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“Yeah.”
“That’s awesome. I just moved back from Jersey. This is my last season though. I gotta get knee surgery at the end of July and I’m throwing in the towel after that. Gonna retire.”
Good, I think to myself.
“Hey, is that Angie and Cora over there?” He nods over to where they’re sitting on the blanket with Marco and Jay. Cora’s clearly still processing the news. His question irks me though. It better not be going where I think it’s going.
“Yeah,” I say as we round the half-way mark on our lap.
“Oh, cool. I didn’t realize you two were still friends. You’re still…just friends, right?”
Fuck. Not this again. Jared and Angie used to hook up in college pretty regularly. He’s a total fuckboy, and at the time that’s exactly what Angie wanted. So this itchy internal ache that I have when he’s around? It’s my own fault, really.
As much as I’d like to, I can’t forget that November night freshman year.
Angie was flirting with Jared at a rugby house party; it was fucking clear as day. He had his forearm pressed against the wall above her head as she leaned against the wall. His other hand was snaking up the side of her waist, lifting her sparkly pink top just enough that he could touch her skin.
Something in me snapped. I ate up the distance between us and grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her away. She protested as we wove through other students and players, but I ignored her until I got her into an empty bedroom and shut the door.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, setting down her solo cup.
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you? Jared? Hollow, really?”
“So what?” she shrugged. “He’s literally so nice and funny and…yeah, he’s fucking hot, so what if I wanna go home with him?”
“You’re a virgin.”
“I’m aware, Raf,” she said through clenched teeth. “And I’m trying to do something about it.”
“But with him?”
“Do you have a better suggestion?”
“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “Someone…you trust. Someone who really knows you.”
“You lost your virginity to Kimberly Washington last year, so don’t try and tell me my choice is any different than yours when you didn’t give a shit about her.” God, I hate when she’s right. Her eyes narrowed on me as she thought. “Someone I trust? Someone who really knows me? And who would that be, Raf?” My words dried up instantly. “Are you offering?”
“I…I think you’ve had too much to drink.” I deflected, then reached for her hand. “Let’s just… Let’s go back to the dorms, Angel.”
“No,” she said sternly, pulling her hand away from mine. “If you’re not offering, then I’m going home with Jared tonight.”
Did she not hear me call her Angel? That…that always works.
Oh my god, is she serious? Does she want me to offer? I mean, no one deserves her, that’s for damn sure, but…could I?
My papá’s voice then echoed in my head. “Women will only ruin your life, mijo. Never get close.”
Angie has always been the exception. But to cross this line, even though I’ve thought about it too many times to keep track, would be too risky. She’s the one perfect exception I’ve made to the rule; and if I cross this line with her…everything will fall apart. I know it.
Angie stood there, waiting for me to say something—anything—but I was frozen because I realized I can’t stop her. She’d made up her mind, and regrettably, so had I.
“That’s what I thought,” she choked out, then grabbed her solo cup off the dresser and left me there to melt.
“Raf?” Jared asks, nudging me in the shoulder to bring me back to our conversation. “You alright? You spaced out there for a minute.”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“So… Is Angie still just your friend?”
