He’s such a good looking guy, and he knows it, but he seems nice.
“Tell me how things are going? How are your classes?” Chance grabs his bottle of beer and takes a drink.
“They’re good, but hard. What about you?” Why am I terrible at small talk? Can he tell I’m nervous?
He gives me a smirk. “They’re good. This next weekend we have a home soccer game; you should come watch us play.”
I shrug. “Sure. Are you any good?”
“Oh Jesus,” Trey says. “Nicole, do you want to head inside? Someone’s ego is going to take up all the space out here.”
Nicole gets up and follows Trey inside, leaving Chance and I alone. “Don’t listen to Trey. He’s an asshole,” he says with a laugh. “To answer your question, I’m really good.”
“Have you always played?”
He nods and takes a drink of his beer. I find myself watching his Adam’s apple bob while he swallows it. I look away before he catches me watching him. “I’ve played as long as I can remember. I honestly just have a natural talent for it. My dad played, and he coached me through junior high.”
“Cross country was my thing, and honestly I only run now for exercise or to clear my head.” I grab my glass and swallow the rest of my drink down.
“Well, if you ever want…”
“Chance, oh my God. What are you doing here?” A blonde girl in a skimpy sundress flops right down on Chance’s lap, and I don’t miss that his hand goes right to her thigh. “Come over tonight?” She completely ignores that fact that we’re sitting together and talking. Of course I’m no competition.
I get up from my chair. Clearly I’ve been replaced, and why does that sting? It’s not like I’m interested in him, or am I? When I step inside, I find Nicole and Trey sitting at the bar looking like they’re in a deep conversation. I shoot her a quick text.
Laken: Hey, I’m heading home. I’m beat. Thank you for getting my mind off of stuff. Please don’t tell Trey about Ava.
It’s not that I’m ashamed or embarrassed that I’m a mom, but sometimes people ask questions I don’t want to answer.
The bar is only a few blocks from our apartment, so we walk. Halfway home my phone dings.
Nicole: I won’t say anything, but FYI—Chance was just in here looking for you.
I ignore that last part because he was probably going to say goodbye to me before he went off with that girl, but of course he has every right to. We’re not a couple; we weren’t on a date.
Once I get back to our apartment I let myself in. I want to see my girl, but after the meltdown she had earlier, FaceTiming with her could be real bad, so I opt to call my mom instead.
“Hey, honey, what are you doing?”
“Nothing. I was just out with Nicole for a little bit. I want to FaceTime Ava, but after earlier I don’t think it’s a good idea. Is she okay?” I kick my shoes off in my room and sit on the end of my mattress with my legs crossed.
“She’s sitting with Uncle Jay watching Moana. I promise she’s fine. After you left, she laid down with Papa and took a nap. When she woke up, she was in much better spirits.”
That makes me feel better—just a little bit. “Give her a kiss for me. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, Laken. I say it all the time, but I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished.”
We hang up, and I decide I need to go to bed and forget all about this sucky day.
Chapter Five
Chance
I spot her up ahead. I haven't seen Laken since we bumped into each other last week at the bar. We’d been talking, and she was starting to relax around me. It was all ruined when Margot showed up and plopped her ass right on my lap.
By the time I got her off of me Laken was gone. I’d asked her friend Nicole where she was, and she told me that she’d gone home. Margot only interrupted us because she was pissed that I didn’t go over to her place the day we’d ran into each other.
Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to, bad, but there was something that kept me from walking out my door. Instead I watched porn and jerked off.
I jog to catch up to her. “Laken!” She stops and turns, watching me as I approach her. “Hey, how are you?”
“I’m good, Chance. How are you?”
I hate this awkwardness. Normally girls just fall all over me, and I have to do no work whatsoever. “I’m good. I wanted to apologize for the other night. We were having a nice conversation and were rudely interrupted.”
Laken looks down at her feet and shrugs. “No need to apologize.” She looks up me. “I have to go grab some lunch before class.” She turns and walks away, but I’m not ready to be done with her yet.
“Laken, wait up.” Again, she stops and turns, waiting for me to catch up. For a shorty she’s sure fast. “Let me buy you lunch?”
“That’s seriously not necessary.”
I nod. “I know it’s not, but I want to … please?” I stick out my lower lip and give her puppy dog eyes.
Laken shakes her head. “Fine.”
I refrain from pumping my fist in the air. I don’t think she’d appreciate that very much. We head over to a taco truck and both order carne asada tacos. I grab us a couple bottles of water and when our food is ready, I grab the tray, and we find a spot at a secluded table.
I squirt some hot sauce on mine. “I wish I had my cock sauce.”
She chokes on a bite of her
