Adam’s apartment isn’t far from campus and if the number of vehicles with Valley University bumper stickers and license plate holders is indicative of how many students live here, then I’d say it’s a lot.
He leads me up the stairs to the second-floor unit.
“Where is everyone?” I ask as we walk into the quiet living room.
“Campus or the gym.” He drops his backpack on the couch. “We have preseason workouts twice a day this week. I’m gonna change real quick.” He heads into one of the bedrooms off the living room.
“Where do you want to eat?” he calls through the open door.
“I don’t care. Wherever you want.”
I walk around the apartment scoping out my brother’s living arrangements. There are three bedrooms, Adam’s and then two on the opposite side of the unit. In the middle is an open concept area that has a kitchen, dining, and living room.
The place isn’t that big but it’s a pretty nice setup and feels huge by comparison to my tiny dorm room.
In the living room there’s a matching couch and chair in a light brown leather. A coffee table, its top made of old hockey sticks, sits in front of the couch. The only artwork on the walls are a few jerseys and a hockey poster of the Bruins—Adam’s favorite team.
The entire apartment is cleaner than I would have expected. A few empty Gatorade bottles on the kitchen counter, a football and a hockey stick—which I can’t help but note is a random combination of sporting goods—lying in the middle of the floor in the living room, and a couple of stray articles of clothing on the backs of the chairs at the dining room table.
Adam reappears as I’m looking inside their empty refrigerator.
“Where’s all your food?”
“We haven’t gone shopping yet.”
“What do you eat?”
He fills a glass with tap water and chugs it before responding. “We mostly eat on campus or we go out. We have a small kitchen in the locker room too that is re-stocked every few days.”
“Can I use your bathroom before we go?” I head toward the one that is near his bedroom.
“Use the other one.” He points to the bathroom on the opposite side of the apartment. “The light is out in mine. I need to get new bulbs.”
“How do you see to shower or pee?” I ask.
“I leave the door open.”
Boys are weird.
Instead of going to a restaurant, Adam and I go through a drive through and eat in his Jeep while he takes me all around Valley showing me Frat Row and some of the popular college bars and restaurants.
“Have you heard from Mom and Dad?” he asks. “Are they back from their trip?”
“They get back tomorrow, I think.” Our parents went on some fancy, romantic vacation to Mexico. Initially I’d been bummed that they weren’t going to be able to drop me off at college, but I’m glad they missed seeing me all sad and teary. The day Adam and I arrived on campus, I dropped my things in my room and then fell onto my new bed and sobbed. Poor Ava must have thought I was nuts.
“I’m really glad you’re here,” I admit.
He grins. “Me too. I get to spend the last year of college with my baby sister.”
“You have to stop calling me that. I’m not a baby.”
His mouth pulls into a wider smile. “Come over this weekend and crash at my place. You’ll avoid listening to your roomie’s sex sounds, and I’ll introduce you to everyone. People are always coming and going from our apartment. It’ll be good to meet more people here. Hell, maybe I’ll throw a party.”
“You never let me come to your parties in high school and now you’re practically begging me. I find this quite redeeming even though now I don’t actually want to go. Back then I would have killed to hang with you and your friends.”
“High school was different. No one here cares if you’re a freshman or senior or if you go to college at all. Plus, I want to see that you’re settled. I know the shit with Bryan was rough.”
I groan and Adam laughs.
“Only one condition. Promise me that you won’t get wasted and make an ass of yourself in front of my teammates. I’m captain this year, and I need them to respect me.”
“I promise,” I say as I roll my eyes and toss a fry in his direction.
3
Heath
“Carry me. My legs are dunzo.” Maverick leans his sweaty, heavy frame against me.
“Get the fuck off. I’m barely standing on my own.” I wobble and take a seat in my stall.
The first week of hell training is done and we survived… mostly. Coach Meyers likes to start out the year with a shit ton of conditioning and weight training. We won’t even be allowed to step on the ice for another two weeks.
My buddy falls into the seat next to me and pulls a T-shirt over his head. “Wanna grab a drink at Prickly Pear?”
“I can’t. Scott’s called a house meeting,” I say, annoyed and loud enough so Adam can hear me.
“Four-thirty. Don’t be late,” Adam says sternly. The rest of the guys are scared of him, being our team captain and all, but I know better. He’s all talk. I push his buttons on a regular basis and I’m still standing despite him having a good three inches and fifteen pounds on me.
Maverick and I stop for alcohol to restock for the weekend. When we get back to the apartment, we settle into the couch for our house meeting.
I’ve only lived here for a month and this is the second meeting Adam has called. It looks to be a long year. At least I have Mav for entertainment. He lives downstairs in a single apartment, but he spends way more time here than his own place.
His French bulldog, Charli, lies at his feet, staring up at him with adoring eyes. Charli is pretty
