Page 4 of Ice Me Out

I’m disappointed when he doesn’t initiate any physical contact, not a hug, a handshake or even a fist bump.

I’m a very sensual creature, and all of a sudden, it’s like my body is starving for the human contact I’ve been denied in the past three years. Especially when the human in question is smoking hot.

“Hey Connor.” I nod back at him.

“Where are the others?” Luke asks.

Connor answers with a shrug. “Fuck knows. Jamie disappeared with two girls. I think Keene might have gone home. I’m surprised he came out with us to begin with.”

Chapter2

Don’t Think About It

Connor

If Keene has gone home, I’m fucking jealous. I should have taken a page out of his book and said my goodbyes.

I just felt bad because we’re out here for a late birthday celebration. It was Luke’s twenty-first on Tuesday, but we had back-to-back classes and two practices since we had our first game of the season earlier today. It was just an exhibition game, but Coach Harrison is a hard ass. And after not even qualifying for the playoffs in a disastrous season last year, he doesn’t intend to take any chances this year. Coach is planning on riding us as hard as ever.

The idea of letting off some steam in town wasn’t a bad one, and I didn’t have the heart to say no when Shane issued the invitation.

The truth is that until last spring break, life was awesome, and I would have been excited by every opportunity to hang out and party with my teammates.

Then my girlfriend of over a year broke up with me. It was totally out of the blue. When some of my teammates started saying that these kinds of breakups can only mean one thing, I didn’t wanna hear it.

But sure enough, Fiona was sleeping with one of her TAs.

Maybe I should have known. All the late nights in the lab, all the extra study group sessions, should have raised all sorts of red flags. But I trusted her.

What’s the point of being in a relationship with someone if you don’t give them your trust?

This is why I’m never going to date again. Hookups? Sure. But once the condom is disposed of, my involvement is done. Finito.

Tonight I let Shane guilt trip me into being here to celebrate Luke’s birthday. I explained how the entire town is out here for the fair, and I don’t want to bump into my ex and her new boyfriend.

I let Jamie talk me into coming out with the promise of being each other’s wingmen. That worked out a treat, for him at least. He disappeared with two townies and I haven’t seen him for the best part of the last hour.

Of course the second Jamie left, and all my other teammates disappeared too, I saw her.

Fiona dressed to the nines on the arm of the same guy she cheated on me with. The fucker should have lost his fucking job. However, since he wasn’t technically faculty, but a grad student, he didn’t get in trouble. Dating a student is frowned upon, but by the time their relationship became public knowledge, Fiona was no longer in that class, anyway.

Now she’s inside the bar with her new guy and a few of her sorority sisters. Or more accurately, was.

Because the second I look at the door Luke and his sister just came out from, my ex struts outside with her new squeeze in tow.

I’m glad I asked Talia if I could buy the whole bottle rather than just one shot at a time.

“Let’s drink.” I propose, when he pulls her close and kisses her before walking further down the pier. “Let’s toast to Luke’s birthday and to a new friend.”

“It was Bex’s birthday too. We’re twins.”

I signal to one of the waitresses, and she returns shortly after with a bunch of shot glasses.

What’s the best way to forget a cheating ex? Tequila, of course. And if you don’t have to drink it alone, you don’t look like too much of a loser.

I pour one double shot each.

“Happy birthday!” We all say before downing our shots.