Page 19

Will you come to the game?

James sent me this message two days ago and I still haven’t responded. I don’t understand shit about American football. I’ve been avoiding him completely for the past two days. We sexted for three days after our hookup last weekend. But I’ve been avoiding him for the past two days.

Why? Because I can’t get him out of my head. I can’t stop thinking about his tongue on my clit and his finger inside me. I’ve become a sex maniac. Hell, I even bought a remote controlled vibrator, and orgasmed in public. Although it was in the closed and locked door of my study room in the library, I’ll still count that as public. There were no windows or glass in the room, but what if someone knocked or heard it? Scandalous!

But the point is that all I’ve been doing these last five days is study, work and make myself come thinking it was Williams. And this has to stop. I can’t stop imagining how good his dick will feel inside me. He is huge. I’m not even sure if he’ll fit.

“So, what do you think?” A girl with glasses sitting across me asks me. I don’t even remember when I got here, why I am here, much less what she was talking about or what she just asked me. I take a look around. I see two other boys and one other girl who just asked me something which I forgot, too. Because I can’t stop thinking about James fucking me. This! This is why I need distance from him.

“Sorry, could you repeat that?” I adjust my glasses and take a look at the screen behind her. James also seldom wears glasses when studying and man does it make him look a hundred times hotter! It should be illegal to do the things I want to do to that man and the things I want him to do to me. I want him to keep the glasses on at least once when we fuck.

Back to reality! It’s a presentation about the clinical data from the paper that we’re presenting this midterm. I chose the paper, so they think that I know everything about it. I do, but still, they could use their brain, too, right?

I quickly glance through the slide and spot one thing lacking.

“In the entire paper there’s only one thing which doesn’t add up. And it was exactly about this figure.”

“What is it?” Hailey, the girl with glasses asks me.

“The T-test results. They don’t match with the figures. I ran them three times and they’re wrong. The printed p-value is totally off.” I take off my glasses.

“So, are we going to have to choose another paper then?” Borris, one of the guys asks me. Borris and Victor, both have been absolutely useless. Victor more than Borris. Dude literally does nothing and is just mooching the good grades off us.

“No, even if they calculated the wrong p-value, they don’t use it anywhere further or in the results. So, it’s better if we mention it once and move on from it.” Hailey shakes her head and closes her laptop, concluding our meeting.

“Beers at Joanna’s?” Victor asks Borris who nods and gives him a slap on the back. Joanna’s is the only bar near our college. Okay, it’s not the only bar, but it's the best bar, decent price drinks and good ambience. Only problem? Everyone at Winstons goes there on weekends. So, it’s a pool of sweat and drinks on the ground. It’s sticky and gross.

My phone buzzes and it’s a message from Juju. I opened it.

Come home fast.

What happened?

Find out yourself *winky face*

I do not like where this is going. I’m sure that I ordered just one vibrator, which is…I check my tote bag and find the vibrator in there. What if she found Sebastian? My favourite vibrator!

I hope not. Yes I do name my vibrator. The bigger one is Sebastian, who’s at home right now. And the one in my tote is Bradon. It’s not weird guys. Girls name their dildos and vibrators just like men name their dicks. No biggie.

But James’ was big. I mean his dick. Was huge. Snap out of it, Riya! Enough is enough. Don’t make me slap you in public!

When I reach home, I find Juju and Jake sitting on the couch, cuddling like a cute couple. “What happened?” I looked around, but the house was not on fire.

“On the table.” Juju doesn’t even bother to turn around. There’s a small package on the table. It’s an envelope which was torn open, by Juju, of course. I peek inside what’s in the envelope and it’s three tickets to the game. The football finals. It’s a home game. So, everyone I know is going to the game. Everyone! Literally even people who don’t watch it are going. The game is tomorrow.

“You bought these?” I ask Juju, who finally turns around to look at me.

“No. Marcus sent them, with a note.” I look around, but there’s no note. “Here.” Juju holds out the note. Of course she read it. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. You know I’m nosy.” Juju pouts. I snatch the note from her hand and open it.

I miss my face between your legs. Never been more thankful that red is Winston's colour because it looks so good on you. But then again, which colour doesn’t? Please come to the game? FYI- got tickets for JJ too.

I chuckle when I read the first and last part. JJ!

“Who’s JJ?” Jake asks me.

“You showed it to him?” I blurt out. I hate this about Juju, she tells her boyfriend everything! Literally everything. I lost my v-card in Australia and Juju was one of the first ones to find out. But, what does she do? Tell her boyfriend. Every time I had drunk sex with someone, I told her and she told Jake. I found it uncomfortable, him knowing so many details about my sex life or my life in general.

She throws a pillow at me. “You dirty dirty slut! You fucked Marcus Williams and didn’t tell me.” This! This is why I didn’t tell her. Because she would tell this to her boyfriend.

“Why’d you read the note, Juju?” It’s not fair. I want to say. But she tells me everything about her life, yes her sex life too. Even though I am not interested in knowing all the tiny details, she doesn’t leave out a single one.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because, we didn’t have sex!” I’m frustrated that I don’t have any privacy here. I would’ve been fine if it was just Juju who read the note, but Jake? Why does he have to know? I don’t like people knowing my personal life! I find it confining.

“The note says otherwise.” Jake shrugs from the couch.

“I am not discussing my sex life with you, Jake.” Then I turn to face Juju. “Not with you either! At least not right now.” I grab the tickets and the note and head to my room. I pull out my phone and pull James’ chat.

Asshat.

A couple minutes later, he messages back.

I thought you weren’t going to use that word again.

It was asshole! And no, I’m never going to use it again.

So, I’m assuming that you got the envelope?

I did.

So, I’ll see you tomorrow, Raven.

Overconfident?

Nah, I’m just an optimist!

Good luck with the finals, James.

I tuck my phone under the blanket and change into my PJs. I grab my phone again to see a message from James.

If I look for you in the bleachers, will I find you?

I don’t know why, but I am reminded of Taylor Swift’s You Belong with me plays in my mind.

Maybe. I sent him. I wait for sometime, but he doesn’t reply. Maybe he slept. So, I pull the blanket over my face and sleep.

----------------------------

“Juju, I’m not wearing that!” I run around the living room as Juju forces me to wear James’ jersey that Jake bought. Slick bastard!

“It’s either that or the Winston tattoos.”

“None. I veto.” I raise my hand.

“We veto.” Jake chimes in and raises both their hands.

“You don’t get a veto. And I’m either going to the game like this, or I’m not going at all.”

“Jersey! There’s nothing wrong with wearing their jersey! I’m wearing Siddharth’s.” she turns around to show me.

“Good for you. But I don’t want him to get the wrong idea, Juju. So, no jersey.” I mean we already did have almost sex, what else is there to misunderstand? I just don’t want him to think that I’m some crazy woman who is obsessed with him. Because I am neither of those things.

“You won’t be the only girl who he has fucked who will be wearing his jersey at the game. So stop being dramatic!” That reality check hurt like a bitch. She’s right though. I am just any other girl who he has hooked up with. Who’s to say that he didn’t sleep with someone else after me? “I’m sorry. That was a little harsh.” You think? Her tone mellows.

I shake off my head and the thought as well. “No, you’re right. I am not the only one. I know that. And it’s not like I am in love with him or anything. I just don’t want to, alright? I’ll do the Winstons tattoos on my–”

“On your face–”

“Arm. On my arm. That’s all.”

“On your face and wear Dan’s cap and twin with me.”

“On my arm, and no hat.”

“Two tattoos on both your arms and the cap.”

“Deal.”

“Deal.” It is always impossible to negotiate with this girl, but I am learning my way.

I put a Winston's tattoo on my arm and wear Dan’s jersey number cap and of course, signature Winstons red shirt. James said that he wanted to see me in red…No! No! No! Maybe he has an infatuation or a weird fetish with seeing women in red colour. I’m not wearing red for him, I’m wearing red because I know I look good in it!

◆◆◆

The game starts and it should come as no shocker but I don’t understand shit about what’s going on. I just tried to find number 18- that’s James’ jersey number. I know because he told me during the interview. I don’t see him though.

“Why isn’t Marcus playing?” I ask Jake, because clearly, among us three, he possesses the most knowledge about American football.

“That’s because we’re on defence right now. That’s Daniel, our linebacker, our safeties, Siddharth and Nolan. Our cornerbacks, Joseph and Bianco. Our–”

“Alright. Gotcha.” Jeez! How many people are there in a team? If there are this many people on a team, how are NFL players still this rich? Why do I care!

I see some players in red running across the field and everyone gets up and I shout and cheer because I thought that it was a goal or whatever it is. The amount of embarrassment I felt is unmeasurable. Because the next moment I am shown on the big screen. I want to throw the popcorn bucket over my head, but I just pretend as if I didn't see it. As the saying goes, the problem won’t bother you if you act like it doesn’t exist!.

“The other team scored a touchdown, Ri!” Jake loudly whispers in my ear.

“So they scored a goal?” Jake shakes his head in disappointment.

I just take a seat and watch the rest of the game in silence. Towards the end of the game, it is a close match with a competitive score. Until finally Jersey number 18 passes it to jersey number 56, which is George.

“Touchdown!” Jake stands up and throws his hands in the air.

“Did we make a goal?” I ask Juju.

“I think we did a touchdown. Kind of like a goal.” She shrugs.

Jake slaps his forehead so hard that my head hurts! “Oh my God, babe. What am I going to do about you? After touchdown, we have an option if we want to opt in for a kick for an extra point. The kicker- in our team it happens to be Ace Grunt.” I snort when I hear that name. Poor kid must be bullied so much in school. “He’s one of the best kickers. He’ll definitely make it to the NFL.” Jake continues. My eyes are glued to the field.

Ace kicks the ball and it makes it through the two poles. And I know for sure that it is a goal. So I get up and shout and cheer like everyone. As soon as the match ends, all the players run on the field and lift each other and there’s confetti blowing up everywhere. My eyes wander to find James in all this. I want to run and congratulate him. When I do finally spot him, he’s being lifted by Dan on his shoulder. Dan puts him down and he finds me. Our eyes lock. I look behind twice to make sure that he is looking at me and not someone else.

What should I do? Thumbs up? Wink? Flying kiss? I do none. I just smile at him. I’m bursting out with happiness but I don’t give a flying fuck about football. American football.

My happiness is short-lived as one of the beautiful cheerleaders wraps her arms around James and presses her mouth against him. I don’t look back after that.

She’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers… Stupid Taylor Swift. It was as if she saw my future. “Let’s get out of here.” I hold Juju’s hand and pull her behind me. She was right, I wasn’t the only girl who James had fucked (we didn’t have sex) who would wear his jersey and cheer for him. Granted I am not cheering for him or wearing his jersey.

It takes ages for the crowd to clear up. And when we’re finally just about to walk outside, Juju insists that she’s hungry and wants to grab more food before going out. I remind her that we are going out to grab food. “My latin ass will digest it until then.”

I want to correct her about so many things, but I don’t bother. I just wait in a corner for Jake and Juju to grab food. There’s a huge line. Like a really huge line. Ugh!

It’s been almost half an hour of me standing in the corner, and these are the times when I hate being the third wheel.

“Hey…” I hear a familiar voice. I turn around to see Mr. Muscles standing behind me. Towering over me. Wet blonde hair and those green meadow-y eyes.

“Hey…” I totally forgot his name. I remember his middle name though, James…Ugh! Now I’m back to thinking about how that cheerleader was snogging his face.

He chuckles, looking down at me because he is that tall! “You forgot my name, didn’t you?”

“And I know that you don’t know mine.” My eyes fall on his green Fritz jersey. It definitely brings out the pop of green in his eyes.

“I know it’s not sweetheart.” That makes me chuckle. “Cole,” he says.

“Riya.” I offer my hand to shake and he looks at it for a second longer which makes it awkward before he finally shakes my hand.

Last time I saw him, he was all dressed up in a suit and now– jeans and Fritz jersey. I’d say he’s more of a jeans guy. It suits him better. And I don’t miss the playfulness in his eyes when he looks at me. “So, does it hurt?” I ask him.

“When I fell from heaven?” He flashes me that stupid smug grin. Cocky.

“When you got your ass kicked by Winstons an hour ago.” he chuckles and nods. I am a loyal Winston's student!

“It did hurt. I wouldn’t mind you rubbing it to make it better.” I don’t know if I should be grossed out or turned on.

“You guys played well though. Couldn’t help it that we were the best!” I shrug. Even though I don’t know shit about the game, one of my friends told me that confidence is the key. You can bullshit your way through anything if you’re confident enough.

“I didn’t peg you for being a loner.” My eyes widen and my jaw drops. I am not a loner!

Consider me offended! “Excuse me. I am with friends here. Well, friend and her boyfriend. But nonetheless, not alone!”

“Sweetheart, third wheeling is worse than being a loner.” he chuckles. There’s something about his raspy laugh which makes me smile. Ugh! I need to get my aura cleansed!

I roll my eyes at him and turn away, looking at the crowd. Where are the ‘super urgent’ phone calls when I need them? “Don’t you have to be at a bar to sulk over your loss?” My phone is dead silent and I just want someone to save me.

“Or I could help you get out of third wheeling and make it a double date.” My eyes jolt up in his direction. Subtle way of asking someone on a date, unless he’s taking pity on me for third-wheeling.

“Are you asking me on a date Cole James Harriett?” I say playfully. His smirk tells me that he is definitely flirting with me. I should flirt back. I mean he’s hot as hell. Granted I know nothing about the guy, but we are all strangers once. Some strangers just happen to be hotter than some others.

He leans his shoulder against the wall and tucks his hands in his pocket. He does have a charming smile. And he sure uses it often! “Why yes I am, Riya. Unless you don’t want to be mistaken as conspiring with the enemy.” He raises his brow. I love sarcasm.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t care about football anyway. American football.” I correct myself quickly.

“Harriett.” A loud voice echoes from the back. Cole turns around to see a red James standing behind him. It must be from the game. But god he looks hot with all that wet hair and those gloomy deep ocean blue eyes. James strides towards us and all eyes turn towards him and whisper something inaudible.

“Williams.” Cole turns hostile.

James strides towards us, his bag hanging on his left shoulder. “She’s with me.” James puts his hand around my shoulder and I hear a couple of gasps.

Oh hell no! I am not letting this happen. I am not going to be the captain’s trophy! “Why don’t we meet up some other time, Cole? I’ll take you up on your date offer then.” I slide off James’s hand and reach in my pocket to pull my phone. “Why don’t you give me your number? I’ll call you.” Petty. My behaviour is petty right now. Just because he kissed that cheerleader, I am agreeing to go on a date with a random stranger. Okay, a hot and sexy random stranger.

Cole puts his number in my phone and has that smug smile on his face. “See you sweetheart. You need anything, you call me.” he winks at me.

James glares at Cole.“She won’t need to.” I should stop this little game before it blows up in my face. I literally feel fumes coming off James. Or maybe it’s his post game hotness? Who am I kidding, it's freezing!

“Wasn’t talking to you, jackass.” Cole strikes back.

“I will. See you Cole.” I hate being around drama. This…I don’t like.

James turns to look at me. “You let him call you sweetheart? And what’s this about a date?” Is he jealous? Nah. He can’t be.

“You don’t have a right to tell me that, James–” Don’t say it. Don’t say it. “Especially when you had your tongue down someone else’s throat.” He stiffens and I immediately regret the words that come out of my mouth.

He backs away for a second before coming too close to me. I can smell the scent of his body wash and his cologne leather-y and fresh shampoo. Together, that’s a deadly combination. “She came onto me! I swear to god! I didn’t kiss her. She kissed me. And I pushed her off the second she came onto me.” he sighs. “I did push her away and…” he looks around and there’s people around us. Staring at him. And me. He pulls me further into a corner and whispers softly. “because she didn’t do it for me.” What?

“Do what? Fuck you right there and then?” That was harsh and I have no right to say that.

“She didn’t make me hard, Riya.” Oh! I look down at his jeans which cling onto his body like skin and that loose white tee and a Winstons jacket. God, he’s looking smack-a-licious.

“Um…okay…I–” What do I even say here? I don’t know what takes over me, we are still in public, given that we are standing under the stairs and people can barely see me over his huge back, but still-public. His eyes seem so innocent. So…

I run my hand down his arm and tug on his jeans buckle. “What about now?” he groans.

“Fuck, yes.” Why does it make me horny, that I make him hard, by not even touching him, directly? “But. No.” He flicks my hand off.

“Why?”

“I like you Raven. And not just for your body. I mean I do like you for your body, I can barely get it out of my mind, but I would also like to get to know you more.” I almost laugh when he says that joke. But he doesn’t laugh. Is he for real? Why would anyone want to get to know me?

“Why?” I ask and he chuckles.

He clears his throat and blinks his eyes faster. He is caught off guard just as much as me. “I didn’t prepare for that. But all I know is that when you were ignoring me for two days, I wanted to do nothing more than just talk to you. That and think about ways to make you come. I think it might be my favourite thing to do.” I look around to double check if anybody heard us. This man has no filter.

I am speechless.

“Why don’t you go on one date with me? I promise to keep my hands to myself.”

“Why?”

“You really like that word, huh?” he laughs in his deep voice.

“No, I mean…I’m just confused.”

“Do you feel the same connection I do?”

“Yes.” Without a beat.

“Then one date. Grace me with one date!” he does those puppy dog eyes again that I always fall for.

“Alright J ames .”