Because he’s still in love with his dead girlfriend.
That motel might not be in the best part of town, but it’s probably safer for my heart than living with Nick.
19
NICK
“Their blindside blocks are beautiful,” Coach says as he replays the film footage of Northwestern, who we’re playing this weekend. “Notice that there’s no foul. He just slides in there between his running back and the two defenders on his tail to throw them off. There’s not much body contact, no face mask grabbing, no tackle. He’s just mucking up things for their defense, breaking their momentum.”
He flips on the light as he heads back to the podium. “Our job is to anticipate those blocks and not get frustrated.”
When Coach releases us to get taped up for practice, Jinxy mumbles, “Speaking of blocks, I got cockblocked last night. How am I not supposed to get frustrated?”
“Are you saying the apple cider vinegar didn’t work?” I smirk.
“It worked. Mostly. But let’s just say I tried a few things first that didn’t go so smoothly, so I was… tender down there.”
Maverick smacks him on the back. “Poor Jinxy. Did ya go one night without getting laid?”
As we head to the locker room, Jinxy laughs. “When you put it like that, maybe I am an asshole.”
I chuckle and check my phone in case Abby texted me about Hazel. She sent a photo, a selfie of her and Hazel fingerpainting.
“Why you smiling so big?” Jinxy asks as he opens his locker. I show him the pic, and he lifts an eyebrow. “Be honest, bro. Abby’s the reason you didn’t go home with Cricket, right?”
“Cricket’s a nice girl, but I guess I was kinda preoccupied last weekend. I just wasn’t feeling it.”
“Did your preoccupation have anything to do with your cute little nanny?”
Maverick chucks a dirty sock at Jinxy. “Who’s the cute nanny?”
“You’ve met Abby,” I say. “Blonde, glasses, likes to break into my house through the awning window.”
“The one from Moe’s, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You sleeping with her?”
I make a face. “She works for me.”
Maverick shrugs. “Is this really a problem?”
“Now that she lives with me, yes.”
Jinxy’s head jerks around. “When did this happen?”
“Saturday night when a tree crashed through her bedroom and nearly killed her. Now the house is unlivable, and her landlord kicked her and Paige out.”
“Dude, it’s fucking Thursday. I can’t believe you’ve been sitting on this news all week. So Paige and Abby are both staying with you now?”
“Paige went to her boyfriend’s place, and Abby was gonna stay at a motel, but it looked shady as fuck, so I brought her back to my house. Moved Hazel’s crap into my room so she has her own bed. Abby’s staying in Hazel’s room.”
“Convenient.”
I ignore the innuendo in Jinxy’s voice and tuck my phone in my locker. “She’s only here a few more weeks, till the end of the semester, then she graduates. I actually need to find a babysitter to take her place when she goes.” When I turn around, I find Jinxy and Maverick staring at me. “What?”
“I was just telling Mav you need to loosen up and that I self-appointed myself as team pimp to get you laid. Don’t you think Silva could benefit from a little dick TLC?” Jinxy asks Maverick.
