That was it. No praise. Just an I told you so.
My re
sponse was a smiling emoji, because I had no idea how to respond. I was sort of annoyed with her flippant attitude. This girl works really hard at keeping me at a distance, and the more I realize this, the more irritated I become.
Maybe I’m just irritated in general, I don’t know. Sexually frustrated? Yeah, probably. I feel like I’ve been teased and taunted for days, and I’m left standing alone with my limp dick in my hand.
Metaphorically, of course.
When we finally make it into the kitchen, Caleb offers me a hit off a weed vape he’s got tucked into the front pocket of his hoodie, but I decline. Now that I’m actually playing, and will continue to play, I don’t want to get drug tested and kicked off the team. There’s too much at stake.
Caleb always acts as if he has nothing to lose. Jackson is the same way. Booze, girls, drugs, they’ll both do it all, fuck the consequences. Caleb’s a little crazier than Jackson, though. And his recklessness is part of his appeal to the girls.
To us too. He’s always a good time.
As time drags on, I slam back a few beers, which leaves me feeling mellow, and find a chair in the living room to sit in, like a king surveying his castle. A few girls sit near me and start bombarding me with observations and questions. The beer has loosened my tongue, and I answer all of their questions, wishing I could find at least one of them attractive.
But I don’t. They’re cute, don’t get me wrong, but none of them are Hayden. And despite my mild annoyance with her, if she marched in here right now and demanded I leave with her, I would.
Women. They frustrate the shit out of me.
“Tony!” I glance up to find Jocelyn standing there, a wide smile on her face.
“Jos.” I rise to my feet and pull her into a hug, noticing all of the girls watching her with suspicion. I’m sure they view her as competition. “Where’s our boy?”
“With Jackson and Eli.” She glances over at the girls sitting on the floor and offers them a little wave. “You played well tonight.”
“I did all right,” I say modestly with a little shrug. Jocelyn’s praise means something. She’s watched me play pretty much throughout my entire football career. Her opinion matters.
“You did great. Diego said you’re going to start for the rest of the season,” she says.
“Crazy, right?” I shake my head, trying to pretend that shit doesn’t scare the crap out of me, but it does. It’s a lot of pressure, something I didn’t think I’d have to deal with as a freshman. “Coaches don’t have a choice, though.”
“Don’t let them down. Prove to them how good you are,” she says. “Take your opportunity and use it to your advantage.”
“You sound like a mom,” I say with a grin.
“That’s because I am one.” She swats my upper arm, laughing.
We both glance over at the same time to see the girls rising from the floor and leaving. The moment they’re gone, Jocelyn sends me a knowing look. “Groupies?”
“I guess. They just sat down and started talking to me.”
“Tony has a fan club.”
“I leave that shit up to Caleb.”
“Caleb is already pissing off his fan club base. He shouldn’t move on from girl to girl so quickly.”
“I guess he can’t help himself.” Caleb comes from a loving family with parents who’ve been married for over twenty years. I don’t get why he acts the way he does.
“He could, he just chooses not to.” She settles on the armrest of my chair. “Have you met anyone yet?”
“No.”
“You sure about that?” She raises a brow.
Damn it. I’m sure Diego mentioned Hayden to her.