but the fun is just getting started,” Taylor giggles.

Jesse nods at me when I look over at him. He walks over to Taylor and crouches down in front of her.

“Let’s go darling, your place or mine?” he asks.

Taylor stands up on the chair and hops onto Jesse’s back.

“Ohhh mine! Let’s christen my new dorm room!” she squeals as Jesse bounces her around on his back.

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