Page 4 of Jocked Up

Drake drove into his sister’s driveway a few miles away and sat in the truck for a moment, shell-shocked from the evening. Used to adoring women willing to do anything for a moment of his time, he thought Bethany wouldn’t be any different. He’d seen her in the kitchen that afternoon and assumed she’d snuck in to see him. He knew she hadn’t when he saw the dress but thought maybe that it had been an excuse to see him.

He’d seen her and some of those teenage hormonally charged memories had flooded through his mind. Thoughts of that one night they’d spent together had him ready for round two. They’d had a night that had lingered in his memory but his friends had called, life had called, and for a young man on his way to stardom that hometown girl couldn’t compare to the lure of parties and more women than he could handle.

But seeing her again he’d wondered if he’d made a mistake. She seemed to have her life in order but she was so angry. He couldn’t remember Bethany being that angry before.

“Wow.” He said out loud as he climbed out of the truck and went into the house. “I must have done a number on her.”

He had been after just another roll in the hay when he asked for the date but as the day had progressed he’d changed his mind. He really wanted to know more about the woman with the beautiful pixie face and the air of ethereal mystery. Something about her drew him in and it was more than just how beautiful she was. Older and wiser, her body more mature, Bethany had been a monument of control.

Drake was self-confident, years of women throwing themselves at him had taught him all he needed to know about how to get a woman. But Bethany had thrown all of that back at him, and told him to go suck it, to boot. Well, no, she hadn’t been so crude but she probably was thinking it in her head. She used to swear like a sailor, he remembered with a laugh, now she blushed when she said a swear word. He bet she still thought them, though. He gave a bark of laughter and went into his sister’s house.

“Well?” He heard Amelia ask before he could even sit down. “How did it go?”

Drake looked over at his dark-haired sister with the same grey eyes as his and gave a rueful smile.

“She hates me.”

“Surely not? But why?” Amelia asked in disbelief.

Drake knew he couldn’t tell his sister he’d fucked her best friend a long time ago then shot out of town like a rocket. It was a secret first of all, and second, it didn’t paint him in the best light, did it?

“Who knows, Bethany was always a strange one, wasn’t she?”

“Hm. What did you do?” Amelia’s narrowed eyes, so similar to his, let him know she wasn’t buying it.

“I brought her flowers, treated her kindly, took her to Ormand’s, and it didn’t matter what I did, I was doing something wrong.” He said, his confusion obvious. Why hadn’t it worked?

“You can’t woo Bethany that way! Sheesh, Drake! You haven’t been home in six years, you obviously forgot about life with Bethany and this little town. You have to show her you’re serious if you are. Be the kind of man she wants; the kind I know you can be.” Amelia rolled her eyes at her brother’s stupidity. “No wonder. You just took the country hick out and showed her how much money you have. You didn’t take a woman on a date; you showed her what you had!”

“What? That’s not what I did at all!” Drake protested, getting a bit offended.

“It is to Bethany. She’s fought for six years to finish school, to get a job, to provide for her son. She doesn’t have a lot; she doesn’t even have a father for Peter. And you came in with your flashy money and jewelry, those jeans that should be outlawed, by the way brother, they are not hiding any of your, ahem, assets, and your “I own it all” smile and chose a playmate for the night. No wonder she wasn’t happy.” Amelia glared at her brother. “Now I’m going to have to apologize to her. Thanks a lot Drake!”

Drake stared at his sister, confused as to what had happened. He’d just taken the woman out; he hadn’t been trying to show off. Maybe they’d taken it that way but this is just how it was out in Los Angeles, where he lived. Sighing he kicked off the black motorcycle boots on his feet and carried them to his bedroom. Now his sister was mad at him too. Great!

He wanted to show them both they were wrong but already he could feel the lure of the familiar. He’d been looking forward to coming back to his hometown but now, it was just too weird. Drake looked around and felt guilty about the thoughts running through his mind but he knew that this place was too country for him now. It wasn’t his version of normal and he almost couldn’t wait to get back to LA. He’d figure out if he even wanted to get back in Bethany’s good graces later. Right now he needed a party and a woman that could make him forget the pain and accusation in Bethany’s eyes.

Chapter Three

A few months later, as summer approached and practice session began, Drake drove his truck into the stadium parking lot, blaring his favorite country songs from his sound system. He’d gone back to LA and the life of parties, the easy women, back to his normal life. He’d wanted to go back to Bethany, he’d wanted to show her he wasn’t just the asshole she thought he was but life had got in the way, again.

He knew he’d have to be in LA for practice soon enough and it seemed silly to go back to Louisiana for a few months to try to convince a woman who hated him to give him a chance. Drake had talked himself out of going back to Louisiana before he’d even stepped out of his first class plane seat. Now it was time for some serious football, no more parties, no more women, just training, and practice.

Drake slapped the hands of his teammates, did some shoulder bumps with others, and generally did a lot of greeting as he walked out on the field after a trip to the locker room. He followed his trainer as he went through his warm-ups and when it came time for a little practice game he knew he was going to eat his teammates for dinner. He was in perfect shape, he knew the game from over a decade of living and breathing it, and he was ready for the fun to begin.

Drake was in the back of the field, easily avoiding his opponents with twists and turns when he spotted the man he was looking for at the other end of the field, in the perfect position. Leaping into the air as though he didn’t weigh close to 200 pounds of muscle, more like a ballerina with a tiny frame, Drake threw the ball, knowing it was going to reach his target without having to even look. What he didn’t see was a line-backer heading straight for his knees.

Drake and his opponent collided, and as Drake fell he twisted, trying to break away. His foot caught in something on the other man’s gear and Drake fell, his knee twisting with a loud pop that he felt go all the way through his body. A shout of anger and agony carried across the field and medics came running. Drake knew, he knew in that instant that his life had changed and he was fucked. His career was over.

* * *

I prepared for my afternoon tutoring class, a program I volunteered for at the school during the summer. School had been out for two weeks for all but those in need of some extra attention. I spent a few weeks of my summer vacation making sure they got it. I loved helping my students and when a concept finally made sense to them, the light of knowledge shining in their eyes, it was all the reward I needed.

Amelia sent a text just as I was pulling into the parking lot and I pulled out my phone, wondering what had prompted the text. She knew I was busy in the afternoons. She had my son if she needed any more proof. Amelia’s husband was an investment banker; she didn’t need to work but she watched Peter during the summer for me. As my BFF she looked at Peter as her nephew and they referred to each other in that manner. Peter loved his Aunt Amelia and the way she’d fill his afternoons with museums or other educational but fun outings. She even managed to turn a trip to a water park educational, teaching Peter about science through excursions.

Amelia could be an airhead sometimes but she wasn’t the idiot people often took her for. She was quite brilliant if people only gave her a chance. I checked the phone with a smile on my face but the smile quickly disappeared. Drake had been hurt at practice and was going into surgery. I felt a sudden pang of guilt for my treatment of him and called Amelia immediately.

“What’s going on?” I might have detested the man but he was my best friend’s brother, I had to be there for her.