The Senior (College Years 4)

“The good ones usually don’t,” Caleb says with a slow nod, reminding me of a sage old soul. Which is some straight-up bullshit because I would never describe him in that way. “Just tell her how you feel and make it happen, Eli. I know you can do it. Pretty sure you two can work this out.”

“Yeah. Doubtful,” I say, my turn to snort this time. “She was still pretty angry with me last night.”

“You kind of deserve it,” Caleb points out. “You could’ve survived without her for the summer.”

“Maybe not,” I say, getting irritated all over again. “She hasn’t put me first in a long time, Caleb. And that was just…the final straw.”

Caleb is shaking his head, his expression one of pure disappointment. How I wish I had the basketball still in my hands so I could smack him in the face with it. “You’ve got this all wrong.”

“And you don’t know shit.” I stride toward the fence, snatching the basketball off the ground before I run down the court, jumping high and slam dunking that motherfucker, my fingers curling around the rim.

When I turn, I find Caleb still watching me, his hands on his hips, an annoyed look on his face. “You’re a

cting mad at me, when I know you’re really mad at yourself.”

“Whatever.” I jog toward him cautiously, my gaze locked on his hands. I know how he operates. He’ll try and steal the ball from me. “Maybe I should just leave it alone. I’ve chased her enough.”

The moment the words leave my lips, they feel familiar. I remember saying something similar to her when we were first together.

I was such a prick then. I swear I’ve changed. I’ve grown-up. Matured. I am solid. On top of the world. I’m not about to let a woman I’ve loved for the last four years of my life, a woman I’ve given my all to, run out on me once and for all and never look back. I have to fight for her. For us.

But how do I make this right?

“Hey!”

I turn to see Gracie and Hayden making their way toward us. Dread fills me, settling in my gut and I steel my spine, preparing myself for the verbal blast I’m sure they’re going to give me. Gracie is my homie, but she’ll side with Ava on this matter, and when she’s with Hayden? Forget it.

They’ll both come for me.

Caleb takes his advantage, swiping the ball from my hands and dashing down the court like a madman. He sinks the ball through the net within seconds, screaming in victory at the top of his lungs and making me wince.

He loves to rub it in.

“Ladies,” I say to Gracie and Hayden as they draw nearer. Their expressions are open, not full of bitterness or hatred and I take that as a good sign. “What brings you out here this fine afternoon?”

“Him.” Gracie points at Caleb and I watch as they make their way to each other, Gracie cozying up to him despite the reluctant expression on his face.

“I’m sweaty,” he warns her.

“I like it,” she murmurs before their lips meet in a kiss.

Gross. I feel like I’m eleven and watching my older brother, Ryan, kiss on one of the many girls he chased after. I didn’t understand why any guy would be interested in girls when he had sports and video games—I thought he was crazy. Girls were a mystery to me, one I wasn’t interested in.

Fast forward two years and they were an enigma I was dying to figure out.

Still don’t have them figured out, if I’m being real right now.

“Hey, Eli,” Gracie calls, once she’s done slobbering all over her boyfriend.

“Yeah?” I ask warily. My guard is up and I’m fully prepared for her to say something shitty to me about Ava.

“Are you and Ava going to be able to work it out?” She leaves Caleb and approaches me, her expression full of concern.

I shrug, trying to play it off, though I don’t know why I’m bothering. Gracie won’t give me shit, though I can feel Hayden’s assessing gaze on me.

That’s the one I have to watch out for.

“Maybe,” I say, keeping it purposely vague. Why does everyone want to know our business?