Page 105 of The Cheerleader

We both stop and stare at each other for another second, then I close the door behind me. Without looking back, I walk down the hall and run into a guy in a blue-and-white striped rugby shirt with his back to me.

Standing at the end of the hallway, I block the view of anyone who might be glancing this way. I hear the opening and closing of a door behind me, and I’m certain no one saw Susie come out of my bedroom.

Walking purposefully, I put a hand on the shoulder of the striped jersey.

“Vinnie,” I say. “You need to expand your wardrobe.”

He turns with a start, and I nod at him.

He smiles. “If it isn’t the man of the hour. Have you seen Susie?” He has balls of steel asking me about Susie, or maybe he’s stupid.

“Why do you ask?” I give him a friendly warning stare to give him a chance to rethink his interest.

He shrugs. “I like her.” He raises his chin and sharpens his stare, challenging me because he’s fucking out of his mind.

“I think rugby players should consider wearing helmets, Vinnie, because you’ve been hit in the head one too many times if you think⁠—”

“The only way you could stop me from being interested in Susie is if you were married, and I don’t see a wedding ring on your finger. Beyond that, she’s up for grabs.”

The way he says she’s up for grabs strikes me like a red cape swishing in front of a bull. I grab him by the collars of his fucking striped shirt and lift him to his toes.

“Don’t you fucking even talk about her like that, or go near her. She’s not up for grabs by anyone.” Not even me. I keep my voice low as I push him into the living room.

People step aside, getting out of my way as they watch us.

He pushes against me and because he’s no lightweight, I let go of him.

He growls, “Let’s go outside and⁠—”

Eldy appears and gets between us. “Guys, you know the rules. No fighting.” He grabs me around my torso, reminding me about my earlier rib injury, and holds on. Between him and Mack and one of the defensive linemen, we’re separated, and Vinnie is escorted to the front door and advised to leave. The extra hard shove convinces him.

Eldy takes me into the kitchen, straight to Liz. “Talk some sense into this idiot,” he says to her. She gives me a look, confused but pleased, and I can see that her eyes are unfocused and her smile sloppy. Shit.

“How about if we go out and get some air?” I say.

“I was looking for you earlier. I thought you were in your room, but Eldy said you weren’t.” I can’t lie to her, so I don’t. I don’t say a word. Holding onto her arm, I take her out back.

“I was looking for Susie, too. You know where she is? Did she leave early?”

Shit. She doesn’t sound as drunk as I thought she was. I swipe a hand through my hair and think about what I can say that’s not a fucking lie. “She’s always leaving early.”

Liz snorts. “That’s true. Partying isn’t her thing, but I love her. She’s so… I don’t know.” She shrugs. I know exactly what she means, but I continue to keep my mouth shut.

“Let’s do something tomorrow,” she says. “I have nothing on my schedule.”

“That’s unheard of.”

She laughs. “I know. Once in a while, I leave a blank day, you know? Just in case I need… a break.”

“You’re wiser than you should be, Liz.”

“Let’s go for a drive.”

“Where to?” I say before I think, getting caught up in the way we used to be when we were kids, me and Liz escaping after church on Sundays into the fields.

She takes my hand. “Anywhere. Away from here. As long as it’s together. Sometimes I want to…” She trails off, but I know the words of her unfinished sentence. She’s said them too many times before. She wants to disappear.

“No. You’re doing too well, achieving so much, Lizzie.” You can’t disappear. I take her face in my hands and force her to look at me. I see the sparkle of tears in her unguarded eyes. She wipes them away and pushes my hands away in the process, laughing self-consciously.