Page 27

While our place is one of the football houses on campus, we rarely have parties here. We made an agreement when we moved in that we would keep the place intact the best we could. So, we’re heading out to one of the other football houses to party.

Charlie met up with some of the girls from her sorority after dinner, and I’m not sure if she plans to come to the party. I hope she does, just so I can keep an eye on her. The thought of her hooking up with someone else … yeah, I can’t go there. I’m just hoping she makes her way to the party. I don’t care if she brings her friends, but I definitely want her there.

With me.

“Yo, Linson. You ready to ride or what?”

Archie comes to my doorway, already dressed in jeans and aTexas ForeverT-shirt. Charlie will love it because she is a hugeFriday Night Lightsfan. I know she loves that one guy, Tim something. Whatever. That shirt will probably end up in her pile of clothes at some point. She was always stealing my shirts.

Stuffing my wallet in the back pocket of my jeans and my keys in the front pocket, I pop a mint, and with one last swipe of my hand through my hair, I turn from my dresser and toward the door.

“Let’s roll, Griff. You looking for anyone special tonight or whoever comes your way, brother? You had a hell of a game today, and you, my friend, deserve to find someone to celebrate with.” I egg him on.

“Fuck yes, I deserve to celebrate. I’m covered in bruises from saving your sorry ass from getting pummeled,” he says with a jab to my sore ribs.

“Ow. Fuck, Arch,” I say, dodging another jab while we walk into the main living space together. “My cage is sore too, brother. Those motherfuckers were gunning after me the whole game. I swear they knew our plays before we ran them. We’re lucky we pulled it out today.”

“Dude, I’m glad it was you and not me,” Casey says from the kitchen. “Anyone need a beer? I need to get my pregame on before we head out. I’m in the mood to blow it up tonight.”

Archie and I both agree to the beer, and Casey comes into the room with two beers in each hand.

“You double-fisting, Case?” I ask.

“Did you think I was joking when I said I was ready to get lit? Let’s fucking go, man! Where’s Pitz? He coming with us, or is he out with that one girl he’s been talking to?” Casey asks.

Archie nods and says, “He said he’s going to meet us there, but didn’t say where he was heading before the party.” He takes a drink of his beer, then lifts it up. “Okay, boys, let’s gather round.”

Casey and I both laugh, knowing what’s about to come out of his mouth.

“Let’s bow our heads and send a prayer to the man upstairs.” Archie drops his chin to his chest, looks at us, and says, “Do it, fuckers.”

So, Casey and I lower our heads, look at each other, and smirk. Archie has his eyes closed now, like he’s really thinking about what he wants to say.

“May your glass stay full. May your dick stay hard. And may you be in heaven (and by heaven, I mean, pussy) for at least a half hour before the Devil knows you’re dead (and by dead, I mean, blow your load). Amen. Let’s go, boys. Bring it in.” Archie puts his fist out to bump mine, then Casey’s.

“Are we walking over or driving?” Casey, still laughing, asks.

“I ain’t driving. I’ll just walk home later,” I say.

“Fellas, I don’t plan on coming home tonight. Feel? I’ll get a ride home in the morning,” Archie says with a wink.

“Dude, just remember to wrap it up. We definitely don’t need any baby Griffs running around the world yet.” Casey slaps his shoulder.

Archie walks out of the front door first, then Casey. I take my keys out of my front pocket, pull the door closed, and lock it. The house we live in was built in the ’80s and still has the original door handle on it, so I have to lift up on the handle and jiggle it to make sure the lock is in place. Then I step down from the porch stoop and jog to catch up to Casey and Archie.

“Beck, did Charlie say if she was coming tonight?” Casey asks.

“I overheard her talking with someone before she left the restaurant while you were talking to your parents. Sounded like she was going out with some of the girls from the house. I’ll shoot her a text later and see where she is.”

Casey looks over at me and grins.

“What, fucker? What’s the smirk for?”

“Huh? Nothing, man. Nothing at all. Just funny that you’re back to texting with her and she’s been here for, what, a month?” Casey laughs.

“Fuck off, King. One of us has to keep an eye on her. You’ve been too preoccupied with Noelle to know what your own twin is up to.” I don’t mean to sound like an asshole, but he’s hitting a sore spot for me.

Casey slings his arm around my shoulders. “Dude, shut the fuck up. You know I’m just playin’ with you. I truly do appreciate that you’re a stage-five clinger—I mean, friend to my sister.” He removes his arm and leans forward toward Archie. “Am I right, Arch?” He punches Archie in the shoulder, who just turns around and looks at us with a smile.