Marissa let out a long slow breath and then looked up at her brothers.
“You weren’t crowding me. You guys were able to have more freedom than me because you’re boys. I didn’t get that option. I love you. You know I love you, I just need to have some time alone and college seems like the right time to do it.”
“Well, if that’s what you think will make you happy, then I’m all for it.” Brooks kissed his sister’s cheek and she smiled. Mitchell was slower to climb on board.
“Just promise me that you’ll call us if you need anything or if anything should happen,” he said staring at her.
“Mitchell, you guys will be in Virginia or maybe San Diego. You’ll have your own stuff to worry about. I’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
Marissa remembered that conversation every single day. Her first two semesters had gone well. She was making the Dean’s List, she was making friends, dating, but then things slowly started to change.
When her roommates decided to change schools in her junior year, she was suddenly in need of two new roommates. Interviewing candidates was a disaster so she relied on other friends to recommend people.
She should have never listened to them. She should have called home, asked the comms team to do a background on them, and then select them. Instead, she made an impulsive decision.
The two girls she allowed to move in were very different from Marissa. They were each only taking two classes a week and worked a nighttime job at a bar that caused them to have distracting hours.
“You guys working tonight?” she asked hopefully. She wanted her time alone and was considering calling her parents for the extra support to have a place by herself.
“No. In fact, we’re going out with some friends on a boat. Do you wanna come?” said Trina.
“Oh, I don’t think so. I’ll just hang back and get some reading done.”
“Marissa, you have to get out and have fun once in a while. We’ve known you for over a year now. You’re in graduate school and always have your nose in a book. You’re young, girl. These guys are awesome and we always have a good time. No drugs but they do serve alcohol and have food. It’s just a good time relaxing.”
“I don’t know,” she said hesitantly.
“Listen, we go out with them usually two or three times a month. Think about it and if you wanna go next weekend, we’d love it,” said Daphne.
“Thanks for the invite,” smiled Marissa. “I promise I’ll think about it.”
Worst decision of her life.
CHAPTER THREE
The first night of quiet and time alone was welcome for Joey. He finished a book he’d been reading. Finished a series he’d been binging. Did his laundry and cleaned his kitchen and bathroom and went to bed early.
But the second day was killing him. He was bored out of his mind and quickly contemplating heading to Duke. When his phone pinged, he hoped for the call to be from someone different. Instead, it was his mother.
Joey stared at the text message from his mother. Bailey was married and pregnant, with triplets. He was thrilled for her but sad for himself. They’d agreed that they were better as friends but somewhere deep inside, he was sad about it all. He’d had more than his share of women but had yet to find one that he wanted to keep.
Of course, it wasn’t that he was actually looking. He would go out with the guys, meet a girl, make out, sometimes have sex and wave goodbye, but that was it. Nothing that he wanted to write home about, and definitely no one he wanted to take home.
When the doorbell rang, he knew it was probably some of his teammates. Several lived in the same apartment complex as he did.
“Hey, Dougall? You wanna go out with us tonight? We’re gonna head to that new place off I-40,” said his teammate, Bullett.
“The Lace Slipper? It’s a strip joint,” he laughed. “You guys must not like your money very much. I’m partial to keeping mine. No thanks.”
“Come on dude. We’re just gonna see what the girls look like, enjoy some wings and have a few beers,” said Bullett.
“Brother, I am not eating at a place where if I find a hair in my food the possibilities are nauseating.” The men all laughed at him, shaking their heads.
“One beer. That’s all,” said another teammate. “We’ll watch a few dancers and then leave and get something to eat at a real restaurant. What do you say?”
“I should say no but the idea of you idiots going to this place alone worries me. Those are the places that attract fight ready rednecks.”
“Hey, I’m a redneck,” said Bo.
