The Safety's Sideline Obsession

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Caylee

“Want to have dinner with ME tonight?” I see the words before the sender and find myself scowling. Joey is driving me up the damn wall. I am about to tear him a new one when I see that it’s from Violet.

“I most certainly would love that. What are you coming here for?”

“Dentist appointment. Haven’t found a new one over here yet. Anyway, I’ll head to your place when I’m done if that’s ok.”

“More than ok. I’m so excited to see you!!!!”

I am. It’s only our second week of school, like the sixth day of classes. I miss having Vi here so much. I met another girl in my classic lit class named Renee and she seems sweet. She’s fairly quiet but we sit next to each other and we’ve spoken a few times. Supposed to have coffee with her and Ali later this week. I am not expecting some deep connection to them but it would be nice to have some friends on campus. My other friend Sarah left a year ago to go to graphic design school and this year is weird. I have plenty to keep me busy with all my classes.

And Joey….I think wryly. He wants to come over every night and I am not used to that. His team is having a party this weekend and honestly I’m not looking forward to it. I already told him I was only staying like an hour tops. The baseball team is not as judicious with the guest list as the football team. It will be extremely crowded.

I went to a few football parties with Sean and Liam. Having fun responsibly at a party like the running gag in my family.

I stop dwelling on that to get back to my homework until Vi knocks on it. She almost smothers me in her hug. “Missed me I can tell. Haven’t replaced me yet?” I joke and she laughs.

“Interviews start next week. They have big shoes to fill. Figuratively at least. And your brothers would want to sit in on those interviews.” She flips onto the couch, her long brown hair pulled up in a ponytail. Vj looks exactly like her mom. Tall, beautiful blue eyes and perfect curves. I smile seeing her sitting where she would camp out several nights a week.

“Tell me about this Ali and the other one….Renee right?”

“Both seem nice. Kinda shy and quiet. Ali transferred in last spring semester. Renee started here last fall so both are newer to Harrisville. Renee is a football fan. I haven’t asked Ali yet. Anyway, just might be nice to have some girls to hang out with until I can move near you and bug my brothers again.”

“We’d all love that. Still think you can graduate one semester early? Or is the load this year going to be too much?”

I shake my head. “I can handle it. Where do you want to go eat? Or you want to pick up food and come back here?”

“Here definitely. We could order from the diner. Some smothered fries sound wonderful. Oh and a milkshake.” Her eyes sparkle at the thought.

“Sounds good to me. Let me see if I can order it on their website.” Knocking on the door interrupts as I’m adding our favorites to the order. Frowning I hand my phone to Vi. “Here finish it up. My card is saved already.”

It had better not be who I think it is. Of course it is as I glance through the peephole. Tempted to not open the door at all. I unbolt it but leave the chain on. “Joey what are you doing here?”

He grins. “Hey baby cakes. Why is the chain on? I came to eat dinner with you.”

“Joey, I told you I’m busy tonight. I wasn’t joking or lying. I have dinner plans.” I say patiently.

His grin vanishes. “With who?”

“Vi is here. We’re about to go eat. Go home and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Why is Vi here? She lives in Tarrant now.” He’s annoyed. Well guess what I’m angry.

“She came to visit me. Now go home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

He stares at me for a minute before finally nodding. “Ok. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I shut the door leaning against it for a second.

Violet sits quietly watching me. “You ok?”

“Yeah he’s just…I told him I was busy and he shows up anyway. He’s got to give me some breathing room.”

Violet comes to hug me gently. “Make that very clear Caylee. You get to decide what you want in a relationship.” She almost says more but then shuts her mouth. We go get our food and she distracts me with stories about her job and Sean. By the time she leaves, I’m in a good mood again. Joey texts me late saying he’s sorry he didn’t listen when I told him I was busy.

I call him and he’s apologizing immediately when he answers. “Sorry baby cakes, I thought you weren’t that serious.”

“Joey look I don’t know what’s gotten into you but you are absolutely smothering me. When I tell you I need space or time alone, I mean it. You need to be listening to me.”

“I will. I’m so sorry. It’s just that I missed you so much all summer and I’m a possessive guy. Can’t help it.”

“There’s possessive Joey and there’s obsessive. Dial it back.” I say firmly.

“Ok I will.”

“Alright. Talk to you tomorrow.”

The next day he finds me at our usual lunch spot. “I brought you lunch.” He holds up a bag and I take it. “Is this your peace offering?”

“It is. I gotta run to my next class but I wanted to bring that.” I smile at him and wave him off. As he jogs away, I catch Noah walking along on the far sidewalk. Two girls are following behind him laughing and sneaking glances at him. He completely ignores them. My eyes follow him until he’s out of sight.

Shaking my head at myself, I look into the bag Joey brought me. It’s a Philly cheesesteak wrap with onions. I hate onions on my sandwiches and wraps. He always does that I think with irritation. Can never remember how I eat certain things. I set it down and eat the chicken salad I packed for myself. It’s just a little mistake Caylee I tell myself.

But he makes it repeatedly. The unbidden thought jumps out. I’ve let it slide too many times.

And those little things add up….I think about how Mama orders special mustard in bulk because one brand seems to make Dad sneeze. And she always makes sure he has his favorite snacks for football games even if she has to visit four stores to find them.

Later that night Joey calls and asks if I enjoyed my lunch. “Joey did you forget that I don’t like onions?”

“You eat onions. I’ve seen it.” He argues.

“But not on a sandwich.”

“Sorry baby cakes. I’ll remember for next time. You want to go eat dinner out tomorrow night? And don’t forget the party Saturday. We’re going early like at four ok?”

“Why?”

“To help setup.”

“Ok. But I can’t do dinner tomorrow night. Have to meet with Renee so we can finish our literature project.”

“Alright. This party is going to be great. We’ll have so much fun.” I doubt it but he’s very enthusiastic about it.

Saturday morning I wake and feel off. “Maybe I just need coffee.” I mumble to myself. A few hours later, I know why. I have a migraine coming on. Ugh, my migraines are nothing to take lightly. They knock me out of commission for a whole day. I go grab my migraine medicine and hope to head this one off. I send a text to Joey “migraine coming on. No party for me. Enjoy yourself.”

He calls and I put him on speakerphone. “Can’t you take some medicine and come. It’s not for another three hours.”

“No I can’t. I have to lay down in a quiet fairly dark room. And can’t get too hot. Sorry. No party for me.”

He makes a frustrated sound. “Alright. It won’t be much fun without you. I’ll call you tomorrow and tell you what you missed. Get some rest baby cakes.”

Vi texts me a question and I answer it before replying back. “Migraine. I’m about to be resting on the couch.”

“Oh no. Is Joey taking good care of you?”

I raise an eyebrow and that movement hurts a little. Yeah it’s getting worse. “He’s got that party.”

She doesn’t answer and I lay on the couch under my softest blanket staring at the ceiling ignoring how much my head is throbbing. The room is spinning a bit and moving my eyebrows is painful at this point.

Maybe I can sleep a while. I’m hungry too though. I didn’t eat today. As I’m debating getting up for food, there’s a soft knock on my door. Gingerly I make my way there and open the door. Noah stands there looking worried. “Caylee is it bad yet?”

I shake my head but wince. That hurt. I hold up one finger and release the door chain before letting him in. I’m about to walk back to the couch when I feel him lift me up easily. “Couch or bed Caylee?”

“Couch.” He lays me down gently; covering me with my blanket.

“Did you eat?”

“No.” I mumble.

“Stay awake a little longer.” I watch him lift two bags onto my counter. Didn’t even notice he had those. He comes back holding a straw close to my mouth. “It’s lemonade. I have creamy chicken and rice soup or some chicken alfredo. Which do you want?”

“Alfredo.”

He gives me a half smile. I watch him disappear into my kitchen again. He comes back as I sip my lemonade and sets a tray on the table. “Here let me help you sit up.” He sets the tray over my lap.

“You got the cheesy garlic knots.” I exclaim softly.

“Of course I did. They’re your favorite. Now eat and then you can take a nap. I brought cheesecake and hummingbird cake from Natoli’s too.”

“You got all my favorites. Who called you?” I ask as I take the first bite.

“Sean did. Said you texted Vi back only once and they were worried.” I eat and he takes my plate away to replace it with dessert. He cut me two small pieces of each one.

“You can go now. Getting better and I’ll take a nap

soon and be even better.” I am tired. But I feel so much better now that my stomach is filling up.

“No I’ll stay until you go to sleep for good tonight. Let me text them before they send a search party.” He disappears with his phone and I feel my eyelids drooping. The tray is lifted away and I realize Noah is laying me back down. “Sleep for a while. I’ll stay with you.” I let myself go feeling him gently move the hair off my forehead. My favorite Noah is my last thought that fires off.