What’s the Worst That Could Happen? （4）

August

"Come on, come on!"

Audrey Winston pushed the engine start button on her Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback repeatedly, to no avail. There was a slight click, like it was considering maybe starting, which was followed by what she could only assume was a double barrel middle finger in her direction, as it ultimately refused to do so.

"Listen, you temperamental bitch. I just need you to make it back to the apartment. Please? Seriously, what did I ever do to you?"

The 33-year-old assistant professor slumped her head onto the steering wheel, panicking that the car trouble was going to cause her to miss her 2:00 p.m. "Studies in Literature" online lecture. And seeing as it was the first class of the new fall semester, that wouldn't go over well with the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College brass.

This, however, seemed to be par for the course for Audrey, considering that just a mere five months prior, she'd had everything she'd ever wanted: a hot, professional hockey player boyfriend, a gorgeous, 2,000-square-foot, luxury apartment in one of the most up-and-coming areas of Allentown, and the ability to work full-time chasing her dreams of becoming an author since money wasn't really an issue.

One NHL call up, two weeks, and a group of mean girl WAGs later?

She found herself paying $1000 a month for a 500-square-foot studio apartment in State College, PA, driving the world's worst car, and barely scraping by as an entry-level assistant professor at a local community college.

She brushed her long, dark hair out of her face, lifted her head, and tried the start button one more time. "Please?" she whispered, and to her shock, the engine actually turned over. "Thank God!" she yelled, putting it into drive, and leaving the grocery store parking lot toward home so she could get online for her class. "Hey Siri: add a reminder to call the mechanic when I get paid next week."

"OK. I've added ‘call the mechanic" for Sunday," the Australian male AI voice responded.

"Thanks so much, stud," she responded ridiculously, picturing the voice belonging to Liam Hemsworth. And considering she hadn't even touched a man since her disastrous breakup five months ago, it was a welcome fantasy.

She pulled into the numbered spot of her complex, grabbed her reusable grocery bag full of the "safe foods" she'd just purchased, scanned her key card, and headed into the building toward the elevator.

As she stood waiting for the doors to open, she took a moment to check herself out in the mirrors, pulling on the waistband of her denim shorts and becoming briefly pleased at how loose they were compared to last week. The feeling immediately passed, as she knew they weren't anywhere near loose enough yet to celebrate.

"You've got a long way to go, girlfriend," she said aloud to herself, as the doors closed and she rode the elevator to the fourth floor. She looked up at the ceiling, studying her reflection as she turned back and forth to see if maybe there was an angle that didn't make her completely hate herself.

No luck.

That's what you get for thinking you'd ever be…

"Aud!" a voice shrieked, as the doors opened and she came face to face with Jess, her neighbor three doors down. "I was just thinking about you. I haven't seen you in a few days. You good?"

Audrey exited the elevator, holding the door open for Jess, who had a laundry bag in one hand and a bottle of detergent in the other. "Yeah, I'm…fine. You heading down?"

"Nah, fuck it," she said, turning away and letting the door close as she followed Audrey down the hall. "I can do this later. What are you up to? Let's catch up for a bit."

"I really…" Audrey checked the time on her phone.

1:18 p.m.

"I have to teach online at 2."

"Come on, just a few minutes. I have to tell you about this guy I was with last night. Holy shit, Aud."

Audrey laughed, nodding toward her door. "Fine."

They entered the small apartment, where Audrey headed to the tiny kitchen to unpack her groceries, and Jess had a seat at one of the two stools at the countertop that doubled as the kitchen table. "Did you eat yet?" Jess asked, and Audrey shook her head.

"I'm going to now," she told her slightly younger friend, as she grabbed a small plate and started putting together her lunch. Jess nodded, getting up from the stool and heading over to Audrey's bed so she could eat privately. Audrey poured some iced black coffee, then plated five grapes, three pieces of broccoli, two baby carrots, and a small slice of cheddar, which she ate while facing the sink with her back to her friend. "So, spill it," she called to Jess; the apartment was small enough that they didn't need to yell even though they weren't right next to each other. "I haven't been railed in months. Let me live vicariously through you."

"Omigod, Aud," Jess moaned, lying back onto the bed and running her tattooed hands through her bleach blonde hair with blue highlights. A hairstylist with a flair for the eccentric, she was always sporting a new look. "I don't even know how it happened, but I ended up at one of those frat parties. Well, I mean, I know how it happened. One of my clients invited me. I don't think he thought my old ass would actually show up. But I did, and holy shit. Aud, you've got to get you one of these college boys. I could barely walk this morning."

"Jess, seriously? Aren't you a little old to be messing with the college boys?"

"Nope," she replied quickly. "I'm only 31. I think he was…19. I think . I wasn't really listening. Anyway, he just kept going. Like, he'd cum, and then three minutes later? Good to go again. I think we went through half a box of condoms. Not much in the way of foreplay, but it didn't matter. His dick was a fuckin' steel rod."

Audrey quickly finished eating and put her plate in the sink, then wandered out to her bed and sat down next to her friend. "Sounds amazing, even though you probably belong in prison."

"It'd have been worth it."

"You get his number at least?"

Jess shook her head. "Nah. Plenty more where that came from," she said with a wink.

"I, uh, I might have another one for you soon," Audrey said, lying back on the bed, as the two rolled toward each other.

"Oh?"

"So, I'm…I got hired to tutor a kid. He's 20. His dad called me the other day and offered me a shit ton of money. Said he has to pass English or he won't be able to play next year."

"Uh, play what , exactly ?" Jess asked cautiously.

Audrey winced. "Um...hockey."

"No!" Snatching up a nearby pillow, Jess smashed her friend in the face with it. "Aud, no. A hockey player? You swore off all contact with them for good, remember?"

"I know, I know. Trust me, if I never had to see another one as long as I lived, I'd be fine with it. But, Jess, the money? It's like a thousand a week."

"A week? "

"A week. It's…life changing. I won't have to bust my ass to teach as many online courses, and I might actually be able to get some writing done. I've got him for the entire year at least, si nce he's a redshirt."

"A what?"

"He didn't make his grades, so he can't play with the team other than practices. He needs to take at least three English courses between this semester and next, so it's guaranteed money until at least May."

"You meet him yet?"

Audrey shook her head. "And his dad warned me that he's a bit of a…mess."

"Of course he is. He's a hockey player. Comes with the territory."

"No, like. He's been through some shit. I guess it's his adopted dad because both of his parents died, and he's got anger issues or…something. I don't know," Audrey sighed. "A lot was said. But, whatever. It's money. Good money."

Jess shook her head. "Better be. Sounds like you're gonna have your hands full. He at least hot?"

"I told you I haven't met him yet."

"And you're gonna sit here and act like you didn't stalk his socials?"

Audrey smirked. "Tried. It's private. There's only one picture."

"Well?" Jess threw her hands up and motioned toward Audrey's phone.

Rolling her eyes, she tapped around, pulled up the page, and held the screen up to her friend's face. "Here."

Jess gasped. "Um, Aud? When's your first session? Because I'm coming. Holy shit. Look at those lips , babe."

"OK," Audrey said, snatching the phone back and sitting up. "You gotta get going. My class is starting soon."

"Fine," she said, getting up and gathering her laundry bag and detergent.

"I, um, meet him tonight, by the way. We're gonna go over the syllabus for each of his classes and set up a schedule around his practices."

"I want details ASAP. You understand me?"

"There are no details . He's…literally just some kid I'm tutoring."

"Mmmhmm," Jess said with a smirk. "Two words: Steel. Rod."

"You can leave now."

"Also," Jess added, while opening the door and turning back toward Audrey. "Just because Ev was a total scumbag doesn't mean this one will be. They're…not all total scumbags. Just don't be too hard on the kid, OK?"

Audrey nodded. "I'll text you later."

"You better." She left the apartment, leaving Audrey to thank God again for the fact that she had made such a good friend. Jess was a bit of a nut, but she understood Audrey; having been in recovery from an eating disorder herself for a few years, she recognized the triggers and understood her need for privacy, only stepping in and speaking up if and when she felt Audrey was in immediate danger.

She sighed, ignoring the hunger pangs as she sat up and wandered over to her desk to login for her class that began in 15 minutes. Seeing that no one was in the waiting room yet, she opened Insta on her phone and checked his page again.

JT DiMara.

Alright, fine.

Maybe he was kinda hot.

And maybe he did have amazing lips.

He probably knew exactly how to use those lips, too …

She quickly closed the app as she felt herself start to get nervous about their meeting that night, then shook her head in disbelief for being so immature.

He's just some kid you're tutoring, she told herself. What's the worst that could happen?