Page 46 of Under the Influence

“She said that she’s here because she can’t go home. Do you know why that is? Does anyone?”

I shake my head, “No, we don’t know, and I bet Jovie doesn’t either. Jovie just knows whatever lies she’s spun to fit her agenda. God, Nash, when are you going to learn that Jovie Clark is the problem?”

He laughs, “Probably the same time you realize that Avery Sinclair doesn’t make your dick hard anymore.”

I shove him, causing him to take a few wobbly steps. “Shut up.”

He laughs, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to lock her in the closet.”

I cringe thinking back to two years ago, “Not your finest hour.”

“I know,” he agrees. “And now Lainey’s hanging out with Drayton Lewis. Talk about revenge.”

“He’s not the enemy. You know that, man.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to remember that, though, when my dad is tucking him in at night.”

I try to ease the blow, “He’s sixteen, so I highly doubt that.”

He laughs, “I can’t wait to hit off of him this spring. I’m definitely gonna send one over the fence and flip him the bird while I run the bases.”

“Coach T will love that,” I deadpan.

He shrugs, nudging me with his elbow, “Come on, I’ll race you back to the cages.”

We take off, and right at the end, I use my second wind to fly by him. Ha! Guess all that weed he’s been smoking is messing with his lungs. We say our goodbyes, and I’m a little surprised when I see Parker leaning against my truck.

“Have you seen Avery?” she questions, slinging her cheer bag over her shoulder. “She wouldn’t miss practice this close to the football game. Is she alright?”

I feel my stomach start to knot, “No, actually, I was on my way to check on her.”

“Just tell her to call me, okay?”

She stalks off, straight into Jonah’s arms. “Yeah, I will.”

I jump into my truck, re-reading Avery’s messages from last night.

Short. Impersonal. Uninterested.

It’s not normal for Avie at all.

She’ll get pissed and distance herself some but not entirely, definitely not missing school and ghosting. Although the last conversation I had with her on the phone this morning before school didn’t end well.

I decide that now is a good time to book the venue for a party this weekend while I drive to her house. It already should have been done, really.

“Dockside Marina,” the hostess answers the phone, and I explain that I want to book the place for a party this weekend. “Yes, ma’am, Saturday the twenty-fifth.”

She shuffles papers on the other line, “Honey, this Saturday is the twenty-sixth.”

What? Wait.

“Yeah, that’s perfect, 7pm. I’ll send someone in early to decorate. Thanks.”

I ramble quickly, ending the call. My days are all mixed up.

The playground. I missed the playground.

Regret suffocates me, entirely filling my lungs with a heaviness. I’m not this guy. No matter what I have going on, I’m there for my friends. I always put the people I love first.