“Um, yeah. We’ve been friends with her for over four months now, I think we know her name,” Dylan says, answering so I don’t have to.
He shakes his head, scratching the back of his neck. “There’s this guy on O-line dating a girl named Alondra. Just odd you both are talking to a girl with the same name.”
I suck in a sharp breath, but it’s not like I didn’t already know Bradley was telling people they’re still together. “Same girl, but they’ve been broken up for about a year.”
Seth doesn’t look any less confused. “Wait, are you serious? Honestly, it makes sense they’re not together since no one has seen her around. Good for her for breaking up with him, though. The way he talks about her is disgusting.” He grimaces, taking a sip of his beer, and I try to keep my anger in check.
At least I know Johnny isn’t friends with him anymore. He came to me a couple days after the day at the rink and apologized for bringing him there. Said he’d never seen Bradley like that, and he didn’t want to be friends with someone who could talk about women that way.
Dylan casts a quick glance at me. “We’ve got a pretty good idea.”
I’m positive Coop told him what happened because I refused to repeat it. Part of me wishes I’d hit him, but the other part of me is glad Coop held me back. I don’t know if I would have been able to stop once I started.
“He’s a fucking asshole,” I say, taking a drink of water to try washing away the bitter taste lingering in my mouth.
“Can’t say I’m a fan of the guy, but he’s sure saved my ass from getting flattened a few times,” Seth says, picking at the peeling label on his bottle. “What I don’t get is why tell people they’re still together? No one cares if you get dumped, but it’s fucking weird to still claim her a year later.”
I bite my tongue, not trusting myself to say anything without giving away what he would do to Al. I know how hard it is for her to talk to people about it, and I don’t think she’d appreciate me telling Seth anything.
I look at my phone again as Dylan answers, “Who knows.”
“Who do you guys play next?” Seth asks as the music playing in the background changes.
“We fly to Boston Friday morning, and get back Saturday night,” I say, glad for a change in conversation.
“I hate away games. I mean traveling is fun and all, but it gets exhausting when it’s every other week,” Dylan says, and I roll my eyes.
“Flying is better than the bus,” I remind him. I still wish it were a home game, though. Just means more time away from Al.
Goddamn, when did I start measuring time on whether it meant I got to see Al or not?
“Fair.”
I’m a little worried about sitting next to Coach on the plane. He hasn’t been acting differently toward me since Al’s trip to Texas, but we also haven’t had to sit next to each other for three hours yet. Still, I wouldn’t trade the time with her for anything.
I finally cave, checking my phone again, but there’s no notifications.
“Schultz, are you sure you guys are just friends, because you’re definitely acting like you’re in a relationship,” Seth muses, and Dylan laughs.
“No, they’re just friends because Jack is still too much of a pussy to admit he has feelings and wants a relationship with her.”
I scowl at him because he doesn’t get it.I’m trying.I’m trying so fucking hard to get there with her, but I freeze up every time I think about putting that label on us. Relationships mean falling in love, and love leads to heartbreak. I don’t want to hurt Alondra. It’s the last thing I would ever want to do.
I’m trying to protect Al because I’m terrified of what I feel for her. She deserves someone who knows how to love her, but the idea of Alondra being with anyone else causes my stomach to twist in knots.
What can I offer her, though? All I know is the destruction from loving someone.
Momma was a ghost walking through life for months after Dad went to prison. She tried her best, and I was never neglected, but she was destroyed.
Al has been through the same hell, and I want her to only know happiness.
I’m trying to get there, but I can’t promise her anything, especially when I don’t even know if that’s what she wants from me? For all I know, Al doesn’t want to be anything more than my fuck buddy, even if it hasn’t felt like that ever.
“Fuck off, Dylan,” I snap, tugging a hand through my hair. I’m being a dick, but Dylan’s pushing too hard about this. My phone vibrates on the table, and I feel a rush of relief at the sight of her name.Thank god.
Alondra
can I sleep over?
