Page 101 of Falling Offsides

“Éti… I… I…”

“Shit—” All sleep fades from his voice. “—what’s happened? What’s going on?”

“I fucked up,” I growl, slumping into the couch. My fingers dig into my temples like it’ll stop the pressure building behind my eyes. “I’ve ruined everything.”

Étienne’s silence stretches for a second.

“You have to be more specific, Auggie.”

“Courtney…”

“Courtney who?”

“Court… I thought that I could… I don’t know… win her over. Make her see me.”

“Okay,” he says with a long inhale. “You called me at one in the morning to talk about a girl? Auguste, the twins only got off to sleep an hour ago. Bro…”

“Oh. I forgot. I’m… I’m sorry… it was stupid and… and…selfish.”

I guess Courtney’s right—I’m just a selfish liar.

“Sorry,” I tell him, ending the call as Samson forces his way up onto my lap, snuggling into me the way he does with her. “I don’t know what to do, bud. Why is she so mad at me for not telling her we live here?”

Shit.

This is when it hits me—not telling Courtney we're neighbors is the least of the reasons she's going to hate me if she finds out I've been watching her.

Fuck.

My phone vibrates in my hand. For a fleeting second, I’m hit with the hope that it’s Courtney.

Stupid. Because she’s never called me. I have one fucking text from her. A reply.

You never had me.Her retort replays in my head.

No calls. One text. A reply.

Oh fuck, how fucking pathetic… How fucking stupid!

I dismiss Étienne’s call only for him to call back a second later.

“Go back to bed,” I say as I answer the call. “I’m fine.”

“I’m happy for you, but now I’m relegated to the couch with Elliot, so it’s your duty to entertain me with your failing love life.”

Asshole.

“So go on. How did you fuck up with this Courtney chick? Also, she’s not one of your bunnies, right?” He pauses to soothe Elliot with a melodic shush.

“They’re not bunnies, they’re birdies… and no, Courtney is definitely not a birdie.”

“Good. Are you in love with her? Is it serious?”

Shit. “How’s that the first fucking question you ask?” He’s so damn bullish all the time.

“That’s a yes. Okay, not gonna lie, I’m pissed you didn’t say shit last time I called. I wasn’t aware you were seeing anyone.”

Why in the fuck did I call this douch-canoe? He’s the worst.What is wrong with me?