Page 86 of Dear Future Husband: You're My End Game

He would need to use that strategy more often apparently.

“As your friend, I would want nothing more than to spend my free time with you. Especially if it will help you pass your class.” Trey avowed, the platonic word tasting bitter on his tongue.

Maybelle only looked up at him sheepishly.

“Are you sure?” She asked.

Fuck fucking yes, woman.

I’d spend every waking moment with you.

“Yes, May.” Trey confirmed out loud.

In Trey’s first year of college, he never once went to a party. The only ones he would have been able to attend were on the weekends and he had spent almost every spare moment of his weekends on either extra football training or by Maybelle’s side.

So, when Larson barged into the apartment this afternoon saying all the boys would be going to a frat party together Trey was less than enthusiastic.

He immediately had told Larson no, fleeing back to his bedroom and would happily have stayed that way if Bear hadn't come into his room asking about his feelings, if he was more tired than usual, avoidant, lacking motivation and some other shit that had Trey almost begging Larson to get him to the party.

The four of them climbed into Bear’s truck. It was Friday night, one of their last free Friday nights before the season was in full swing. Next week would be their first game, meaning Trey’s mom would be in town for the weekend.

Trey missed going home most weekends to visit his mom, but with his schedule he couldn’t make it back as much. Usually, he would be hit with guilt at the idea of Chelsea spending so much time alone, but she recently admitted to him that she was seeing someone.

Chelsea refused to tell him any other details but by the way she brightened on the Face Time call and practically freaking giggled, Trey had no doubt she was happy, which in turn made him happy. His mom deserved the world, every bit of happiness the universe had to offer, it at least owed her that much after the all the crap she’s had to deal with.

All too soon, Bear’s truck pulled up to a frat house surrounded by a thousand cars, music blaring, couples in the shadows of the front lawn and a few small crowds of students socializing along the porch and sidewalk.

Bear pulled his keys from the ignition as Larson spun in the passenger seat to look back at Noah and Trey.

“Ok gentlemen, as your captain I’ll remind you to not drink too much, don’t stay out too late and don’t be stupid, we have early practice tomorrow morning. Now as your roommate and friend, get shit-faced, Bear is DD and send all the hotbrunettes my way.” Without another word Larson was out of the truck, strutting up the small steps of the porch into the house. Bear grumbled as he rolled out of his seat, Noah and Trey in tow behind him into the chaotic mess of people.

Suddenly Trey was hit with a weight of dejected recollections, remembering the last house party he had attended, Liam had been by his side.

Back then Trey didn’t stalk in behind his teammates, dreading the crowds and boisterous music. He had swaggered in by his best friend, confidently approaching the party ready and excited for a night of stupid fun.

What he would have given to be back in that moment right now, to see his best bud flirting with a random cheer leader in a corner, dancing with absolutely no rhythm in the core of the party or dominating in a quick game of beer pong.

“You want a drink?” Williams asked him over the blaring music.Trey nodded even though his stomach was starting to ache. He probably had eaten one too many packs of pop tarts earlier. But if he was going to make it through tonight, heneededthat drink. They both left Bear to a couple guys who had stopped him and meandered through the groupings of people to the kitchen where they had stacks of cups and a variety of beverages lined up along the countertop.

Williams snatched him and Trey a couple of beers from a cooler on the tiled floor, they both cracked them open and scanned the crowd as they sipped.

Trey couldn’t help it as he fell back into the past, imagining Liam there. Liam wouldn’t have been nursing one beer in quiet seclusion. That guy would have downed a couple drinks before arriving, prepped and ready for a good time. He would have been in the dead center of the pulsating jumble of students, howling with amusement, a magnet that attracted anyone and everyone in for a good time.

Liam was the heart, the chaos, the center of it all.

Trey nearly got whiplash at the double take he made to golden coils of silk hair in the center of the dancing bodies.

He first, unsurprisingly, had the fleeting thought that it was his imagination conjuring up Liam, but Trey tumbled back into reality as he recognized his Maybelle in the dead center of the dance floor.

Trey’s eyes almost fell out of his face as he watched the once quiet, shy, only reads books, Maybelle, jump around, Penny laughing beside her. Like Liam, Maybelle had no rhythm to save her life, she only bounced up and down not even to the beat but there was no doubt she was loving every second.

Trey couldn’t help the sense of déjà vu watching Maybelle, recognizing that everyone nearby was watching her, pressing in closer to where she was.

She was a magnet, the heart, the chaos, the center of it all.

As the astonishment of seeing her ebbed, Trey chuckled at the thought of Liam standing beside him watching his sister now. He imagined Liam’s jaw would probably hit the floor and then he would most likely join her, happy to see his sister finally enjoying herself for once.

Trey was knocked out of his daydreaming when Williams nudged him with an elbow.

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