Second Down (Moving the Chains Book 2) (28 page)

Jesus, I can see the moment CJ’s words register in Rob’s brain because if I thought he looked defeated, before, he absolutely deflates now before my eyes. He nods, seemingly in total agreement with the man behind me, and gets in his car without another word.

As I watch him drive off into the night, with CJ’s arm wrapped around my shoulders, I can’t even imagine what he was about to tell me. My head is swimming, my emotions are shamefully out of control, and all I want is to sleep through school tomorrow. I can’t help but wonder at Rob’s obvious reaction to CJ’s taunts. Had he been about to tell me that he’s gay? If that’s the case, why would Kerri be lying about sleeping with him? What would that have to do with me? But, no, that can’t be it. He wouldn’t have had an unspoken crush on me for so long if that were the case. I know that I need to hear him out. I just don’t think I have the strength to do it anytime soon.

Hiding out in my room, doing homework on a Saturday afternoon should be a welcome reprieve from my little jaunt out of comfort territory, this year. But, it feels weird. I guess I’d gotten somewhat used to having a social life, after all.

I didn’t get to sleep through school yesterday, but I wasn’t there to hear Kerri or see Rob, either. I’ve never been so grateful for a Model UN field trip. I worked until close at the diner last night. Margie was vigilant about who she sat in my section. So, I’ve managed to put off the inevitable for another day, at least.

The Econ text on my desk blurs before my eyes. For the millionth time, I find myself instead replaying my little conversation with Rob on Thursday night. I want to know what he was about to tell me, but at the same time, I don’t. I’m not sure that it matters, any more.

“It’s time for an intervention, little sister.”  Mike’s soft, low voice near my ear rips me out of my thoughts and makes me jump out of my skin.

“What the hell, Mike? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”  Twisting in my seat to glare at him, he returns my heated stare with his usual cool, even expression.

“I’m not a ninja. You’re just lost in your own headspace.”  He walks over and throws himself down on my bed like he usually does, giving me the once over. Felix jumps onto his chest, begging for affection.

“Some attack cat you are,” I grumble, turning my attention back to my book.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing,” I lie.

“Alright, enough’s enough. You need to patch things up with Rob. You’ve punished him long enough.”

The sound of Felix’s purring is just enough to stay my temper. “Mike, I love you, but I am not having this conversation with you. He’s one of your best friends, and you’re my big brother. I’m not putting you in the middle of this.”  

I hear him sigh behind me, an unusual reaction. “I’ve kept myself out of the middle long enough. I knew all about his crush on you. I wasn’t blind to yours, either. You’re right, though. I didn’t want to be caught in the middle if things went south. After last year, I really stepped back. I think maybe that was wrong. So, sorry about that. He’s hurting, and I know you are, too. I just want to help.”

If I’d been drinking anything, it would have resulted in soaking my computer and texts. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Mike apologize for anything in all the time I’ve known him. I should probably also be a little more concerned about his knowledge of my supposedly secret feelings towards his buddy all these years, but since that’s all out in the open, now, I guess it doesn’t matter. I’m starting to get the sinking feeling that I’m not as good at masking my emotions as I’ve always believed. That could actually be a pretty big problem. “Mike, it’s over. I don’t know what else to tell you. Besides, if you had a problem with it, why didn’t you say anything to me two weeks ago when this all started?”

His laughter holds no humor. “Because I was honestly kinda pissed at my boy.”

“Well, I’m glad to know that your friendship hasn’t blinded you to the fact that he’s an asshole.”  Maybe. I mean, I understand why he did it, but still. Not like I can explain that to Mike.

“He’s not an asshole, Evie. He’s just stupid when it comes to you.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Listen,” Mike begins, sitting up and propping himself against my headboard. “I’ve known Rob a long time. Not as long as I’ve known you, but that’s not the point. I know him. I know him well. And Rob doesn’t make mistakes. Not on the field, not in the classroom. The only times I have seen him repeatedly fuck up are where you’re concerned.”

“Well, yeah, I’d say sticking his dick in Kerri after States was a pretty big mistake as far as I’m concerned, but that’s besides the point.”  This entire conversation would be comical, if I could just convince myself not to let it hurt so much.

Mike opens his mouth to respond, but is distracted by my bedroom door swinging open. Alex strolls in like he owns the place, plopping down on the bed next to Mike, and offering out his fist for a bump. Guys are such cavemen, I swear.

“Well, hey, there, Al. Come on in, make yourself at home.”  I spread out my hand in a mock welcoming gesture.

“Thanks, I will. Sorry I’m late. Let’s get this fucking intervention started.”

I throw my hands wildly in the air as my blood pressure sky rockets. I can actually feel the blood pounding in my ears, forcing me to shout over the white noise. “Are you both fucking serious, right now?”

Mike looks over at me, his expression deadpan. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Listen, Evie,” Alex starts, placing his hands in a defensive gesture. “Kerri’s been feeding you a bunch of bullshit these past few weeks, and it’s time to set the record straight. You won’t talk to Rob, and honestly, he doesn’t remember what happened, anyway. But, I was there that night, so if you want proof that he didn’t fuck her, then I’m here to give that to you.”

“Proof? Fuck you! If you had proof, you could’ve said something oh, I don’t know, two fucking weeks ago!”  The nerve of these assholes.

“Hey, I can’t help it that you’re acting like a little bitch and won’t talk to Rob about it. He’s been trying his damndest to get you to hear him out. If you would’ve just listened to him from the beginning, this could already be water under the bridge.”  The edge in Alex’s voice is unlike him. If he were talking to anyone else, I know he’d be outright screaming, at this point.

“Well, then what about you, Mike? If Rob is so innocent in all this, why didn’t you tell me before?”  Controlling my volume is a sheer effort of will, because all I want to do is rage at them both. Of course, that will only send YiaYia up here, and I don’t need anyone else involved in this conversation that I so do not want to be having, as it is.

“Hey, I already told you. When I first found out what really happened, I was kinda pissed at Rob, too. Figured he deserved to sweat for awhile.”  Mike shrugs like it’s no big deal. As if he hasn’t heard the poison that Kerri’s been feeding me every day for the past two weeks. I can at least give Alex a pass, because he probably isn’t aware of that part.

I just want to cry. No way am I going to seem like the weakling in all this, though. It’s bad enough that I’m being painted as the bad guy. I’ve had enough. “Fine. You want to exonerate Rob? Then start talking, because I am ten seconds away from kicking you both out of here.”

“You know how I told you that he only screws up when it comes to you?”  Mike shoots at me quickly. He knows I’m not making idle threats.

“Yeah? What about it?”  Not that I really believe that, but whatever.

“I think he was upset that you weren’t with him after the game. He got piss-ass drunk at the bonfire. I guess because you left him there, alone. Anyway, that’s what I was pissed at him about. If he can’t handle his liquor, he’s got no business drinking that much.”

I know for a fact that Rob doesn’t drink, so my interest is piqued. I hadn’t heard a word about him getting drunk at the bonfire until now.

“He spent most of the night wandering around looking for you.”  Alex jumps in. “None of us realized that you’d even left. And yeah, he wanted you on the field with him after such a fucking huge win.”

“It kinda crushed him that you weren’t,” Mike agrees.

“Why does everyone keep saying that? Why would I have even been down on the field?”  Well, dammit, now I am screaming.

“It’s tradition, Evie.”  Mike answers calmly. “The girlfriends of the guys always come down on the field with us after a big win.”

“What? Do I need a master’s class just to be his girlfriend? And stop stalling. What really happened with Rob and Kerri?”

Mike and Alex exchange knowing, but uncomfortable glances. My heart rate picks up and I feel slightly nauseated and sweaty. Whatever they’re about to tell me can’t be good. So much for Rob’s innocence. “Well…?”

Alex heaves a sigh, gets up and comes to sit on the opposite edge of the bed, facing me head on. He’s about to throw down, and I damn well know it. “I honestly hoped I wouldn’t have to fucking tell you any of this, but you’re forcing my hand.”

When Mike sits up beside him on the bed, looking fully invested in what Alex is about to tell me, my panic really begins. My palms are clammy, my heart is thrashing wildly in my chest, and I’m finding it harder and harder to suck oxygen from the room.

Alex takes a deep breath before beginning his story. “I noticed that Rob was missing from the bonfire. The last I had seen him, he had just drained another cup of alcohol, and had an arm around Kerri, but I didn’t think anything of it, because she’s Rachel’s cousin, and I am telling you right now,” he pauses to make direct, pointed eye contact with me. “There is nothing there. Not for Rob. He only has eyes for you, Evie.”

Trying to maintain my cool, disinterested facade, I motion wordlessly for him to continue.

“I know she’s had her eye on him for awhile, but you know Rob, if the girl isn’t you, he just doesn’t notice.”

I interrupt his story with a loud, “Thank you!”

Mike smirks but looks to Alex, waiting on him to finish his tale. They’ve clearly misunderstood my outburst. It’s not that I agree he only has eyes for me, but I’ve been trying to tell him that Kerri’s interested. He just doesn’t listen, dumb jock that he is.

“Anyway, so I noticed he was missing, and I got fucking worried, alright? We,” he gestures between he and Mike, “had convinced him to let loose a bit that night, and I promised him a DD. When I found out that you were gone, and our sober guys said he’d walked towards the cars with Kerri, I went looking for him. I knew she’d been fucking drinking the whole way home, and I didn’t know what was going on.”

Alex pauses to run a hand through his hair, his expression distraught. “Rach had told me that she’d drove over with Kerri, so I went looking for her car. I mean, I hoped neither of them would drive like that, but you never know. When I fucking finally found Rach’s car, it was rocking.”

I have to hold up a hand to stop him, putting the other over my mouth. I don’t think I want to hear any more. Mike rises from his spot, attempting to put his big arms around me, but I push him away. The old feeling of not wanting to be touched is a primal scream in my brain. As much as I’d believed I was ready to let Rob go, for his own good, and mine, this hurts. It hurts so much. The normal part of me wants to break down in betrayed tears, but the broken part of me wants to lash out. Wants to hurt someone else as much as I hurt.

“Evie, listen to the rest. Trust me, ok?”  Mike pushes past my defenses, squeezing my shoulder.

Alex looks between us, waiting until Mike nods, then continues with his story. “I opened the door, ready to fucking tear Rob a new asshole. I thought what you’re thinking, right fucking now, Evie, and I wasn’t going to fucking stand for him treating you like that.”  He stands and begins pacing my floor, running both hands through his hair, now. “Rob was passed out in the back seat. I mean, he was snoring like a motherfucker.”

Alex pauses his cagey movements, throwing his back in laughter.

“Wait, so that’s it?”  I feel like a complete ass for believing Kerri and treating Rob so badly over the past few weeks. My heart stops thudding painfully in my chest, and I want to join in Alex’s laughter, but the way Mike squeezes my shoulder again gives me pause. There’s more.

“I wish.”  Alex’s laughter is bitter, the angry flash to his sapphire eyes unmistakable. “I don’t even know how drunk Kerri was by that point, but she had him unzipped and his sad whiskey dick in her mouth. I mean, who fucking does that? The guy is passed out, not even hard, and she’s still trying to suck him off like something’s actually gonna happen?”  Alex yells the last part, and Mike has to gesture for him to quiet the hell down before someone else in the house overhears.

My mind is spinning. Rob had been sexually assaulted. Holy hell. I don’t even know what to say, or what to think. People have this big misconception that victims are only women, and usually too weak to fight back, but that’s just not true. I guess all my self-therapy on the internet has paid off in dividends of assault knowledge. I never really used to buy into the super conservative, Orthodox viewpoint of my grandparents and Church family, but I’m starting to see it. Sex is everywhere. We can’t escape it, even if we try. It’s no wonder that people feel more and more that there are no boundaries, and that others’ bodies are simply tools to use in the constant pursuit of selfish pleasure.

“Does he know?”  I barely recognize my own voice, but Alex’s gaze snaps to mine before I’ve even finished the question.