Chapter Eighteen
Ihaven’t seen Kara for a week, and it’s been bliss. To be honest, I haven’t given her much thought after last week. Partly because I’ve been so busy with work and my classes, and partly because, well, I got invited to a party. Arugbyteamparty. I ran into Dan one day at the Hub. He walked right up to me and said, “Hey, Karen, how you doin’?”
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. He got my name wrong. That doesn’t bug me. Neither does the real reason he’s inviting me—because of Cooke. The truth is, I’m not about to miss a chance to go to arealcollege party. So, when he asked me how I was doing, I laughed and said, “It’s Quinn, but Karen is close.”
Dan chuckled. “Sorry.” He stared at me for a second, blinking. “You look nice.”
I blinked right back at him and then looked down at my outfit. Jeans and a T-shirt. My standard look Monday through Sunday. “Oh, thanks.”
“What’re you doing tomorrow night?”
I knew I didn’t have to work. “Erm, nothing?”
“You want to come to a party? It’ll be mostly rugby players and our friends.”
“Oh, wow.” I know I blushed like a crazy person. “Sure.” Then I thought,What the hell? I can’t just go to a rugby party –alone. Can I? No!“C-Can I invite my roommates?”
“Sure, the more the merrier. Give me your number, and I’ll send you the address.” He leaned closer as I recited my phone number. I heard my phone ding and knew it was Dan sending a text. “There you go. See you tomorrow.”
“Right. Great. See you.”
Oh. Em. Gee.
I quickly pulled out my phone and sent a group text to my roommates telling them about the invite. I received immediate excited responses from Lindsay and Susanna and one grumbly affirmative from Robbi. Nothing from the other two. Since then, Patsy and Kat have said they’d have to see. They both have boyfriends, so I suppose their men wouldn’t like them going to a rugby team party. At least I hope that’s all it is.
In addition to that, the barbeque that the neighbor guys promised is now going to be on Sunday. My weekend is booked solid with the party on Friday, work on Saturday, and the barbeque on Sunday. I feel like I’m starting to like my life a little bit. It could also be the fact that I think our morning walks are helping me. I haven’t lost any weight to speak of, but I feel better. I have more energy, and with that, more optimism.
I haven’t heard a peep from Cooke since that last time. I don’t know if I overwhelmed him with drama over Kara and the money card or what. Part of me would like to message him, but what would be the reason? He’s busy or else he’d get in touch with me.
Right?
Chapter Nineteen
“Yo! Listen up!” shouts Dan. “This is the girl I was telling you about, Corinne. Her best friend is Cooke Thompson, the greatest fucking fly-half in the fucking world!” He’s so loud I have to cover my ears. The other guys must agree, because they all start howling like wolves.
I start to laugh, and after the howling subsides, I correct him. “It’s Quinn, and we’re just acquaintances.”Acquaintances?Ugh, I’m a total dork. Not a surprise.
I was so nervous for this party. I wanted to get here early, but the girls told me that’s a no-no. So, it helps that I drank a couple of beers at home before we left for the party. Not only that, but Lindsay and Susanna decided I need to step up my look, so they did my hair and makeup. They wanted me to wear something more suited for a dance club, but unfortunately, the nicest “club” clothes I have are black jeggings and a black tunic. So that’s what I’m wearing. It doesn’t matter; my face and hair look spot-on thanks to their talents.
As soon as we walked in the door, the girls scattered. Robbi saw a friend from one of her classes, and Lindsay and Susanna wanted to mingle. I guess they talked to a couple of the guys that night we were at the London Underground. It’s just the four of us, since Kat and Patsy went out with their boyfriends instead. While I wish they were here, I get it.
“Queen!” shouts a half-naked man. In all fairness, most of the guys are half naked, and there’s one guy who’s completely naked. According to Dan, it’s just “how they roll.” Anyway, the half-naked man rushes toward me, wrapping me up in his arms. They rest right below my ass, so when he stands up, I feel myself being lifted from the ground.
“Oh, no….” I pat the top of his head because I’m not sure how else to get his attention; plus it’s the only part of him I can really reach. “Put me down,” I squeak. “Please?”
We’ve begun to move around the room like that. Then, suddenly, he stops and releases me.
“Here she is, cap.”
I slowly turn to face the biggest man I’ve ever seen. He’s got to be almost seven feet. Okay, maybe not quite that tall, but he’s close. My eyes roll from his stomach, where my head is, up to his face. He’s… well, he looks like he may have been in a fight or two, recently. He’s got one black eye and a white piece of tape running across the bridge of his nose. I’m about to ask him if he’s okay when he grunts, “You Corinne?”
“Quinn.”
“I’m Bull. Here.” He holds out his hand. In it is a piece of yellow cloth. “Give that to him.”
Him? “Cooke? You want me to give this to him?” I unfold the fabric to see it’s a T-shirt. An Iowa State University rugby tee, to be exact. It’s just like the ones they wore at the bar a few weeks ago. “Ask him to come here.”
“Oh, he’s in England.” No way am I asking him to come here. He’d think I was insane.
