“This would be amazing.”
“Exactly what I was thinking.” She turns to the realtor and says, “We’ll take it.”
The realtor looks a little shocked. “Like, you want to make an offer now?”
“Yep.” She spouts off a number, asks the realtor to get in touch with the owner, and tells her that we’re going to get a late-night snack and to call her in the morning.
We go downstairs and across the street to a sports bar that is still serving food.
“I’m starving,” Jadyn says. “But I just realized you were supposed to be in bed early. I can take you back.”
“No, this is nice. And I’m kind of hungry, too.” I let out a sad sigh.
“Do you want to talk about it, Dani?”
“Talk about what?”
“What’s bothering you.”
Tears fill my eyes. “When I was home last weekend, Chase and I, um, made up. And decided we were going to be friends again. I mean, it was so easy—surprisingly—to go back into our old roles. To joke. Laugh. Kiss. Have fun. We agreed to work on continuing that. Just being friends. We used to talk at night, before we went to sleep. Even if I had just seen him.”
“Really?” Jadyn says. “Phillip and I used to do that, too. That’s sweet.”
“And we agreed that I would call him at night, when I had free time. He texted me a couple times, and I didn’t respond. I should have. And I probably hurt him. Again. But I was waiting until tonight. I knew he’d be home after his game. And I didn’t go with my friend to a frat party, so I would have the room to myself and I could do nothing but talk to him. Almost like I was there with him, having pizza. I was even going to suggest we make it a regular thing. Like maybe not worry about talking during the week. With classes, studying, the sorority—pledge meetings and all the activities and mixers—and getting used to it all, it’s been a lot. I mean, it’s fun—don’t get me wrong—but it’s been busy. Really busy. And then, while I was waiting to call him”—I stop and take another deep breath—“I saw the video. Of how he asked Lacey to Homecoming.”
“You know, she broke up with him this week.”
My eyes get big. “She did?”
“Yeah. Haley had taken a picture of you and Chase kissing on his birthday. She stupidly shared it with a friend, who passed it around. Eventually to Lacey.”
“Wow.”
“It all makes so much more sense now.”
“What does?”
“Why Chase asked her today. So early. In such a big way.”
“Why do you think that was?”
“Dani, really? You didn’t call him all week.”
“Oh. I guess that’s why he hung up on me.”
“He hung up on you?”
“Yeah. I called tonight. Stupidly, the first thing I said was that I saw the video of the proposal. He assumed that was the only reason I’d called. Said it was hard to be BFFs with me when I didn’t have time to respond. He said it was good to hear from me but that he had to go and hung up. He probably hates me again.”
“He doesn’t hate you, Dani.”
“I still love him,” I say, breaking down. “And we were all so close that summer. Me, Damon, Haley, Chase. And they are all still close. Without me. And last weekend, I even felt like that was back. I just ruined everything.”
“Dani, I’d be willing to bet that you didn’t.”
“You really think, after all this, Chase and I could possibly still have a chance of being together?”
“I think you need to figure out what being together means to you. I mean, I understand you are busy, but you couldn’t find a single moment in six whole days to even send a text?”
“I didn’t want anyone to know I was talking to him.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s still in high school. I don’t think the girls in my sorority are like that, but I don’t know them well enough yet to know. So, I was trying to wait until I had time alone. And that has been difficult to come by.”
“I’m not judging you in any way, but that sounds like a lot of excuses.”
I nod my head in agreement.
“At some point, you need to stop making them. It’s really too bad you can’t do a play-by-play, you know, of that day. Chase watches a lot of game film. Too bad no one recorded the whole thing.”
“And you think that would help—to watch it?”
“If you talked through your decision-making each step of the way. How you felt. Maybe.” She sighs. “He’s coming up for the game tomorrow. Everyone is. Just so you know.”
“I did know that. But then when he hung up on me, I sort of forgot.”
“I guess you can talk to him tomorrow then.”
She closes out our tab and then takes me home.
Saturday, September 14th
Like that day.
Devaney
Since all the sororities on campus are dry, there aren’t tailgates at the house, but everyone seems to come here—many hungover from the night before—for brunch and to get ready together before they go off to tailgate.
One of the things I needed to talk to Chase about last night was if he actually would have time to see me since they are here on an official recruiting visit. An official visit equals a packed schedule, but I think since they have been here unofficially before, their schedule might not be quite as full as it would normally be.
And after last night, I suppose the chance of Chase even wanting to see my face, let alone my dorm room, is slim to none.
“Ohmigawd, Dani,” my sorority sister Lauren says to me, “your friend Chase is so adorable! He’s totally hot, but he seems sweet. Nice. Why can’t I ever date a really nice guy?”
Another sorority sister, Amber, says, “Because really nice guys don’t usually look like that. Your brother Damon, now, he could charm your pants off.” She laughs. “Almost did mine.”
“What?” I say.
“Oh, I didn’t do anything.” She and Lauren start giggling. “Okay, so fine, I kissed him. Whatever.”
“When?” I ask. “How did you meet them? Are they outside?” I get up and rush over to the window, looking out into the crowded area.
“No,” Amber says. “They came by to see you, but we didn’t know you were here, so they left.”
“And what was Chase doing while you kissed my brother?” I ask her.
Lauren raises her hand. “He was talking to me. Did you know he’s a five-star recruit? A quarterback. And he might come here next year?”
“Might?” I say, my heart dropping into my stomach.
“Well, your brother said might. Chase said they were, but your brother said they have to visit more schools before they come to a final decision. And the fact that they are going to the same school together and are BFFs is just, well, friendships like that are so rare.”
Amber narrows her eyes. “Oh no. They aren’t together, are they? Chase and your brother?”
“Chase and my brother?” I want to laugh in her face. “My brother was just kissing you.”