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I go to the gym to run and do some squats. I tried some exercises I haven’t done since physical therapy. They work somewhat, but now it feels more strained from the exercise.
Giving up, I go home to ice it, hoping no one else is home yet. It’s the night before we go away for an entire week on the road. Most of the guys will be seeing their girls or resting up.
I note Layla’s car parked out front when I pull up. I guess I’m not getting much rest in my room tonight. The fire is going on in the back and I see a few people sitting in the chairs around it. They all came back here. At least now I can hide in my room.
Grabbing an ice pack, a beer, and some aspirin just in case, I gather myself in the kitchen as quietly as I can and make my way up the stairs.
I'm almost to the stairs when the bathroom door shoots open. I dodge it right before it clocks me in the face and managed to save my beer from spilling. I’m not able to save all of it and drop the ice pack and aspirin.
“Oh my god, I'm so sorry!” Lenny is on the floor helping me pick the stuff up before I can stop her.
She eyes me noticing the ice pack and aspirin.
I don’t need her asking questions. She already knows too much.
“Are you ok?” She looks me up and down.
“I’m fine the door didn’t hit me. Just startled. You could injure someone opening it like that. There are athletes living here, you know.” I point out taking my stuff from her.
I’m about to walk off when she grabs my arm.
“You know that’s not what I’m asking.” Her eyes don’t leave mine, and I know she’s just concerned. I know it, but I still can’t admit anything to her. “Seriously Nick, are you ok?”
I shake her hand off my arm.
“I’m fine.” I leave to go up the stairs, turning just slightly to see her shake her head down and slowly walk to the back where the others are.
I close mine and Greg’s privacy curtain. We don’t use it much, but it’s always been a sign that we need our privacy or just want to be alone for a bit. It’s the symbol of“just leave me the fuck alone”without having to say it.
I must’ve passed out because I’m woken up by Greg knocking on the wall next to my shelf just out of the curtain.
Quickly, I cover the bandage I have wrapped around my knee with my blanket before answering him.
He pulls the curtain back to look me over.
“You ok?” His eyebrow raises, taking me in.
“Why does everyone keep asking that?” I groan, throwing my arm over my head. “I’m fine. I’m just exhausted and need some sleep.”
“Lenny was asking questions. She asked me if you got hurt or something?” He looks me over again.
“I had a headache.” I pick up the aspirin bottle and toss it to him. “She saw me carrying that.”
He nods. That’s a good enough explanation for him.
“Did you talk to her? Why are you avoiding her?” Greg’s persistence is usually something I can handle, but right now I just want him to leave me alone.
“Greg. Just leave it alone. Forget everything I said.” I groan covering my head with a pillow.
“No.”
What did he say?I sit up to get a better look at him.
“No.” He says again, pulling the curtain back to sit on his bed. “You really like this girl. It’s the first time you’ve ever talked about a girl that way. I haven’t seen you that happy since freshman year when we first came here! Don’t screw this up. She cares about you. That’s why she was asking about you all night. You're going to mess your own head up by pushing people you care about and who care about you away.”
I’ve never seen Greg this disappointed in me. He isn’t angry, just disappointed.
He leans forward to talk quietly. “And don’t think, I don’t see that bandage around your knee. What is it? You had that same knee bandaged last year.”
