Page 73 of Scoreless Nights

I nodded as his phone stopped ringing and a text buzzed.

“Grab it and check for me,” he leaned down and kissed my neck while I pulled his phone from his pocket. When I lifted the phone, I nearly dropped it as I read the lock screen with the message on it.

I feel bad about not going with you on Friday, so I decided to make it up to you with a girl I just met. She’ll be up for us sharing her.

“Oh my god,” I pushed at him to back up, and handed him his phone like it had cooties.

“What?” He grabbed it and read, his face whitening. “Oh no. No, baby, no…”

I held my hands up to stop him, but he grabbed them and shot a text back to whoever that was.

“Remember Erin? She is bullshitting. I asked her to go with me on Friday because she isn’t into dick, but she never got back to me. She is saying she will share to be funny, but she won’t I swear. Hell, I even have the shirt, I’ll wear it today to practice. Fuck… I promise she is just being—”

“Stop,” I laughed, trying to stop is ranting. He was friends with Erin, and I could picture her trying to drive him crazy by sending him that text. In fact, it made me want to officially meet her and be her best friend. “I didn’t expect to read that, but it's not a big deal.”

“It is if you think I’d go for that when I have you here at home.”

“I don’t. Just go to practice so you aren't late, and come back and teach me soccer.”

“Don’t. Fucking. Leave.” He demanded. “I’ll be home in a few hours.”

Then he was gone, and I heard the door slam right as my phone started ringing again.

Angel.

I started not to take the call, but I knew I owed her more than I gave her the night before. She deserved to know why I ran out so fast.

“Hello?”

“Oh my God,” she sighed. “Are you okay?”

“Of course. Jackie just upset me last night, and I had to go.”

“She upset me too. She was way out of line.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” I groaned.

“Well tell me! You’re my best friend and I want to know everything!”

I was quiet for a minute, hating the desperation in her voice. “Can you come out to South Beach?”

“I can before work.”

“I’ll meet you down by the pier.”

“Okay,” she sounded frantic. “I’m grabbing my keys now.”

* * *

I walked down to the pier and grabbed a table at the cafe while I waited on Angel. Over and over in my head, I practiced what I wanted to say to her. I was still unsure how much I was going to tell her, but I felt she needed to at least know about Cruz. It was up in the air whether I was going to tell her about Cruz my step brother, or Cruz my lover. That was a decision I was going to make on the fly. Whatever felt right in that moment.

“Hey!” I heard her say, making me look up from my coffee.

My face lit up and I stood to hug her, immediately knowing I was going to spill my guts.

After she ordered a coffee, we sat awkwardly while I found the right words.

“Okay so. This isn’t something I want Jackie knowing, and I think you will understand why.”

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