Hazed (Palm South University)

“Exactly,” I say. “Maybe you try doing your first year sober, see what you think of it.”

He nods, and already I can see the wheels turning in his head. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I just might.”

Just then, Camron pops out of his seat and tugs on Erin’s dress. “Miss Erin, will you come to the bubble gum machine with me?” He holds up a shiny quarter. “Dad gave me a quarter to get some!”

Erin smiles, folding her napkin and setting it on the table before she stands. “I’d be delighted to.” Then, she pauses, looking at Cole. “You want to come, too?”

He shrugs, but I can see it in his eyes that he doesn’t want to be left out.

“I saw a claw machine over there,” Erin says. “Bet we can win one of those stuffed cars. Wanna try?”

Cole smiles, and then slides out of his chair and follows Erin and Camron over to the toy machines by the hostess stand.

The minute they’re gone, all eyes are on me.

I blink. “What? Do I have something in my teeth?”

“More like you’ve got a giant black stamp mark on your forehead that reads idiot,” Carleton says, which makes Janae chuckle.

I narrow my eyes. “Okay?”

“Why haven’t you married that girl yet?” Clayton asks, and the blood drains from my face as I look at Erin over his shoulder.

“Who, Erin? We’re just—”

“Friends?” Mom says on a laugh. “Sure. And I’m sober.”

The words are punctuated with a hiccup that makes everyone chuckle.

I shake my head, running a hand over my fade as I sit back in my chair. “It’s complicated, guys. And you’re going to make it more so if you start acting weird, so don’t.”

“Well, my advice, son?” Mom says, leaning over the table to tap my hand. “Uncomplicate it. Tell her how you feel. The way she’s been looking at you all day, my gut tells me your confession won’t be one-sided.”

I smile, but my stomach sinks at everything I can’t tell them. To them, it’s simple. Erin and I are young and attracted to each other, end of story.

But we have history.

Hell, we just started being cordial with each other again.

I know I have to tread lightly, or I won’t just blow my chance with her romantically, but I’ll lose her altogether.

My throat dries at the thought.

There’s a sudden squeal from the hostess stand, and we all turn just in time to see Camron reach into the claw machine and pull out a stuffed car. He hoists it over his head victoriously and sprints toward us while Erin and Cole stay back. Erin holds up her hand, and Cole high-fives it, hanging his head shyly afterward.

But he’s wearing a smile.

And when Erin lifts her eyes to mine, she’s wearing one, too.

I hold her gaze the whole way as she and Cole walk back over to the table, her cheeks reddening more and more. And when she sits down next to me, a chip hits me in the neck from the other side.

I turn and find Clayton making big, expressive, don’t be an idiot eyes at me.

Trust me, little brother.

I’m trying not to.

After dinner, I drop the family back off at their hotel, giving each of them a big hug. They fly out early tomorrow morning, but I’ll see them all again soon for graduation.

“Take care of my boy,” Mom tells Erin when they hug.

“I think it’s him who takes care of me,” she answers.

“As he should.”

I take Erin home next, both of us silent the car ride to the condo she’s sharing with Ashlei and Jess downtown. It isn’t until I park in the twenty-minute parking in front of the building and put the truck in park that I realize she’s been crying.

She thinks she’s hiding it from me, the subtle swipe of her thumb across her cheekbone to catch the lone tear, but I see the remnants of it shining in the streetlight when I round the truck and open her door for her.

We walk up to the building in silence, stopping just outside the door.

She looks up at me with a pitiful smile.

And I just pull her into my chest.

Everything in her releases once she’s in my arms, a heavy sigh and shake of her head letting go of the tension she’s been holding. I just grip her tighter, running my hand through her hair.

“I know you’re not okay,” I say softly. “And we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. But thank you for coming today, for putting up with my family,” I add with a chuckle. “I hope it helped.”

Erin pulls back, and though I long for her warmth as soon as it’s gone, I step back, too, giving her space.

“It did, it really did. Your family…” She smiles, shaking her head. “They’re wonderful.”

“It hasn’t always been this way.”