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“Thank you, I love you guys,” I say, and I know I’m so lucky to have parents who care and are supportive.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Evan
The flight back from Chicago was awkward as hell. I didn’t get any alone time with Patty, so I wasn’t able to ask her how things went with her parents. I did get weird looks from both of her parents on the flight. I don’t know what to make of it. Did Patty confess we had sex? Wouldn’t Coach want to punch me if we did? My mind has been reeling for the past week as all these questions fill my mind, but what really has me on edge is one time was not nearly enough for me to get my fix of Patty.
Now we have a home game tonight. Patty is prepping some of the guys and I catch her when she’s alone in her office checking a file.
“Hi,” I greet, since her back is to me.
“Hi yourself.” She turns around with a smile.
“I was hoping we could talk,” I say.
“This isn’t a good time, Evan,” she states coolly, returning her gaze to the file in her hand.
“Fine, tomorrow then, we have the night off.”
“I’m flying out to Boston with Quinn, we’re going to see Hunter,” she explains.
“How’s he doing?” I ask since she did brief me on the plane about what went down at the wedding. It made me think I lucked out finding Evie in a compromising position before things became more serious.
“He went to Fiji for a week and he’s back now. We figured we’d surprise him and try to cheer him up.”
“That’s nice of you guys, but we really do need to talk,” I insist.
She lowers the file and walks a little closer to me. “We said everything there was to say. We’re friends. Let’s keep it simple.”
I blink. “Nothing about us is simple.”
“I know, Evan. Look, I admit I have some unresolved issues I’m dealing with. I’m seeing a therapist. I just had one session with her but I told her about us, and she agreed that keeping you in the friend zone is the right thing to do.”
“And McNab? What happened with him?” I ask. After everything, I need to know.
Patty sighs. “I’ll drop by your place tomorrow before I fly out to Boston, I’ll text you. We can talk then.” She looks past me, probably to check the coast is clear and no one has over heard the conversation.
“Okay.”
I don’t want to be a nudge but Patty is scared and running. I get it, but I also need to show her I’m not Andrew.
I leave her office and head to the locker room where I gear up for the game. We are on a three-game winning streak.
Coach comes in once we are all suited up. He gives his usual pregame pep talk. Then we all head out through the tunnel. We end up winning the game and the guys are pumped. Everyone wants to go to a club and since I haven’t been hanging out as much as I usually do with them, I decide to go. I bump into Patty on my way out and tell her I’m heading out with the guys.
“Have fun,” she says.
“Do you want to join?” I ask.
“I’m actually exhausted and I’m catching a flight tomorrow,” she states. Then she pauses. “Evan, you know, you’re free to date who you want.” Her words feel like she just poured cyanide down my throat. I don’t even know what to say. She’s about to walk away when I take hold of her arm. “You can’t be serious.”
She looks into my eyes and reminds, “It was one night, Evan.”
That’s enough to send me over the edge, so when I head out to the club with the guys, I order a line of three shots. Then we head out to dance, and I order more shots.
“What’s up with you?” Brett asks. “Are you and Patty not getting along?”
“Why would you say that?” I ask and realize I am really buzzed.
