Out in the End Zone (Out in College 2)

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be easy. Nicole had been glued to my side since I walked in the door. I couldn’t talk freely with anyone else, and I hadn’t been able to check my phone without her staring over my shoulder. And unfortunately, this wasn’t the time or place to tell her I wasn’t interested. She was tipsy and there were far too many people around. It would have to wait. If I couldn’t fade gracefully, I’d have to make an excuse and get the fuck out.

I chuckled on cue and dropped my arm, gently dislodging Nicole’s hand from my bicep. I set my cup on an end table and stepped aside to pull my cell from my pocket.

“ ’Scuse me. I have to return this call.”

I held up my phone as though it was proof of my sincerity. Then I slipped through the crowded living room into the hallway near the front door. I thought about just leaving, but there were too many people lingering in the area to make a clean getaway. This worked, I mused as I pushed Call.

Mitch answered on the first ring. “Why are you calling me?”

“You’re supposed to say hello,” I chided.

“Hello. Why are you calling?”

I let out my first honest-to-God laugh of the night and stepped farther into the shadows. “I missed you. Why else?”

“Yeah, right,” he snarked. “Are you drunk?”

“No, but everyone else here is. I’m sipping soda water at a college party, wishing I was at home watching Sports Center in my underwear. When did I get so old? Everyone here looks so peppy and pretty and…it’s kinda creepy, ya know?”

“Wow. You really do miss me,” he teased.

“I’m one of those painfully honest guys, Mitch. Ask Derek.”

“Hmm. I saw him at Chelsea’s party tonight with some water polo hotties.”

“You’re at a party too?” I asked. “Seems quiet in the background.”

“I’m home. It’s almost eleven. Are you still coming over?”

“Yeah. I’m on my way.”

I smiled as I disconnected the call and moved into the light. And immediately ran into my hostess.

“Oh, there you are! I hoped I didn’t scare you away,” Nicole said in a sultry tone.

“No, I’m…here. But I have to go.” I sidestepped around her but didn’t get far.

She blocked my way and struck a pose against the doorjamb. “Don’t go.”

“Sorry, but someone’s waiting for me.”

“A girl?”

“No.”

“Good. I try to be very respectful of relationships. But I know you don’t have a girlfriend,” she said with a Cheshire cat grin. “Jonesie told me you were single but besides that, we have mutual friends in Long Beach. I went to high school with Amanda.”

“She mentioned that,” I replied blandly.

Nicole lowered her lashes then moved from the wall and placed her hand on my hip. She played with the collar of my shirt, stealthily undoing a button before I caught her wrist.

“I’ve never told you this, but I’ve had a crush on you for a while, Evan. You were in a few group pics Amanda had online back when she and Derek were together. I couldn’t believe we went to the same school. I was too nervous to introduce myself, but I watched your games and…I like you. That’s all.”

She gripped the back of my neck and kissed my throat, licking a path along my Adam’s apple as her hand drifted to my crotch.

Okay. Wow. Well, I could honestly say no one had ever pursued me quite so enthusiastically in a long time. Nicole was sweet and pretty, and I hadn’t been with a girl in forever. My epic libido alone should have steered me straight. Pun intended. And though I was flattered, I wasn’t interested, which was hard to explain without being painfully honest.

I grabbed her hand and shook my head. “Sorry. I can’t. I—I am seeing someone.”

“You are?” she asked in bewilderment.

“It’s new and I don’t want to mess anything up.”

“Oh. Do I know her?”

I squinted as though the gesture might help me understand the question. This was a “coming out” moment, but it wasn’t the one I wanted. There was no way I’d tell a girl I barely knew about the guy I liked before I told my family and my best friends. So I took the easy way out.

“No. I don’t think so. Um…I should go. I’ll see you at school.”

She reached for my wrist and sidled close again. “If it’s new, I’m going to assume I still have a chance. Call me if something changes.”

I kissed her cheek before I left, which in retrospect might have been a mistake. In my mind, I wasn’t sending mixed signals. I was just relieved I’d said what I needed to, and I thought I’d been fairly clear. Not bad, considering I was completely out of my depth. I didn’t know how to tell a girl I wanted a guy.

The alley behind Mitch’s garage was dark and narrow. I didn’t do well with dark and narrow. I paused to wipe my slick palms on my jeans and give myself a quick pep talk before slowly turning onto what felt like the initial part of a scary as fuck ride at an amusement park. Or a rotten trip down memory lane. My heart beat like a jackhammer and sweat beaded my forehead halfway in. I fully intended to circle around, park on the street and tiptoe through the side gate to get to his place. But then I spotted Mitch waiting for me and just like that, I could breathe again.