"Let's wait till I actually land."
"So, this is actually it, huh?"
"Yeah, it's finally real. They told me today that I had to be there in two weeks."
"You're moving and everything. How does it feel?" he asked. I shrugged.
"I don't know. It hasn't sunk in yet. I'm still here. Maybe when I'm actually on the plane, or in the training facility or whatever, it will feel real."
"You ready to forget all of us?" he asked, smirking.
"The minute I hop on that plane, this place drops off the map," I shot back, grinning. He laughed.
"Roll out your futon once in a while for me," he said.
"Fuck that. You come to visit, you can get a hotel."
For a minute, I was glad that I let him talk me into this. I wasn't drunk, but the beer was definitely doing its job. I was actually feeling relaxed, for maybe the first time since talking to Ron. I didn't take what he was saying about meeting other women seriously. He was an expert on the subject, but even if I was looking for someone, I didn't think a one-night stand was it. I stood and walked to the bar to get our next round.
It shouldn't have surprised me when I walked back to our booth and found Don with his arm around a brunette in tight shorts. We had just fucking walked in and he already had himself a girl. I halfway wanted to admire him for it, but picking up girls was light work for him. He could do it in his sleep. I'd be surprised if he even knew this one's name.
"Oh, here he is now," Don said, as I got closer. "Rome, I was just telling Sasha here what we're celebrating tonight."
"Are you really going pro?" Her lips were glossy, her hair was long and straight, and her top was just as tight as those shorts over her tits.
"Yup. Miami Hurricanes," I said. "You watch football?"
"I love football," she said smiling. "What position?"
"QB."
"How long have you been playing?"
"My whole life, give or take," I said, looking between her and Don. I sat and she scooted closer to me.
"I'm sorry about what happened with your ex," she said. I glared at Don. He just sat there, smirking. What the hell was he thinking? What had he told this chick?
"Uh, thanks," I said.
"Don told me all about it. She sounds like a real bitch. Were you really going to turn down a shot at the league for her?"
I wasn't a violent person, but Don was testing me. I hadn’t sworn him to secrecy before saying that stuff to him, but he was baiting this chick with a sob story to get her to sleep with me. Worst part? It was working.
"That's why I brought him out tonight," he said.
"It's a good thing you got rid of her. You shouldn't be with someone who doesn't support your dreams," she said with a concerned face that I wanted to say was good acting, but I wasn't sure. Don was grinning, sitting over there like he was proud of himself.
"What better way to turn over a new leaf as a free man?" he quipped. She giggled and slid closer to me.
"I'd say. Don told me you’re leaving," she said.
"In a couple weeks."
"Well," she said, sliding even closer. Her knee touched my thigh. "Guess it's lucky we both ended up here tonight." She was flirting with me. I had been off the market long enough to notice that. Tonight, we were celebrating. Tonight, I wasn’t off the market. The girl was cute and she was willing. Where was the harm in flirting back?"
"How about I buy your next drink," I said. She smiled and said she'd love that. She slid even closer, resting her hand on my thigh. It felt weird doing this. I had never had to pick a girl up before, it hadn’t happened like that with Veronica and she had been my last serious relationship. That wasn't even what I was trying to do, was it? Don stood suddenly, telling us he'd be right back.
"Are you going to make me look bad this time?" he whispered as he passed me.