Twelve

Max

What the fuck did I just call her for and offer her a ride? I’m obviously losing my mind. Maybe I have a brain tumor, so I call Denise, who doesn’t answer, so I leave her a voice mail.

“Hey, when you get a brain tumor do you do stupid things and things you would never do? Call me back,” I say and disconnect.

I pick my stuff up and head out to the rink. There’s nothing like a skating session and workout session. For the next three hours, I skate hard with Alex, Andre, Brendan, and David. We go through plays that Coach makes us do and at the end of it, I’m dripping with sweat as I sit down and drink Gatorade. By the time I walk back into my apartment it’s almost seven. I go to the kitchen, taking out stuff to make my supper as Stanley comes out of hiding. I’m cutting up the vegetables when my phone rings and I see it’s Allison. I stop midair, not knowing if I should answer or not. It seems my brain doesn’t think as fast as my fingers because I press talk and then put her on speaker.

“Yeah,” I say, continuing to prepare my veggies.

“I’ve just spent the last three hours trying to watch Game of Thrones and I still don’t get the fuss.”

I laugh. “Why are you watching it then?” I ask her as I wash off my hands and grab a pan to fry them in.

“I saw you watching it on the bus and every Monday morning my Facebook feed is filled with talks of how this is the best show ever and yet I’m thinking did he just fuck his sister?”

“So, you see it on my phone and want to watch it. Good thing I wasn’t watching gay porn.” I laugh, turning the stove on.

“Very funny. But honestly, why is this so popular?”

“Because it’s fucking good,” I tell her, tossing the veggies in the pan. “I don’t think I can really explain it. The storylines all intertwine, and which other show is badass enough to kill off the popular people?” I say as the veggies start sizzling.

“I just don’t get it, really. Okay, fine, I’ll try another couple of episodes and let you know.”

I laugh at her. “Okay. Have a nice night.”

“Well, I guess that depends on the rest of the episodes. I’ll let you know.” She hangs up, and two seconds later calls back again. “I’m going in tomorrow morning.”

I look at the phone. “Okay.”

“Are you?” she asks me and I stand here and wonder why. “I just thought if you are and I’m on the way, you would pick me up, but no biggie,” she says, speed talking. “I’ll just Uber it. Later.” She hangs up without giving me a chance, so I call her back and it goes to voice mail.

“I’ll pick you up at nine,” I say on her voice mail.

She only answers an hour later with a text while I’m signing shirts for Denise.

If it isn’t going out of your way that would be great.

See you then.

I answer, signing the last shirt. I close up, going to my room, and watching television, or the television watches me because when my alarm rings the next day the television is still on and the remote is on the floor. I grab a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, throwing a sweater on as I walk out the door, adjusting my cap. Once in the car I take off my sweatshirt, seeing it’s too warm outside. I make a run to get coffee. When I make it to Allison’s I park in front again and text her I’m here. I wait five minutes and nothing happens, so I get out and go to the door, ringing the bell. Once, twice. I’m about to ring it a third time when I see her running to the door and opening it.

“I’m so sorry. I overslept. My fucking phone died in the middle of the night even when it was on the charger.” She turns around and runs up the stairs, and I watch her ass shake.

I have no idea what she is wearing, but my cock has taken full notice. It’s like a one-piece booty short outfit, with long sleeves.

“Give me ten minutes I’ll be ready!” she yells from somewhere upstairs, then comes out, leaning down. “You can wait in the kitchen if you want or the living room.”

I don’t answer her and I don’t move from the spot at the door. I look down at my cock and scold him. “She’s in the no fly zone, buddy.” He twitches on his own, basically saying “fair game.”

She comes downstairs five minutes later, wearing tight jeans and a T-shirt.

“Did you brush your teeth?” I ask her as she puts on her shoes. She looks over and shows me her clean smile.

“It’s the only thing I did. That and deodorant.” She ties up her hair in a messy bun. She runs to get her bag and comes back in with her jacket over her arm. “Done.”

I shake my head and laugh at her as we walk down to the truck. As soon as she gets in, she sees the coffee.

“Oh my God,” she moans. “Lifesaver.”

And with the moan, my cock is stirring again. I close my eyes and picture a bat with nails aiming for my junk. We walk in together and each go our own way and for the next six hours I’m busy with practice and working out. I’m walking out of the shower when I grab my phone as I sit down on my bench. I have a couple of texts, one from Denise, another from Steve, and another one from Allison.

I read Denise’s first.

Who told you that you have a brain tumor??

I laugh and then read Steve’s.

Finally got the tickets to the game Saturday. See you there.

I answer him back right away.

Great, see you then. I press send when another text comes from Shannon. Shannon is, well, there is no easy way to say this. She is my fuck buddy. We get together once in a while, but it’s been over six months since she texted me. Last time she was dating someone. I open her text.

Hey, it’s been a while. Want to get together? I’m free.

She adds that she’s free because she knows I don’t fuck with someone who is taken.

How’s Saturday? I answer. This is good. This is what I need to let loose.

My next is from Allison and the hair on my neck goes up and my stomach fills with acid. Why the fuck do I feel guilty?

I’ll be in my office till about six, so if you’re still here let me know. I forgot my jacket in your car.

I look at the phone and see it’s five-thirty, so I answer her.

Be there in twenty.

And I make it there in fifteen as she sits behind her desk, typing away on her computer. “Hey,” I say, sitting in the chair in front of her desk, placing my phone and keys on the desk since my shorts have no pockets.

“Hey there. Good day?” she asks, looking up.

“Yes, great, you?”

“I had the best day ever. I actually confirmed our Christmas party and charity event.”

I tilt my head back. “Great. I’m so excited,” I say and then realize I forgot my wallet. “I forgot my wallet.” I get up and walk back to the locker room. It’s right there on the top shelf in my locker, so I grab it and say bye to the guys again.

I walk in as Allison is closing down her computer. My phone buzzes right near her and I look down at the same time she does and Shannon’s name flashes.

I can’t wait to see you Saturday. I need to let off some steam. Followed with the kiss emoji.

I grab the phone right away, but it’s too late because she pretty much read it all. “Um, did you need a ride?” I watch her stumble with her computer and her charger.

“No, I have plans. I just need my jacket.” She doesn’t look up at me and my stomach hurts.

“I’ll go get it and bring it to you,” I say, walking out and going to the car to get her jacket. Holding it in my hand and walking back, my phone buzzes again. This time it’s Allison.

Had to rush out. Just leave the jacket in my office.

I tilt my head back and close my eyes. Walking back into the arena and straight to her office, I see that the light is still on, but she’s gone. I put the jacket on the chair that I was just sitting in. Placing it down gently, I see two frames on her desk. I pick up one and it’s a picture of her with her family. I’m looking at her smile when Matthew comes in.

“Where the fuck is Aly? She just cancelled dinner on us.”

I shrug my shoulders, putting down the frame. “No clue. She forgot her jacket, so I brought it back,” I say, not adding in that it was from this morning as I walk past him and out. I take my phone and see that Shannon’s text is still there along with Allison’s.

I text Allison first.

Your brother is looking for you.

I press send, waiting. And then I text Shannon.

Sorry, something came up. Maybe another time.

Then I toss my phone on the seat and make my way home. Allison never texts me back and the next day she is nowhere to be found. The light in her office stays off the whole day. I know that she has to turn up sometime. The next day is game day, so I know I’m going to see her, but little do I know that it’s for a two-second period, and as soon as the game is over, she’s gone. I pass by her house on the way home. It’s out of my way, but my car just goes there. The house is pitch-black.

I go to the rink early on Saturday, knowing for sure she is going to be there and I’m about to enter her office when I hear her.

“Come on, Matthew, you need to get me tickets.”

“I don’t have any tickets. You have just as much pull as I do. Why don’t you just call the PR that is taking care of the tour?”

“I can’t call Ed Sheeran and say, hey, can I have tickets.”

I walk away, not sure I want to go in there when Matthew is there, but I know by the end of the night we will be having a conversation.