Alka Lennon
Hey. What do you have planned today?
Shit. Didn’t realize the time. Sorry.
I grin.
Hansley Bardot
No plans yet. What’s up?
Alka Lennon
Oh, good. Hope I didn’t wake you. We’re having some friends over for food and pretending to watch sports things. Want to come over?
Laughing, I answer.
Hansley Bardot
Sounds good. What time? What should I bring?
Alka Lennon
Anytime is fine.
Hansley Bardot
You’re going to need to be more specific. Ten minutes and three hours are very different.
Alka Lennon
lol An hour?
I glance at the clock. That’ll be nine o’clock. That’s awfully early for ‘sports things’ but honestly, the longer I linger at home, the more I’m going to beat myself up and there’s literally nothing I can do right now.
Hansley Bardot
Sounds good. Want me to bring anything?
Alka Lennon
Nope. We have it covered.
I lay in bed a little longer, thankful that I don’t have to stay here any longer than I have to. The walls feel like they’re glaring at me. There’s a loud echo in the house and I imagine it’s a future that I promised Jessica that I’m not going to deliver.
Pushing myself up, I run through the shower and leave the house. This time I take my truck. It’s more realistic when I plan to bring more than one bag with me. Despite Alka saying I don’t need to bring anything, I am going to stop at the store.
It’s slightly after nine when I pull into Alka’s driveway. He’s not far from where I live, which I hadn’t known. I knock on the door and look around as I wait. There are no less than three FOR SALE signs that I can spot from where I’m standing. I raise a brow. That seems awfully high for a nice neighborhood like this.
The door opens and I’m staring at… I have no idea who he is. He’s oddly familiar and yet, I’m positive I don’t know him. Maybe I’ve seen him around campus? I must have knocked on the wrong house.
He smirks. “Hi, Coach.”
Well, at least that confirms that he’s a student. “Hello,” I return as I try to place him.
It’s clear he finds me amusing. Stepping back, he gestures for me to come in and I step into the kitchen where Alka is. Okay, right house.
“Hey,” Alka greets, smiling. “Find us okay?”
