“Bro, they’re looking for some muscle to help with the kegs downstairs. You almost ready?” Corey pops his head into my room.
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a bit. Hey, man, did you catch up with Zah and her friend?”
“I ran into her friend Arlene in the cafeteria, she’s her roommate. I gave her my number and told her what to look out for. She said your girl was fine, just a little shaken up. I think when Jason tipped the ball, it took some of the speed off as it slipped through his hands.”
“Bro, it wasn’t a dart. It was a floater. Jason was complaining they were stinging his hands. I took some of the heat off,” I say, hoping like hell I only hurt her feelings.
“I hope so. Maybe she’ll feel up to coming out tonight and you can apologize in person. Jason is going to have to tighten up on those butterfingers, though, if we’re going to make a bowl this year.”
“You’re telling me. It’s no wonder they’ve been recruiting new receivers so hard,” I snort.
Corey raps his knuckles on the doorjamb as he laughs. “See you downstairs, bro. Tonight is gonna be epic,” he croons and turns to walk away.
I stand and walk over to the mirror in my room. I run my hand through my wet locks as they curl and wave wildly around my face. For all the confidence I give off, I’m nervous as fuck when it comes to the thought of Zah showing up for this party.
I flex my pecs. I’m a lot bigger than I was the last time she saw me back home. Does she like shit like this? Should I cut my hair?
Fuck.
Why does she fuck with my head so much? It should be easy between us since I’ve known her all my life. Zahirah is the only girl who can make me blush and turn my stomach into knots. Yet I seem to put my foot in my mouth every time she’s near me.
“Pull it together, bro,” I say to my reflection.
I shrug my thoughts off and head to get dressed. There’s no way she’s coming tonight after getting hit in the head. Besides, tonight I need to break things off with Carly.
The tantrum she threw when my sister called was a turnoff. My family will always come first. That includes Zah.
It’s time I bring an end to our annoying situation. It’s been a long time coming. What’s the point in dragging it out?
Tossing on a pair of jeans shorts and a polo shirt, I then shove my feet into a pair of high-top sneakers. I spray on some cologne and brush my hair to try to tame it. One last glance in the mirror and I’m off to help out downstairs.
I try my best to clear my mind of what happened earlier and the call from my little sister. Tomorrow I’ll figure out how to make things right with Zah. Her birthday is coming soon.
Maybe I’ll get her something nice or take her out somewhere. She doesn’t know the area yet. She might like that. A new memory.
“Yo, Bent, where you been? I could use your help, man,” Dustin calls as I come down the stairs.
“I’m here now. What do you need?”
“I have two more kegs that need to go out back. The DJ needs a table and there’s something wrong with the bathroom down here again.”
“I’ll get him the table. We should lock that bathroom for the night, send everyone upstairs. Let’s get to those kegs after I bring in the table. Cool?”
The guys call me the organizer. They all act as if they can’t putAandBtogether without a coach. As team captain, I’m used to it.
“Yeah, that works. I’ll lock the bathroom. That’s a good idea. It will only be busted halfway through the night anyway,” he says and heads to lock the bathroom.
I get to work on my tasks and have the DJ set up in no time. It’s as I’m helping with the last two kegs that I feel eyes on me. I turn to find Carly staring at me.
Yup, this ends tonight. Perfect timing.
CHAPTER 5
Jealousy
Bentley
“So wait,you brought me up here to dump me?” Carly seethes, tossing her long hair over her shoulder as she sits on my bed.
