Page 21 of Off Sides
“Look, I get that you don’t want to spill secrets that aren’t yours, but if I have at least a vague idea of what’s going on, it’ll help me figure out where he would have gone.” I look out my side of the car and watch for joggers. “Is he from here? Family around or local hangouts he would know that you don’t?”
Paul sighs before he starts talking. “He’s not from here, though his dad lives here now too. It’s not a good situation, if you know what I mean.” His eyes meet mine in the mirror, and I give him a nod. “He’s dating our friend, Jay. Jay went back home for Christmas, and Carmichael is not handling it well.”
Interesting.
The wheels start turning, and I’m thinking about the paths out of the school and where he might head. He’s new to the area, probably wants to be alone and clear his head…
“Does he like getting lost in the crowd or prefer solitude?”
“Solitude,” they say together.
“We’re going the wrong way then.” I give Paul directions to get us going the right way, and we drive around the industrial area for a while but don’t see anything.
“Hey, since we’re here, can we stop at that bakery? Debbi has the best cinnamon rolls.” And I want to eat one off your captain’s dick.
Brendon pops up. “Cinnamon rolls?”
Paul sighs but agrees. We get parked and head inside, the bell on the door alerting the amazing woman inside that customers have entered.
She’s not out in the front, but I can hear her down the hall. Paul and Brendon look around and wait patiently.
“Nicky!” The middle-aged woman smiles wide and opens her arms for a hug which I don’t hesitate to give her. “It’s been a while, how have you been?”
“Good, busy.” I step back when she lets me go. “You know how it is.”
“Of course.” She pats my cheek, and I introduce Paul and Brendon. It’s not until this moment that I notice we’re all wearing the same thing. Jeans and Darby U hoodies. Wow. What a bunch of dorks.
A guy in black workout gear comes from the back of the shop, dripping sweat, beet red, and obviously exhausted. Paul looks over and freezes, his jaw tightening as he turns to face the newcomer.
“What’s going on, Carmichael?” Paul crosses his arms. Brendon and I turn to face him too.
Preston Carmichael is a beast of a man. He’s taller than me by a few inches, wider than me, and looks like there’s not any fat on his body.
“We’ve been looking for you,” Brendon says sternly, and there’s something about the way he says it that makes me feel like he doesn’t speak that way very often.
Preston’s jaw hardens and his fists clench. He looks like he’s trying to get some control over himself before he speaks.
Paul looks between Preston and Debbi before he asks, “Do you know her or something?”
“No, she’s just a woman who was nice to me. Are you heading back to campus?”
“Yeah, just grabbing some cinnamon rolls. Debbi’s are the best,” I pipe up, and the big man looks at me for the first time.
Debbi rings us up, and we head out of the small shop to the car. Paul and Brendon take the front seats again, and I climb into the back with Carmichael.
“I’m Nick.” I offer my hand and he shakes it with a very forced smile.
“Preston.”
I chuckle, “Oh, I know who you are.”
Paul and Brendon are having some kind of conversation in the front with just looks, so I start rambling while Carmichael looks out the window. No one is paying me any attention and that amuses me. I could be talking about starfish orgasms, and no one would know.
Paul pulls up in front of the dorms, and I climb out with a quick “Bye” and head inside. I have a very important thing to do with Joey’s dick and this amazing cinnamon roll that’s still warm.
7
Joey