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“Yeah, it shocked me and all I want to do is drive to bumfuck nowhere Texas and beat the living shit out of the guy.”
Running a hand through his hair, Maddox looks around at the soccer balls at our feet. “Well, now I understand why you needed to blow off some steam like this. Can’t blame you.”
“Yeah,” I say, kicking one of the balls into the net. Hard. “Blaire told me she trusts me, and she hasn’t been able to do that since it happened. Shit went down and she basically lost everyone close to her after it happened.”
“That’s fucked-up, man, but you know what, having someone like you there for her is good. You may have slept your way through most of this school the last two years, but you’re a good dude. You’re more sensitive to women shit since you have your mom and sister, ya know?”
I know what he means, but I can’t help but think of what a dick I had been in the past to women. While I was never outright rude, I did sleep around and know that a lot of the girls had hopes of being more than one night with me, even after I told them I don’t do relationships. Funny how things change when you meetthe girl.
For the next hour and a half, Maddox and I kick the ball around, having a little lightweight practice of our own. Coach opts for meetings the day before we have a game rather than practice to make sure all the players are well-rested and not sore. Neither of us pushes ourselves and the little scrimmage we have helps clear my mind of everything that went down last night and this morning.
As we head back to our cars with our bags tossed over our shoulders, Maddox breaks the silence. “Hey, man, I know I’ve already said this before, but I really am sorry for what went down with Blaire in the pool last weekend. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and drinking has helped, but I know I fucked up and hurting Blaire was the last thing I would ever want to do.”
Since that night, Maddox hasn’t gotten drunk and there have been multiple times I can see his regret when he looks at Blaire. “I know, Mad. What’s going on anyway?”
He looks over at me and I can see the war going on in his head on whether to tell me. “Nothing. Just some bullshit with my family. I can handle it, though, and I’ll be better about my drinking. I can’t let you all down this season.”
I decide not to question him more on it, knowing him and his family issues and how much he has struggled with them in the past. We part ways and before getting in his truck, Maddox tells me Mateo is on dinner duty tonight. Nights before games, we decided to have a sort of ‘family dinner’ with just the five of us and rotate who cooks. Mateo is by far the best in the kitchen out of us and we all grimace anytime it’s Maddox’s night. His idea of a meal is anything he can cook out of a box with easy instructions, yet somehow it always comes out horrible.
Deciding to take the long way home, I clear my head some more as I drive the windy roads. Thinking about what Blaire went through makes me grip the steering wheel and I struggle to try and cool down again. She is an amazing woman for how she overcame not only her assault, but how she lost everyone close to her. People she should have been able to seek comfort in. I want to be that person for her. Someone she can go to anytime she needs a shoulder to cry on or wants to talk about anything and everything.
* * *
Back at the house,I pass by Maddox and Conrad sitting on the couch watching some show on Netflix. I head up the stairs and to the bathroom to shower. As the steam fills up the room, I can’t help but remember last night and taking care of Blaire in here. How she trusted me to protect and comfort her after what happened. Finding out about her assault when she was sixteen makes last night even more important to me because I know how hard it must be for her to let people in like she did. She’s never had anyone there for her until Emree, and now me.
Back downstairs, I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and join the guys in the living room. When I notice what they’re watching on TV, I can’t help but laugh.
“You idiots are seriously watchingRiverdale?”
Maddox looks over at me while Conrad is trying to hide his smile. “You try starting this show and then stop watching it. It’s addictive and ridiculous, but I can’t go on without knowing what happens,” Maddox defends himself.
“Well, what’s your excuse?” I ask Conrad.
He shrugs. “He had the remote first.”
Maddox whips his head over to our roommate. “Oh, don’t even act like you haven’t been asking me questions this entire time or that you don’t think Betty is a complete babe. I saw you adjusting your junk when her stripper scene was on the other day.”
“The fuck you looking at my junk for?”
Maddox rolls his eyes. “Not like someone can’t notice when you’re fidgeting all over the seat and making the couch move.”
I can’t help but laugh. These two act like an old married couple. “You both need couples therapy.”
Laughing, Maddox leans toward Conrad and pinches his cheeks. “Aw, no, we don’t, snookums. We love each other very much.”
Conrad swats his hand away. “Fuck off.”
We settle into a comfortable silence and watch the most insane show on television and although it makes no sense, the damn thing really keeps you hooked. Now the redheaded guy is on trial for murder and I’m still trying to figure out what this show is even about.
Mateo comes through the door with both arms full of groceries. “Hola, bitches,” he greets us.
Without looking away from the TV, Conrad and Maddox grunt out “hellos.” I get up to help Mateo with the groceries in his hands.
“Always the gentleman, Camden,” Mateo jokes, glaring at the two of them still glued to the TV.
We unload cases of chicken breast, a variety of vegetables, the largest bag of brown rice sold at the store, and an assortment of spices.
“Damn, man, you making that blackened chicken again?” I ask after seeing the label of some of the seasonings.
