Page 22 of Breaking Free

Once we’ve failed a couple more times, we leave and watch the rest of our group attempt to hold on while we sit in a nearby booth.

“This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” I admit to Jay, yelling over the music and voices.

“Yes! A fucking success. Now I need to get you laid, then I’ll have done my job.”

I laugh, falling into his side. We’re both so wasted, but I don’t miss the moment his eyes linger on my lips, and when our glassy eyes meet, it’s for a second too long, because I know where this could go.

Though I’m drunk, I’m still aware of Trevor’s plea to not hook up with his friend. It’s not that I don’t find Jay attractive. He definitely is, and I like him a lot, but I know that if we did anything, it would be a one-time thing. Something fun to do because we’re drunk. It would lead nowhere, and honestly, I want to see if this thing with Trevor escalates. He’s a challenge, and I want to win.

I laugh off our collision and pull away, taking another drink. Jay doesn’t take offense. He may not have even been aware that I was conscious of where his thoughts were. He simply laughs with me and then makes fun of Shea who was just thrown from the bull.

Olivia saunters over and sits in his lap, and I’m quickly forgotten as they begin to makeout.

We all stay until closing, which is two in the morning. I’m way too drunk to drive myself home, but true to his word, Jay had a DD figured out and this guy pulled up in a huge SUV and drove all of us home. Getting our cars will be something to figure out with a sober mind, but I’m not too worried about it right now.

I pass out around three and wake up at noon to a million notifications on my phone, but one that surprises me the most is from Trevor.

10

The notificationfrom Trevor isn’t really from him. It’s from Instagram letting me know he followed me. That alone let’s me know he doesn’t hate me, even if he wants to act like he does.

I don’t get on my social media accounts too often, but I manage a post twice a month or so. At first I think he searched me out to follow me, but after opening the app, I find I have over twenty notifications, and considering my last post was over a month ago, it’s surprising.

Trevor wasn’t the only one who followed me. Jayden, Bryant, and Olivia followed me, as well as several other football guys. As soon as I look over the other notifications, and look at the things I was tagged in, I realize why this is happening. Several people were documenting last night’s activities and I’m in a handful of photos and videos—most of which I don’t remember even happening.

In a few of Jayden and Olivia’s stories, I’m documented in the booth drinking and laughing. In one video that Liv took, it’s me and Jayden on that damn bull, and it has me cracking up to watch. Jayden’s behind me, holding onto my waist as we laugh before we tumble to the mat below.

Jay posted a couple group shots of all of us holding our shot glasses and making faces. One is of me and him, looking beyond wasted as I stick my tongue out, holding up my pointer and pinky finger while he makes a goofy face. I scroll through everyone’s photos from last night and come across one that captured the moment I briefly thought about kissing Jay. We’re in the background, partially covered by Shea who’s the main focus of the picture, but we’re close and looking at each other with curious and lust-filled eyes.

I would bet one million dollars that Trevor’s looked through these and is seething.

I follow everyone back and like and comment on a few photos before I finally climb out of bed, shower, and brush my teeth.

Once I’m dressed, I search the house for my mom, and when I don’t find her, I walk out to the porch and see her talking to Ms. Anne, so I make my way back in the house and search for some food. We don’t have much in here, so I’ll have to go to the grocery store.

Grabbing the keys, I jog down the three concrete steps and approach my mom.

“Hey.”

“Hey, baby,” Mom greets as Anne smiles at me.

“I’m gonna go buy some food. I won’t be gone long. Do you want anything specific?”

“I don’t think so,” she answers. “Oh, whatever these are,” she adds, picking up a cookie from the plate that sits between them.

“They’re just pecan sandies,” Anne says.

“They’re addicting,” Mom says with a small laugh.

Glad she’s eating, even if it is cookies. I plan to buy three packs of them. “Okay. I’ll be back in a little while.”

“Be careful,” she says to my back as I head for the car.

Before I go to the grocery store, I decide to stop at this burger place where you walk up to the window and order. There’s no drive-thru, but they’re worth getting out for, so I park my car, round the building, and wait in the line.

I pull my phone from my pocket and head back to Instagram to read more comments. Jay already responded to one of mine, asking when we’re doing it again. Shea has bet me that the next time we go, he’ll outride me on the bull.

I move up a space in line before I notice Trevor. He’s sitting at one of the tables with two other guys, and as far as I can tell, he hasn’t noticed me yet.