As I reached for my towel to wipe my brow, Ty took his turn on the bench.
“So, how are things…going…with you and…”
“Ty, stop trying to talk while you’re benching.”
What I really wanted was for him to not finish his question. I knew where it was headed, and I had no interest in talking about her. But knowing him and his girlfriend, I was sure she put him up to getting some dirt out of me about Ava.
Once he was done with his set, we put the weights back and started for the locker room. It had been a two-hour workout, and we needed to get going. We had plans to go out tonight. His frat was having a party, and I was going to give it a shot.
“As I was saying before, how are things going with Ava? Any changes with you two?” Ty asked. We pulled our bags from the lockers.
Things with Ava were shitty. For reasons I was not about to tell Ty.
I hated seeing her with another guy the other day.
Hated the thought of her fucking him in our house.
Hated pretending to be OK with it.
But fucking loved seeing her in her black lingerie.
“She’s still being a bitch most of the time, still acting like Tink,” I told him. And that was true. There was a moment when I thought there might be a chance for us to get along, but she ruined it with her mouthy comments.
“Alright, enough about her. What I really want to talk about is tonight,” he said. He stopped packing up his bag, giving me his full attention. “Are you sure you want to do this, Logan? I mean, this is a full-on rager tonight. It’s the first house party of the semester. It’s gonna be exactly what you would imagine a frat party to be, and I’m not sure you’re ready for it.”
I wasn’t sure I was ready for it either, but there was only one way to find out. My therapist and I discussed it during my session yesterday at length. She suggested that I always have a bottle of water in my hand. Plus, to make sure my support system was in place and aware if I needed them. And if I needed to leave, just leave.
“Yeah, I know. I have a plan. And I appreciate it, man, I do. But I can’t stop living either. There are plenty of sober people in this world.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think many of them go to frat parties.”
He wasn’t wrong. But I knew when to get out, and I was doing too well to screw up now.
“I already decided not to drink tonight,” Ty said. He was packing up his bag when he said it, avoiding eye contact.
My gut reaction was to tell him not to do that, but I knew he wouldn’t change his mind. And to be honest, I appreciated it and was thankful I’d have him to rely on. As he threw his bag over his shoulder, I gave him a shove.
“Thanks, man.”
My ass was plantedon the couch as I waited. It was already after ten and we had a fifteen-minute drive to the party. All I heard coming from upstairs was girls screaming back and forth asking where this makeup palette was, or where that brush was. I was very happy to be a guy.
The front door burst open, and Ty walked in.
“Still not ready?” he asked.
“Nope.”
He joined me on the couch, and I put on the TV. We may as well enjoy ourselves during this torment. As soon as I did, I heard footsteps on the stairs. Long brown hair with red highlights came bounding round the corner into the living room. She made a beeline for Ty, landing on his lap, straddling him.
“Hey, babe,” she said, then attacked his mouth with hers.
“I’m right here, ya know,” I reminded them.
It did nothing to stop their reunion. They started making loud smacking noises with their exaggerated kisses, and I removed myself from the couch as they both started laughing.
“Jealous much?” Becca asked as she got up from Ty’s legs. “And by the way, don’t think I’ve given up on you and Avamaking amends.” She stalked toward me as if on a mission. “Thought tonight might help, ya know, hanging out, socializing.”
“We live together already, Bec. If that’s not going to help, going to a party where she’s gonna get drunk and look for a hookup isn’t going to help the situation.”
