“Hey. I’m sorry for what I said the other day. Before this job all I did was surf all day. You are one of my closest friends and one amazing dude. Okay? Forgive me?”
He took a pull on his beer. “What can I say? I’m a sensitive soul. But what you said hit home. What do I do, Carter? What’s my MO? I don’t want to die having achieved nothing in life. Anyway, it got me to thinking, and I decided to set up a charity.”
“A charity?”
“Yeah. Serena was right, I’m the kind caring type and I know enough wealthy people who can keep donating to the cause, so I spoke to my father. He’s going to help me set up a charity for helping people with addictions: alcohol, drugs, sex.”
I stretched as a yawn broke over my face.
“You’d better book me a session because I have the serious horn for our missing girlfriend. It’s been forever.”
“It’s been less than a week since we slept with her.”
“That’s like forever to me. Anyway, I think what you’re doing is fantastic. I’m proud of you, man. I’ll donate a million.”
“Just like that. ‘I’ll donate a million,’.” Jayden mimicked my voice.
“You know I’m good for it and there’ll be plenty more. You need any advertising campaigns to go with it? I’ll work pro-bono. I’ve seen enough of Smith wasted that I know how to get in character.”
“There’s a lot yet to be organized but thanks for the offer.” Jayden laughed. “Now why don’t you grab a beer and come watch the game? You seem in a good mood, work going well?”
“Very well and I would love to sit and chat but it’s another 5am start tomorrow and…” I looked at the clock. “Fuck it’s 2:30am. I should have gone to the trailer and slept there.” I looked around “Where is Smith anyway?”
“Said he had a headache and went to bed. I think he’s missing Serena too.”
“Yeah, we all are. It’s the award thing tomorrow though, right? And then they’re back?”
“Yeah, thank God.” Jayden’s cell beeped.
“Booty call at this time? Someone not got the memo that we’re spoken for?
“Probably some marketing shit. Who in their right mind would interrupt a game?” He ignored his cell.
“Right, I’m off to bed myself. Catch you tomorrow.”
“Night, dude.”
I was out the second my head touched the pillow.
13
Jayden
The game over and feeling pumped my team won, I stretched out on the couch and picked up my cell. I had a message from an unknown number, no doubt some marketing shit. I clicked through and felt the blood drain from my face.
It’s me.
I came back. I know now I made a dreadful mistake. We need to talk before you do the same. Before it’s too late. I’m not leaving without seeing you, J. Not a chance, so don’t think of ignoring me. I won’t go away.
Gabby.
What the fuck did she want? I hadn’t seen her in nine years and now she wanted to talk? Well, I’d meet her all right, but she was in for a shock. Because she’d played with a boy and n
ow she was meeting a man.
We met the next day. She'd chosen a bar in a hotel just out of town. I was glad as I didn’t want anyone seeing us together. When she arrived, I was already nursing a beer at the bar. Looking at her I gasped in shock. Her once beautiful face was pulled too tight in that strange way LA women thought made them look younger. Her hair was still as blonde as when I’d last seen her, her body remained toned and her tits were pumped up like airbags and sitting way too far out of her silk tank. She did nothing for me at all. Not one thing. My cock stayed flaccid.
“Jayden.” She said a little too loudly, air-kissing me on both cheeks.