The Perfect Game(68)

“I don’t know what that means, but let’s go.”

She giggled as I followed behind her.







I rolled over, my head throbbing and my eyes refusing to open willingly. I thrashed my arm across the bed before hitting someone and I jumped.

“Stop, Jack. Let me sleep,” a girl’s voice spoke.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

This wasn’t happening. I was going to turn and look at the other half of my bed and it was going to be empty. This was all going to be a bad dream. I squeezed my eyes before turning and opening them.

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

A head full of brown hair lay splayed across my pillow, a naked female body accompanying it. My stomach dropped to the carpet as I moved to sit on the edge of my bed. I threw my pounding head into my hands before looking down. I tugged and pulled at the recesses of my mind where the memories of last night were hiding. There’s no way I did this. Maybe she came home with one of my roommates and needed a place to crash? I love Cassie. I love Cassie so goddammed much I’d never do this to her.

Fuck.

The memories started pouring in swiftly and unabashedly. I remembered. Now I wished I could forget.

I grabbed my cell phone and stood up before realizing I was naked. A pair of boxers and a sweatshirt later, I sat on the balcony in the early morning dew, dialing Cassie’s number.

“Hey, babe,” she breathed tiredly into the phone.

I didn’t know what to say so I stayed silent, knowing that these would be the last few moments that everything between us would be okay.

Hang up, you idiot.

Hang up the phone.

She’ll never know what happened if you don’t tell her.

“Jack?” she asked. “Hello? Jack?” She sounded so concerned. “I can hear you breathing, dummy.” She yawned into the receiver.

“Kitten?” I muttered.

Too late to hang up now.

“I wish you could see me roll my eyes,” she responded with a chuckle.

“That’s not good for you.” My voice came out slowly.

“What’s wrong? Are you drunk?”

“I think I still am, yeah.” I tugged at my hair.

“Did you drive?”

“No.”

“Good.” I heard the smile in her voice. “Are you okay?”

I can’t do it.

I can’t lose her.

Not over this.

Everyone makes mistakes.

“Yeah, Kitten. Sorry for calling so early. I just wanted you to know how much I love you.”

I am such a pussy.

“I love you too.” Her voice was perfect. She was perfect. I couldn’t lose her.

My stomach balled into knots. “Go back to bed. I love you. I’ll call you later,” I said, swallowing the baseball-sized lump in my throat.

She giggled. “Night, Jack. Congratulations again on your perfect game. I’m really proud of you.”

“Thanks, babe. Bye.” I pressed End, squeezed my eyes shut, and buried my head in my hands, wishing I could bury the guilt instead.

How could I undo this? Cass couldn’t ever know this happened. I’d do anything to make sure of that. I vowed to never drink excessively again. I’d never put myself in that kind of a position where I could willingly be so stupid. Anger quickly filtered through my pain as I remembered the girl sleeping in my bed. I stormed into my room before slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

“Get the fuck up and get out,” I shouted. She was on her stomach, sprawled spread-eagle over three-quarters of the bed. Still naked. Shit.

Chrystle moved slightly, her eyes opening to look at me. “What? Why are you so angry?” She whined and it made her even more annoying.

“Get out.” I reached across the bed, grabbing her by the forearm and pulling.

“Ow, Jack, jeez! I’ll get up. What’s your problem?” She sat up, not bothering to pull up the sheet to cover her nakedness, and her eyes narrowed as she glared at me.

“You’re my problem. Get out of my bedroom. Get out of my apartment. Get out of my life,” I demanded, my attitude void of any respect or kindness.

“You sure weren’t saying that last night,” she commented coyly and my temper flared.

“Get out or I will throw you out.”

“Sounds like foreplay.” She bit her bottom lip suggestively and my stomach churned.

“For a twisted slut, maybe.” I scowled darkly and flung venom-filled words designed to hurt her.

“Oh, so now I’m a slut?” She swung her legs over the side of the bed and began to wriggle back into her clothes from last night.

“I’m sure you were always a slut,” I responded coolly.

“Well, you sure as hell weren’t complaining last night. And I’m sure you won’t complain again soon.” Her confidence oozed through an arrogant smile.