Page 42 of Notorious Man on Campus

Filling a mug with steaming black coffee I take a seat in the small café with Majik.

“There’s a wedding party brunch Kace invited us to in an hour. I don’t suppose you want to go?” Majik doesn’t give a hint as to whether she wants to go and I can’t think straight enough to figure her out this morning. I’m not sure which fate is worse, spending the next three hours at a festive wedding brunch with a room full of people who all know I slept with Brick and now feel sorry for me as the latest in the long line of his romantic rejects, or riding in a car trapped in close quarters with people who all know that I slept with Brick, that he deserted me. And that it’s breaking my heart.

I already heard from Dylan that he’s giving me and Majik a ride home. She hasn’t mentioned it and neither have I.

“I suppose it depends on whether or not Dylan wants to stay since he’s driving,” I say. Brave words.

“I suppose you’re right.” She pauses, takes another sip of her coffee while I hold my breath because I know she’s not finished. “Want to talk about it?”

I shake my head and look down at my coffee. Not fucking ever. I’m so ashamed and I don’t even know why. Because I’ve disappointed her by succumbing to Brick? Because I’m that stupid girl who thought I was different? Willow thought she was different and I see what happened to her. She’s nothing more than a problem he needs to solve.

But that’s who I’ve always been to Brick, a great big problem. Except for a few blissful hours last night. A secret thrill runs through me causing an automatic upturn of my mouth in spite of everything. No way can I allow myself to be sad or discouraged when I have last night in my head and most of all in my heart. There may be hope for Brick because he was capable of that last night, all the tenderness couldn’t have been faked.

“Let me know when you change your mind,” she says. “And for the record, I’m not judging you. I was young once.” I lift my head to see a sassy smile on the face that looks more out of place than a Hawaian shirt on a snowman. I give a snort-laugh.

“You were never as foolish as I am.” Though at the moment I can’t drum up the foolish feeling since it’s being actively crowded out by the delicious memories of Brick’s hands on my body. I can’t imagine the solid self-posessed woman, wise and cool, sitting in front of me, getting foolish over a guy.

“Like I said, I was young once with all that implies, including the foolishness. I didn’t get where I am today without learning some hard lessons and paying some steep tolls.”

“You had your heart broken?” It’s not so bad to talk about when it’s about her too.

“More than once.” She heaves a sigh. “Don’t give up hope, Nyla. Some things are worth the effort. That’s all I’m saying on the subject.”

It’s just enough to tantalize my pounding heart, already on the rebound, enough to pump it up to a semblance of its former self, because I think she’s talking to me specifically about Brick even if she doesn’t say. I think her message is about us, that maybe she knows more than I had imagined about both of us. I don’t dare ask because she’s closed the subject, but it’s like she has the answers somewhere behind that door and she’s making me work to find the secrets to getting where I want on my own.

But she thinks I can get there. She thinks I can unlock Brick’s heart and soul.

And so do I.

Or I’ll kill my own heart and soul trying.

* * *

Because it’s a wedding celebration and Kace and Glory’s friends are more polite than curious, the brunch passes without anyone asking me about Brick. His name comes up in conversation of course, after the debacle he made of the ceremony, but people are making jokes about it now and the whole interruption to declare that he knows why the couple shouldn’t get married is now another notch on his notorious reputation for being bold and cold.

I’m half amused and half screaming inside that he’s a hurt and sad little boy deep inside who needs to break free. I double up my resolve to be the one to break him out of his emotional shackles because I know what’s at stake and I know the kind of caring and passion that’s jailed inside, only let out in bursts of friendship, family loyalty and passion for football.

And last night in bed with me.

On the ride home, the night’s activities and the emotional drain of the aftermath of Brick’s desertion allow me to fall asleep almost instantly in the back seat of Dylan’s uncomfortable Jeep Wrangler. As soon as I stumble into the back door of BMOC House I head through the kitchen to my room and collapse on my bed. I’m wide awake now and my head buzzes.

It’s funny that even after such a short time knowing him, the first person I want to call is Dooley. And just hearing the tragic tenor of my voice he tells me he’ll be right over.

* * *

I tell Dooley most of what happened except about my virginity because some things are sacred. He commiserates and even though he’s loyal to Brick he doesn’t understand why he’d do this to me, break his rule about innocent women.

“It makes no sense,” he says as he paces. His phone pings and he slips it from his pocket while I wonder if I should tell him something about Brick’s past, though I’m not sure what he already knows. But his face goes tight as he scrolls his phone.

“Social media is all abuzz about the wedding on #SPUSportsTok. We got a few vids of the wedding, the bride and then another of Brick and you dancing put up by one of Glory’s cousins.” I sit up, alert while he gives me the running commentary as he continues his pacing. We’re both tense now as if we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“There’s a duet to the cousin’s vid and it’s put up by an account I don’t know. It’s nasty and suggestive and all about what happens next between you two with frightening accuracy.” He looks up and stops. Then he sits with me on the bed and shares his phone.

“And there’s a prediction that you are the next Brick vic—as in victim. There’s #manwhore and a slew of other hashtags.” He rubs his face and looks pensive.

“Dools, we need to get this vid taken down right away. This is exactly the kind of exposure Brick warned about. Can we report it or block it?” Whatever stupid self-pity gripped me is gone. Brick may be a prick, but he’s a wounded human being first and I can’t help my need to protect him.

“Look at you going all mamma bear,” Dooley says. “Unfortunately you’re right. It already has over a thousand views though. I hope it’s not at that tipping point where TikTok puts it in people’s for you stream.”