I was all in with Avery. I knew that for a fact within me. I knew that wasn’t changing anytime soon for any reason. The only problem still looming in front of me was the mafia, and I was still no closer to solving that issue.
I had a duffel bag of cash under my bed, practically burning a hole in my brain. Five thousand dollars just sitting there, doing nothing. I had planned on using that money for the baby, but I knew that made Avery uncomfortable. At this point, I didn’t want to do anything else that was fucking stupid and could mess things up for me. I wanted to do this right, although I really didn’t know how.
As I walked, I couldn’t help but think that the money itself was the problem. If only I could somehow get rid of that cash, then maybe things could be okay again.
I looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. For the first time in my life, I wanted something real. I wanted something more than just football and beer and women. I wanted Avery and my baby. I wanted stability. I wanted happiness.
As I looked back down, I knew what I had to do. I took out my phone, dialed a number, and made the call.
I was up bright and early. I went through the usual routine with Avery, Hynes hanging out in the background. It had gone from something strange and unusual to completely normal in only a couple of weeks. I had to admit, Hynes was a really good guy for putting up with it.
We left not long after that, walking together back to campus. I kept thinking about the night before, about her body sweating underneath mine and how we fucked rough and hard on that weight bench. It was by far the best sex of my life, mind-blowing and intense. I wanted every inch of her at every moment, and it was hard not to drag her into the bushes and fuck her tight pussy until she screamed my name.
But we lived in civilized society, and in civilized society you didn’t drag your woman into the bushes and fuck her brains out in the middle of a crowded place.
Unfortunately.
“What?” Avery asked me. “You’re staring at those bushes with a weird look on your face.”
I grinned at her. “Nothing.”
“Okay, weirdo.” She slipped her hand in mine. I smiled and squeezed. “How’s your day looking?”
“Better and better,” I said.
“Great. I have a bio test later. I’m terrified I’ll bomb it.”
“I doubt that. You’re the smartest girl I know.”
“Well, you are used to hanging out with cheerleaders.”
“That’s fair.”
“I know they’re not all dumb, but man, I’d like to think they are.”
“They’re not rocket scientists,” I said, nudging her.
“Good point.”
“Listen, I should tell you. I know what I’m doing with that mafia money.”
I could feel her tense. “Really?”
“Yes. By tomorrow morning, it’ll be gone and we’ll be free.”
She frowned. “How?”
“I don’t want to tell you, and I don’t want you to ask again. I’ll say it, but I know you don’t want to know.”
She opened her mouth and then closed it again. She nodded once. “Okay. I trust you.”
“Thanks. It’s going to be okay.” I squeezed her hand, because it was true.
“I know. I just worry.”
“Don’t. I’m not your average asshole. I don’t fuck around with this sort of thing.”
“Yeah,” she said, smiling slightly. “You’re definitely not average.”
We got to the spot where our paths diverged. I grabbed her hips and pulled her against me, kissing her. “See you later.”
“Okay.”
Her lips lingered before I turned away and left.
Class then practice then tutoring then sleep. The movement of my days were always the same, routine and practiced. That was how Coach Taylor wanted it, of course. He wanted us to be little machines going through our days, living and breathing and shitting and getting ready to perform perfectly during the weekend.
That was how I used to be. I went to practice and games, I partied when I could, and I fucked the girls who threw themselves at me. I was always careful, of course, but I never cared about any of them.
Until Avery came along and jolted me awake.
I stood in the parking lot of the old abandoned school again. It was late, around midnight, and I was alone. I tried not to feel nervous, but I couldn’t help myself. I was doing a stupid and dangerous thing, again, but I hoped this was going to be the last stupid and dangerous thing I did for a long time.
The headlights were late when they pulled into the lot. It was the same car, and the same man stepped out. He smiled as he walked up to me.
“Good to see you again, Gibson,” he said.