Page 37 of Pinch

“That’s what I thought.” I turn to start entering the code again, but again, he stops me.

“I slept with a few Tri-Delts.”

“A few?”

“More than a few.” He won’t meet my eyes now, and his brow is furrowed. “I didn’t care about them, and it wasn’t right. But I was on a rager after Dex told me. Then next thing I knew, she found out and she turned it all around. She said it was all me… and you stood by her, just like they all did.”

“I never had a reason not to believe my friend. I’ve known Karen since we were teenagers.”

“I’m giving you a reason.” Intense blue eyes lock on mine. “I’m telling you it was a lie.”

10

Gavin

Idon’t know if she believed me. I told her my side, and she pressed her full lips together and nodded. She didn’t say anything. She only entered the code on the door and went into the house, scooped up her little dog, and went to her bedroom.

Mav eventually came home as did Gigi. We had dinner together, and Haddy acted like she always does, friendly but not really making eye contact.

It twists in my chest, and I want to pull her aside and make her tell me where she landed.

That would be a mistake, so instead we chatted about the charity clinic. Mav bragged about his cousin, and how she inspired a whole generation of princess hockey stars, male and female.

Haddy’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink when I joined him in praising her popularity among those future hockey stars.

She even laughed when I mentioned the little boy with the dad who is allegedly mean as a snake.

“That doesn’t sound very good,” Gigi frowned, patting Spanky’s fuzzy head. “Are you guys mandated reporters?”

“I don’t think so,” Mav polished off his last habanero-spiced black bean burrito. “Coach might be, but not us.”

“You don’t seem too worried about it,” she pressed.

“I was concerned at first.” Haddy leans over to put her little dog on the porch. “Then his dad showed up, and they interacted like any father and son, no fear, all shouting and happy excitement.”

“The guy seemed okay,” Mav agreed. “I think the little kid might’ve overheard his friends joking around or something.”

Gigi seemed satisfied. “Well, I’ll tell you who wasnotshouting with happy excitement.”

“Oh, no.” Haddy leans forward to squeeze her arm. “Was it elimination day?”

“First round contestants for the West Coast Regional dog fair.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know why I do this every year. I’ve done my best to scrub our address from the Internet, but keep your eyes open.”

“Not this again,” Mav groans.

“What the fuck?” I look from Gigi to Mav. “Is something going to happen?”

“Somebody’s going to toilet paper the house or stink-bomb the mailbox,” Mav explains.

“Which is a federal offense, by the way.” Haddy stands, walking over to where Peepee is trying to climb back up the steps from the yard to the porch.

“We should figure out a way to booby trap it!” Mav is on his feet collecting plates, which prompts me to do the same.

“And have it go off on sweet Mr. Nelson?” Gigi cries. “Never! We’ll deal with the stink if it comes.”

“Maybe we could teach Spanky to be a guard dog,”Haddy observes, collecting the serving dishes and following her cousins into the house.

“I don’t know if Spanky is discerning enough for that,” Gina says. “He might attack the wrong person.”