Prologue
693 Words
Prologue
Nine Years Ago
SAWYER
New York, New York
The pact had always been easy. Or at least it was supposed to be.
The concept of dipping your d**k in another baseball bro’s wading pool had never been a problem before now, and on a night like tonight—the night before the draft, it definitely isn’t.
This pre-draft party has enough women to satisfy any potential pro. Too many, in fact.
I can’t choose between the options here since there are so many, and just as I’m thinking of pulling an eeney-meeney-miney-mo on the coeds in the corner, I pull up, drink in hand to the one man who can sympathize.
Our team captain (and my best friend) perches on the edge of the party, a sulk on his face. I lean towards him, wondering why it’s there.
I start to ask, but my mind is pulled in another direction by my wayward c**k. A siren on the other side of the room waves, and just like that, I’m back to considering my options, back to feeling good about being out of danger of breaking our college baseball team’s pact any time soon.
I take a gulp from the drink in my hand, the beer burning on its way down. I swallow, sidling up to Sevin, a smile on my face.
“f**k, I could use a b*****b right now.”
He doesn’t turn. “I hate it when you tell me things like that, Sawyer. It’s as if your c**k is my responsibility.”
“It is, when you’re my wingman.” I swing an arm around his shoulder, pulling him close. “Tatiana has me in blue-ball hell. Sarah only gives hand-jobs. Natalia’s been teasing me for months, and if I don’t get my d**k wet at this party, I swear: I’m humping one of you before the night is over.”
“If this act comes down to a vote, I vote for Lenny. Most of the time, he’s a walking prick anyway.”
I laugh. “What the hell are you doing over here? Trying to recover from last night? I heard you had three sorority sisters clinging to your bedroom curtains last night.”
I lean in as if telling a secret. But my voice is too loud.
I’m too drunk, too happy and too horny to give a s**t, and as I try to lighten his mood, a dagger of guilt hits me in my gut.
Poor Sevin. The lucky bastard I know and love’s been sullen all night.
And I wish I didn’t know why. I wish I hadn’t figured out that it’s because one of our own—his roommate, our good friend Finley—couldn’t give a damn about the pact.
And I’m the bastard who pushed him into breaking it.
I try for another grin, nudging Sevin beside me. He doesn’t budge.
“Hey,” I pipe up, my voice unusually pitchy. “I heard Victoria Salvatore called first dibs on you in her sorority tonight. Janice Planko brought condoms with your name Sharpie-ed on them. And the best part…” I chuckle, elbowing him for the fourth time. It makes no difference. “Vivian Green isn’t wearing any underwear. Told her roommate that’s easy access for when she takes you into the bathroom. Now, what do you think of that?”
He smiles. The first of the night. But the expression is just as flat as this beer, and I tell myself that I’ll tell him.
I tell myself that I’ll confess about pushing our teammate, his roommate, Finley into Sevin’s girlfriend Kimmy’s arms, and I’ll admit I’m the worst person on earth when I do.
But the coward in me comes out, tucking the confession away. And just as quickly as the thought comes to me, it’s pushed out by all the f*****g fear I feel at losing my best friend.
I cheers him instead, moving away.
And for a few blissful minutes, I’m in the clear. That is until Finley walks in, Kimmy on his arm.
I don’t believe in religion. No real spirituality to speak of.
But I believe in friendship. It’s only thing I have.
And right now, my best one—the only one, really—is on the line, on a night that I need it most.
I hurry in Finley’s direction before Sevin spots him, the lie I’m getting ready to tell already on my lips.
Pact be damned.
- Writer
