Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Jace

“What’d you think?” I ask, setting my fork down.

We just finished dinner, and despite Kenzie saying she wasn’t hungry, she managed to finish off an entire ten-ounce steak.

“It was great! Better than a restaurant.”

“Except for the instant mashed potatoes.”

“They weren’t bad. The butter helped.”

“I didn’t even know we had those. Carter must’ve bought them.”

“Or maybe your ex.”

“Nikki wouldn’t buy potatoes. She doesn’t eat carbs except on rare occasions.”

“I don’t know how someone can go without carbs.” Kenzie hops up from her chair. “More cheesecake?”

“I don’t know if I have room, but I’ll give it a try.”

She brings it over to the table, then plops back on her chair. “I think I’m drunk.” She digs into the cheesecake with her fork.

I smile at her. “Maybe a little.”

“Are you?”

“I’m buzzed but not drunk. It takes a lot to get me drunk and I really didn’t have that much tonight.”

“Why not? You didn’t feel like drinking?”

“I did, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to get drunk.”

She doesn’t ask me to explain. She just nods. We both know what could happen if we drank too much. At least one of us needs to stay sober tonight to make sure nothing happens.

“I think I’m done with guys.” Kenzie sets her fork down and leans back in her chair.

“Like forever?“

“Not forever but at least for awhile.”

“Some people say the best way to get over someone is to find someone else.”

“Do you agree with that?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never tried it.”

She looks off in the distance, twirling her hair and seeming lost in her thoughts.

“I think I’ll start dating again.”

Her eyes dart to mine. “Really? Like right away?”

“Maybe. Nikki’s already moved on so why shouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re hurting.”

“Well, yeah, there’s that, but maybe I should test this theory about dating other people. Maybe it’d help me forget about her. But no relationships. Those are banned until I’m ready.”

“So you’re just going to use girls to get over Nikki?”

“I won’t be using them. I’ll be dating them. I’m so used to Nikki and how she treated me that I don’t know any different. I want to see what it’d be like to date someone else. Someone completely different than her.”

“What if you date someone who wants to be in a relationship?”

“I’ll tell her upfront that I’m not looking for anything serious. If that’s not what she wants, she can find someone else.”

“That’s kinda harsh, isn’t it?”

“Not everyone’s looking for a relationship, especially at our age. College is the time to date different people so you can see what you really want in a partner.”

“I thought I already knew,” she says, her happy mood turning sad. “I thought Liam was the one I’d be with forever.”

“I thought the same about Nikki, but I was wrong. Now I’m starting to question my judgment, which is why I can’t get in a relationship right now.”

“Still, don’t you want to take some time before you start dating again?”

“Maybe. I’ll see what happens. I’m not going to go out of my way to find someone, but if an opportunity comes up, I’ll take it.”

“Do girls ever ask you out?”

“They have in the past, but I’d tell them I had a girlfriend. I meet a lot of people at work so—“ I pop up from my chair. “Shit, what time is it?”

“Seven. Why?”

“I’m supposed to be at work. I totally forgot.” I grab my phone and call Kent, my boss. “Kent, I totally spaced on work tonight. I’m really sorry.”

“I was just about to call you. I talked to Dax a few minutes ago and he told me what happened. If you can’t make it tonight, don’t worry about it. I understand.”

“If you’re serious, I’ll take you up on that. I could really use a night off.”

“Then take it off. It’s really slow here tonight. Everyone’s partying before classes begin. You’d just be sitting here bored. You could take tomorrow off too, if you want. I’m guessing it’ll be even slower. Saturday night’s are already slow but the Saturday before classes begin is one of the slowest of the year.”

“Sounds good. I’ll just plan on being there for my shift on Sunday.”

“Okay, but will you do something for me?”

“What?”

“Don’t hide in your room, sulking. Get out and do something with your friends. There’ll be other girls. I know you probably don’t want to hear that now, but trust me, you’ll find someone better.”

“Thanks, man. Talk to you, Sunday.”

“Yeah, see you then.”

Kent is speaking from experience. His wife cheated on him a couple years ago. When I first started working at the gym, he was newly divorced and so depressed he barely spoke to anyone. Then the gym hired Lacey, a personal trainer, and he started working with her to get himself back in shape. After their first session, he was like a new man. Smiling and cracking jokes, and he had all this energy. We all knew it was because of Lacey. They started dating and now they’re married, expecting their first kid around Christmas.

“Are you leaving?” Kenzie asks, getting up from the table. “I can clean up.”

“I took the night off.” I gather our plates and take them to the sink. “Tomorrow too. My boss said it’s really slow. He doesn’t need the help.”

“Where do you work?”

“At the gym on campus. The place is usually packed but the weekend before classes start, it’s empty.”

“What do you do there?”

“I work the front desk, checking IDs, answering questions. That’s why I meet so many people. They have to go to me first before heading into the gym.”

“I’ll have to go check it out.”

“Do you like working out?”

“Depends on the workout. My mom and I used to take cardio classes at this place near my house, or sometimes we’d go to a yoga class.”

“They have classes at the campus gym. And if you’re interested in weights, they have a really good weight room.”

“I’ve never tried lifting weights.”

“If you want, I can help you get started. I studied to be a personal trainer. I just haven’t taken the test.”

“You want to be a personal trainer?”

“Probably not. It doesn’t pay enough. I’m studying sports management. I want to be a sports agent.”

“Aren’t they usually lawyers?”

“Yeah, but it’s not required.”

“That’s interesting. I didn’t know that was a degree, but I don’t know much about sports.”

“I love sports, especially basketball, but I have a hard time watching it now that I can’t play.”

“You can’t ever play again?“

“Not with my shoulder injury. It’s too risky. I could do permanent damage if I try to play again.”

“What about other sports? Are they off limits too?”

“For now, yeah. I have to build up strength in my upper body before I even attempt to play sports again.”

“You look pretty strong to me.”

Her eyes drop to my arms, which are muscular but not even close to as big as they used to be.

“I was a lot stronger before I got hurt,” I say. “After my shoulder surgery, I couldn’t lift weights for months. I lost some muscle, but I’ve been working to get it back.”

Kenzie doesn’t say anything, and when I look over at her, she’s staring at the counter, seeming lost in her thoughts. She keeps spacing out like that, probably thinking about her ex. Surprisingly, I haven’t thought about Nikki for hours now. I’ve been too focused on Kenzie, trying to make her feel better.

“Hey,” I say. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” She looks over at me and smiles. “Do you have any cleaner?”

“For what?”

“The counters.”

“I usually just wipe them down with water.”

“Move over.” I step aside as she bends down to look under the sink. She pulls out a spray bottle. “You have cleaner. An entire bottle of it.”

“I didn’t know I had that. My uncle must have bought it.”

“Does your uncle live nearby?”

“About twenty minutes from here, but he’s in Spain for the semester. He’s a professor in the College of Business. They have an exchange program in Spain and he’s teaching some classes there.”

“Is he single?” She laughs. “Maybe he could date my mom. They’re both teachers. Both like living overseas.”

“He’s single, but it probably wouldn’t work out if they’re living in different towns. By the way, where are you from?”

“Illinois. How about you?”

“Ohio. Home is about a four-hour drive from here, depending on how fast I go.”

She sprays the counters with the cleaner. “The alcohol’s wearing off. I don’t even feel drunk anymore. I think I’ll go to bed after this.”

I grab a paper towel and help her wipe the counters. “Why don’t we go do something?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, but I’ve been instructed not to sit in my room so I kind of have to go out.”

“Who told you not to sit in your room?”

“My boss, and he’s right. Sitting in my room, thinking about what happened, is the last thing I should be doing. Same for you. You need to get out.”

“And do what?”

“Go to a movie. A bar. Whatever you want. I’d like to avoid parties. Nikki tends to party hop and I don’t want to risk running into her.”

“Liam doesn’t go to parties. Or maybe he does and just didn’t tell me. Everything he said is probably a lie.”

“Hey.” I take the bottle of cleaner from her. “Stop talking about Liam. It’ll only make you feel worse.”

“It’s hard not to talk about him when he’s such a big part of my life.”

“But he’s not anymore, so you need to start making your life about something other than him. I know it’s hard. I’m trying to do the same thing with Nikki. I need to stop talking about her and thinking about her.” I turn to face Kenzie. “Maybe we can help each other out.”

“How?”

“When we start obsessing about our exes, we call each other out on it. Or we distract each other so we stop thinking about them.”

She smiles a little. “I like that idea.”

“Then let’s start tonight. Let’s get out of here and do something. Something we’d never do with our exes.”

“Like what?”

I stop to think. “You ever played laser tag?”

“No. Have you ?”

“Yeah, but never with Nikki, which means it’s something we could do.” I grab my phone and check the time. “They’re open for another two hours. That’s plenty of time. What do you think?”

“I don’t know how to play.”

“It’s easy. Just aim and shoot.”

She gives me a full-on smile. “Okay! Let’s do it!”

“You should probably go change,” I say, pointing to her clothes. She’s still wearing that short skirt and tank top. It took all my effort not to stare at her breasts in that tank top during dinner. I seriously can’t figure out why a guy would cheat on a girl this hot. Whoever her ex is with now can’t possibly be as hot as Kenzie, or as nice.

She hurries off to her room while I finish wiping down the counters. A few minutes later, she returns wearing denim shorts and a t-shirt. The shorts are just as short as her skirt and once again, I find myself checking her out.

“Is this okay?” she asks, twirling around, giving me a view of her round little ass.

“Yeah, it’s good. I’ll grab my keys.” I get them from the hook on the wall. “We can take my truck.”

“Are you too embarrassed to be seen in my station wagon?” she kids as we go outside.

“Kind of. How old is that thing?”

“Older than me. My dad got it for my mom right after they got married.”

“You see your dad much?” I ask as we get in the truck.

“Never. He moved away, got remarried, had more kids, and forgot all about me.”

“That sucks.”

“I don’t really care. My mom is all I need. How about you? Are your parents still together?”

“They divorced when I was seven. They’re both remarried, but I still see them. They only live five miles apart.” I pull out of the driveway and onto the street.

“Do your parents get along?” Kenzie asks.

“They didn’t used to, but they do now.” I turn down a side street and hear someone yelling my name. I look over and see Levi, one of my teammates, waving at me from the sidewalk. I pull over.

“I thought you worked tonight,” he says, walking up to my window.

“I got it off. My boss said he didn’t need me.”

“Then come to the party with us. We’re leaving in a few minutes.”

“Not tonight. I made other plans.”

He glances at Kenzie, then back at me. “Where are you going?”

“We’re gonna check out the laser tag. I’ve never been to the one here. Have you?”

“When I was a freshman. I haven’t been there since.”

“Why? Does it suck?”

“No, it just seemed more for little kids. But I heard they changed it and made Friday and Saturday nights for adults only. I think they might even serve beer.”

I look at Kenzie. “I’m liking this idea even more.”

She smiles. “Yeah, it sounds fun.” She leans over me toward Levi. “I’m Kenzie.”

“Sorry,” I say. “I should’ve introduced you. Kenzie, this is Levi, one of the guys from the basketball team. Levi, this is Kenzie, my new roommate.”

“Hey.” He gives her a wave, then says to me, “Sorry to hear about Nikki.”

I shrug. “Wasn’t meant to be.”

“Carter found a room in Halcott.”

“He’s back in the dorms?” I laugh. “Nobody wanted him?”

“Not after what he did to you. The guys don’t trust him now. If he lied to you, one of his closest friends, he’ll lie to any of us. I still can’t believe he did that. And then he does it in your house. Like he couldn’t go somewhere else?”

“Are the guys still talking to him?”

“Well, yeah. We just don’t want to live with him.” His phone dings and he checks it. “That’s Dax. He’s waiting at my house. You sure you guys don’t want to go with us tonight?”

“We don’t want to risk running into our exes,” I say. “And I shouldn’t be around Carter right now.”

He nods. “Yeah, Carter will definitely be there. I’m guessing Nikki will be there too.” He steps back from the truck. “Let me know how the laser tag goes. If there’s beer, I might go back there sometime.”

“Okay, see ya.” I pull back on the street and drive off.

“He knows?” Kenzie says. “About Liam?”

“No. Why?”

“You told him we were trying to avoid our exes.”

“Oh, shit, sorry. I wasn’t even thinking. You didn’t want people to know and then I just blurted it out. I’m really sorry.”

“It’s fine. I never told you not to tell anyone.”

“I won’t tell anyone else. I promise.”

“It’s not a secret. It’s just that telling people makes it more real. I’m trying to pretend it never happened.”

“But it did, so it might be better to just accept that and try to move on.”

She sighs. “If anyone but you said that, I’d want to throw something at them.”

I glance at her. “Why not me?”

“Because you know what I’m going through. You’re the only one I know who can understand how this feels. And it happened to us at the same time so in a way we’re going through it together.”

“Which means you won’t hit me if I say stuff like that?”

“You get a free pass. But it goes both ways. I get to say stuff to you too.”

“Like what? So far you haven’t said much about what happened with Nikki.”

“Because I’m still getting to know you. I didn’t think it’d be right to be giving you advice.”

“But if you did, what would you tell me?”

“To not get back together with her.”

“That’s not gonna happen. Not after what I saw today. She didn’t even act sorry for what she did. There’s no way I’d take her back.”

“You say that now, but girls are good at convincing guys to forgive them.”

“Maybe some guys would fall for that, but I’m not one of them.”

“You could be, if she catches you at a weak moment.”

I pull into the parking lot of the laser tag place. “What about you? Are you worried you’ll go back to Liam?”

“I was, but now I think I can do this. I think I’ll be okay on my own.”

“What changed your mind?”

“The last few hours.”

“What do you mean?”

“After what happened, I thought I’d be sad for weeks, maybe even months. But you had me smiling within an hour of meeting you. You even got me to laugh. I was laughing just a few hours after finding Liam with another girl. I didn’t think that was possible, but it happened, which just proves I’ll be okay without him.”

I made her smile. I made her laugh. It was what I was going for, but to hear Kenzie say it, to hear her say I’m the one who did that, makes me feel really good. It takes away some of my own sadness and anger about what happened today.

Kenzie says I helped her, but she helped me too. More than she knows.