“I can make us some lunch before I jet. Make you a sandwich for dinner too, since I’ll, uh, be gone.”
He’s so paranoid after the shit that went down last weekend, he’s planning to sleep at the football house all weekend to make sure his roommates don’t behave like oversexed monkeys.
“I can feed myself. Don’t worry about me.” For some reason, I feel choked up. I’ve barely seen him this week. By the time he gets home at night, I can barely keep my eyes open. I’d rather hang out for a few minutes before he heads back to campus than eat.
“Let me feed you. It won’t take long to make some sandwiches.” He heads to the kitchen while I curl up on the couch.
I don’t realize I’ve fallen asleep until I wake up to the setting sun streaming through the front windows. My sandwich is on the coffee table, and Olly’s gone.
51
OLLY
Staring at the ceiling, I lie in bed and listen to my noisy roommates. Someone’s playing video games downstairs. Someone else is having sex, probably on the second floor. Someone else is taking a shower.
How the hell did I ever get any sleep here?
I punch my pillow and flop on my side, wishing I could be at Maggie’s. After I finished making us lunch today, I found her completely conked out on the couch. I ate, got ready for practice, and kissed her on the forehead, but she didn’t budge. Figured she needed her rest. I called her after practice, but it went to voicemail. Judging by how early she’s going to sleep these days, I figured she was fine, but I called Cam to check on her just in case. He said she was holed up in the kitchen, studying and trying to make up for lost time.
Staying here last weekend is literally the worst thing I could’ve done. I see that now. Maggie doesn’t make demands of me, but the less I’m around the house, the greater the distance in our relationship. While she says she believes I wasn’t unfaithful, I know Sebastian sowed some doubt. If the roles were reversed and I saw pics of some of her ex-boyfriends rolling around naked in Maggie’s bed, it would’ve flipped me out too.
It didn’t help that I didn’t pick her up for her appointment. Although I could’ve sworn I wrote down the time correctly.
Hopefully on Sunday, Maggie and I can finally hang out. I figure Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are the key party nights around here, so I’m planning to babysit for a while until I’m sure the guys can be trusted. My old roommates always took games seriously and didn’t get outrageous until afterwards, but a few of the new guys are sophomores, and I’m not sure they’ve got their priorities straight yet.
Maggie has been strangely unemotional about me staying here. Told me to do what I need to do. That’s it.
I have to admit being in this position is unusual. Usually my girlfriends complain I’m never around. Amelia bitched about it constantly. Not Maggie. Taking her to the doctor’s is the only thing she asked of me this week, and I’m bummed I fucked it up.
The next morning is a drag. Getting ready for a game I can’t play sucks balls.
Cam nudges me on the way to the field. “I feel like shit for getting you in hot water with Maggie and Coach. It’s not fair that I did all this dumb crap, but I get to play this afternoon and you don’t.”
“Don’t you dare say a word and make it worse. At least you and Billy will play. I’ll take my licks.”
It’s a tight game. The crowd is insanely loud. I spot my parents, and they wave, smiling. It’s cool that they came even though I won’t get any time on the field. They love this team, and they’ll support it come rain or shine. I look around for Maggie and realize I never gave her a ticket. Fuck.
This week was so busy and intense with classes really getting going, but that’s no excuse. It’s possible she wouldn’t have come anyway. Games are exhausting, and she’d have to do a lot of walking, which she’s not supposed to do. But I would’ve liked to have given her the choice.
We win by a hair, but a win’s a win.
Santos walks by me. Pauses. Turns back. “Be ready for next week.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And no more black eyes.”
He’s gone before I can respond, but I’m so relieved to play again, I laugh.
“Michael!” I turn to see my parents and trot over to them. Before this knee injury, I would’ve leapt up into the stands, but now I can’t take any chances.
“Thanks for coming,” I yell up to them.
“Want to go for dinner?” my mom asks as she digs through her purse.
“Sure. Give me half an hour.” I wonder if they’d mind if I invited someone. “Would it be okay if I asked Magnolia to join us?”
My mom motions behind her. “We saw her a little while ago and invited her. She said she had to get home. I’m afraid she’s still upset with us.”
