“She didn’t mention, uh, douchebag, when I invited her. And if she doesn’t fit in with your closest group of friends, then she isn’t for you. Why don’t you let it be and see how she does?”
“I’m going to Ole Miss soon. I don’t have time to know her or see if she fits. There is no point. She’s going off to California or some shit.” And she knew me in a way no one else did. She knew my weakest moment, my darkest moment. That gave her a power over me that I wasn’t brave enough to explore.
Brady was silent a moment. “I can’t uninvite her now. You know that.”
“Fuck.” He was right, of course, but damn, he had messed up my night.
“Just let her come. Riley is looking forward to meeting her. I’ll tell Riley to bring her in and make her feel welcome. You can play the Xbox and do your thing. The girls will take care of her.”
That was the only thing that I could do.
“Whatever,” I said, then ended the call. I was more angry at myself for telling Brady about Ezmita than I was at Brady. I should have been clear with him that I wasn’t planning on pursuing anything with her. He had taken my interest in her too far. The spark of excitement about having her here was going to be ignored. I didn’t have time to start wanting to see Ezmita.
Opening the door, I walked back inside. West and Nash were standing there with bottles of water, watching me. When had my friends become so damn nosy? I shook my head and went back to the sofa where I had been sitting.
“So, is she coming?” Nash asked.
I just nodded.
West chuckled and I sat there and ate while debating if I should go get a shower and change. In the end, my determination to not give a shit won out, and I beat West’s ass in a Madden game.
Two hours later the apartment was full, and everyone was there except Brady, Riley, and Ezmita. Each time someone had knocked and then opened the door, I could feel Nash’s eyes on me. He was expecting me to look to see who it was. I didn’t. I wanted to, but I’d be damned if they’d see me care. I would be nice to Ezmita, but I wasn’t about to do what all of them had done. Get serious with a girl and lock down for life. Falling in love was dangerous shit, and I was not going there.
Falling in love and getting serious was not for me. Especially with a girl I’d probably never see again after I left for Mississippi.
Just as I walked over to grab a brownie and watch Ryker take on Gunner at another game, the door opened. I didn’t need to look to see who it was. There was only one last arrival. It had to be her… or them. I stuck most of the brownie in my mouth, walked back to the empty beanbag beside Ryker, and sank down into it. I needed a moment to plan how to handle this. Then I’d “realize” she was here and go be nice. Hopefully Riley was prepared to take the lead after that.
JUNE 23, 2020 Gunner, Honey, Shut Up
CHAPTER 14
EZMITA
The smell of pizza filled the air as I followed Riley inside the apartment. Finding words to get out of this had been an impossible feat for me. So, here I was at Nash Lee’s house. Cheering mixed with cursing came from the group of guys huddled around the biggest flat-screen television I had ever seen. They were playing football, of course, but a video game version. I knew that game well. My brothers played the newest Madden regularly. I was the champion in our house, though.
“You’re late, bro!” a voice called out. “Come dominate Gunner before I glue his cocky-ass mouth shut.” The voice belonged to Nash Lee. Tonight’s host. Oh God, I wished I was anywhere at this moment but here. I didn’t know them and I didn’t fit here. I didn’t know how to fit here. I was so new at this kind of thing, and learning how to do this in front of Asa was nerve-racking.
Riley took my arm. “Come on over here. I’ll introduce you to the ones not consumed with testosterone and football.”
I wanted to hug her. I hadn’t even been able to look in the direction of Asa. I knew where he was. I’d seen him walking with a brownie in his mouth when we entered the apartment. I had cut my eyes away quickly. Did he know I was coming? Would he be mad I came to what was obviously a close-friends-only party? Had Brady Higgens asked me as a favor or a joke?
No. Brady wasn’t mean. I didn’t know him, but I knew of him. Everyone loved Brady. I focused my attention on the other girls in the room. They were on the sofa and two leather chairs that sat across from the sofa. Food covered the coffee table between them, and they all seemed so comfortable and relaxed. Unlike me.