“Come on, Jax,” Mandy whines.
“Yeah, Jax,” the brunette coos. “Wouldn't you like another round?”
“No!” I push them away, firmer this time. “No means no, even if it comes from a man.”
They exchange a look, then burst out laughing.
“Jax, you're so funny, even sober,” Mandy says.
“I thought you were serious for a second,” the brunette adds, giggling.
I keep protesting, but they just laugh, pulling at me, kissing, trying to drag me back inside. Eventually, they get my robe off, and Mandy tosses it over the balcony.
“Oops,” she says, laughing while the brunette starts climbing up my side like a cat.
“Are you crazy?” I seethe. “It's flippin' cold out here.”
I give up and head back inside, the girls clinging to me like barnacles.
Unbelievable!
Slamming the door behind me, I finally manage to scrape them off. They lie in a giggling heap on the floor. I storm to the bathroom to grab another robe and put it on.
“Jax!” they call out, laughing.
“No,” I snap as I return covered up. “Get out!” I shout at Mandy, pointing toward the door.
Moans and curses come from the sleeping forms scattered across the room.
“Jax,” Mandy soothes, sidling up to me. I shake her off.
“Leave!” I yell in frustration.
“What's your problem, Kingston?” my teammate Rod shouts from the pile of flesh on the other bed.
“I'm done! I want everyone out of here.”
Soft groans fill the room as bodies begin to stir. The heavy stench of sweat, sex, and alcohol lingers in the air.
Mandy and the brunette glare at me as they gather their clothes from beside the bed.
My stomach churns as I take the bag of clean laundry housekeeping dropped off and retreat to the bathroom. I strip off the robe, the second robe, and step under the spray, letting the hot water run over me. As I soap my skin, my gaze drops, and I see bites and marks scattered across my chest. Lingering reminders I can't wash away.
Freakin' fantastic!I finally decide to go home and try to fix things with my wife, and I look like this!
When I leave the bathroom, I take in the trashed motel room. Before, I'd have looked at this disgusting mess with fond memories of the fun night I'd had. Not now. Today, I'm ashamed. I don't like what I see. Every surface is stained with body fluids or spilled alcohol. There isn't even a clean spot to sit and put on my shoes. A feeling of disgust settles heavily inside me.
“Kingston,” Rod growls from the bed where he's packing his bag. “What's up with you, man? You look like you're ready to murder someone.”
“I'm heading home,” I snarl.
“You can't, dude, we've got that charity exhibition tonight.”
He's right. There's a special Christmas Day game that several players from different teams agreed to play this afternoon for charity. Participation wasn't mandatory, but I foolishly signed up. The PR team encouraged me to do so in an attempt to rehabilitate my image. But I realize now I only agreed to avoid facing Melly.
There are activities planned all week, and our families are even invited to join us, but I've been too busy pretending everything is fine.
So, the only place I'm going to is the next city. I rub my face roughly and look down at my phone again, dejected.
I've ignored her for this long; what's another day?
Sighing, I pick up my cell phone and try to call Melly again. “Come on, Melly, pick up,” I beg, but it goes straight to voicemail once more.
“What the actual h…”I throw the phone against the wall, shattering it.
