Afterwards, they slid down the wall, and he had held on to her, tenderly cradling her in his arms.
“You’re going to come away with me, right?”
She’d nodded. “I’ll tell the kids tonight.”
“Will your ex care?”
She’d snorted, a short unladylike sound. “Jim only cares about his next drink.”
“Even if we take the kids with us?”
“I don’t really care. He hasn’t thought about Sandra or Kyle or me in years. It’s been over between us since just after Kyle was born. He’s a sick man. I feel bad about it, sure, but I can’t let him bring all of us down.”
“Have you told him about us?”
“Not yet. But the paper work for the divorce should be done in a week or so. Then, it will be finished, and remember I kicked him out long before I met you.”
“Then, let’s go out tonight. Bring the kids. We’ll celebrate.”
Tom flinched against the pain of that memory. That had been the last time that he had ever made love with Jessica. It had also been the last time that they had ever discussed a future together. For, that same afternoon, an inebriated Jim Odgers had driven his truck into a telephone pole, nearly killing himself and inflicting serious damage to his brain and his body. That single act had changed everything for Jessica and for Tom. Jim had been in a coma for months while Jessica had continued to run the farm. Months later, when it became apparent that Jim would never be able to live on his own, Jessica had irrevocably broken things off with Tom, even though she was visibly pregnant with his child.
Chapter Seven
What Goes Around Comes Around
~ Cam ~
Cam tossed his keychain up and down as he sauntered into the alley just behind the bar, the Nasty Habit. He glanced up at the apartment window where he’d spent a handful of nights over the past few months, but the lights were off.
He’d parked the Camaro a couple of blocks away, as was usual. Don’t want word to get out about me being here. Don’t want Kjersten to find out about Cat. It really was Kjersten’s fault any way. I wouldn’t have hooked up with Cat at the bar that night if Kjersten hadn’t been giving me the cold, icy treatment since coming back from that weekend in Eagle River.
“Why don’t you ever just park on the alley?” Cat had asked him once as they lay naked together on the couch in her tiny apartment which was over the bar where she worked. She was tall, lean, with great legs, short red hair, some tattoos and she always wore black. It was her legs in those skin tight, black leggings that did it for me that first time. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about them wrapped around his waist. Besides, Kjersten was being such a bitch. Still I don’t want anyone who knows me to see it here. The black car was kind of conspicuous with its vanity plate that read “GOLDN ARM.”
“I’m not just a booty call, for you, am I?” she’d asked as she threw one long leg over his waist, straddling his naked body.
Dumb bitch. Of course you are. What do you expect? So, he distracted her by nibbling on her full lower lip. She was a good, uncomplicated fuck when he needed one, when he needed to get his rocks off, and couldn’t deal with Kjersten. He’d been with her four or five times in recent weeks and on this particular night, he enjoyed the anticipation of heading up to her apartment over the bar. Cat gets that it’s just sex. She gets it.
He was exactly on time as usual. That could sometimes be a problem, because she tended to be late. It was her thing and it drove him nuts. But this time, it seemed that she was ready for him. The door to the apartment was unlocked and Cam caught the pungent scent of an earthy incense as he swung it wide.
“Cat?” he called.
There was no answer. She should be home. He’d called her an hour before, told her that he needed to see her. But she hadn’t agreed at first.
“I have things to do this evening.”
“I can think of things we can do to each other,” he’d replied teasingly.
“Tonight doesn’t work for me. I have some studying I want to get done.”
“Why? Come on, baby. I want you. Tonight.” He didn’t take Cat taking classes seriously. Maybe she had some other guy over. No, not likely. His arrogance dismissed that aberrant thought.
“Look, I’ve got work and school going on. You can’t just call me and expect me to drop everything because you want to get laid.”
“Why are you being like this?” He was getting irritated. “I thought that we have fun together.”
“Fine. All right. I’ll see you tonight,” she had agreed, albeit reluctantly.
“Cat. Babe, where are you?” Cam closed the door slowly, his voice barely audible over Janis Joplin’s wailing. There were two candles lit on the coffee table. By them, he saw a dark shape move away from the cloaking shadows of the long curtains that covered the French doors that led out onto the small, rusted balcony. She was here. She certainly knew how to set the stage, Cam observed with satisfaction. “Cat, I’ve dreamed of you these past few nights. I want you, Cat.” He moved a step farther into the room.
“Stop,” she ordered abruptly, still no more than a shadow. “Don’t move.”
Her husky voice turned him on. This is hot.
“Cat.” He moved closer. He still couldn’t make out her face in the dimness of the room, but he could see her tall, long shape just beyond the small couch.
“I’m going to fuck you right there on that couch.”
“You have no patience.” She purred the words. “It’s been a while, so I want to enjoy this.” She moved into the soft dome of light cast by the candles. She was wearing a black tank top with no bra, short shorts, and was barefoot.
Cam inhaled deeply when she slid her hands down her narrow ribcage to her hips, where she rested them. She moved a step closer to Cam. “Is this what you want, Cam?” Her whispered words excited him. She took a step closer still.
“Well, you aren’t getting a thing.” Suddenly, her voice was shrill and angry. “Bill, Terry, you wanta help me with this garbage?”
Suddenly, the overhead light flicked on and two body-builder sized bouncers from the bar downstairs stepped into the room.
“What the hell do you think I am? Your whore?”
Still stunned by the abrupt reversal in the situation, Cam started to back up, but the two bouncers moved up behind him and grabbed his arms.
“What’s going on? What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Belatedly, he began to struggle, and he was a strong guy, but the two steroid-filled meatheads held him with relative ease.
“You wanta know, you piece of shit? You call me and say you want to see me. You think that I’m dirt, that you’re some big, fancy quarterback.” Cat got right up in his face. “I know you’ve got some other girlfriend. Does she know you’ve been coming over here? You don’t call me, except when you want to get off and that shit doesn’t fly with me.” She was livid and she open handed him hard across the face.
“Cat, you’ve got it all wrong. Get these guys out of here and let’s talk.” He grunted as the one on his left began to twist his arm. Not my throwing arm.
“No way. You blew it. Game over. Now you get the hell out of here and don’t come back. I made a mistake with you, but that’s over now. I learn from my mistakes. You should, too.” With her hand in a claw, Cat reached out towards his crotch. Cam, guessing her intent, tried to pinch his legs tightly together. But she expertly grabbed his balls and twisted hard. “I’m so done with you.” She relished the way the color drained from his skin, but he didn’t cry out. “Get him out of here, boys.”
Cam fought the waves of nausea that swamped him as the two goons dragged him down the steps and back into the alley. He didn’t struggle. The truth was that he didn’t know if he could have made it down the stairs, or even stood up without some help, his balls were hurting so badly. Predictably, when they got him out the back door and into the ally, the bouncers worked him over, punched into his body, his chest. Cam couldn’t breathe. Uppercut. Another righ
t, straight to the abdomen. He rolled onto his stomach, tucking his throwing arm underneath. Protect the arm. Don’t let them break it. Then, the world exploded into jagged shards of red and black.
Chapter Eight
Reflections
~ Kjersten ~
Kjersten sat curled up on her bed and picked up the mystery novel that she’d started the night before. After rereading the same paragraph three or four times, she set it back down. Her mind was going a mile a minute, spinning in circles. Should I call Cam? No, I don’t really want to talk to him. Things were awkward between them, had been since the trip to Eagle River. The truth was that she didn’t really want to see him.
But Cam was right. I was looking at Galen at the fair.
Still, that didn’t justify Cam being a dick. I looked, but I didn’t do anything about it. The argument spun round and round in her head, until though she knew it was the wrong thing to do, because she felt guilty, she picked up the phone. She dialed Cam’s number, there was a click and then a “Hi.” Cam’s voice rang out over the line.
“Hi, Cam...”
“I’m out right now,” the message continued. “But leave a message, and if you’re lucky, I’ll get back to you.”
Kjersten slammed the receiver down and stared at the phone. I should have known. He was almost never at home at night. He always had some glib excuse about where he’d been, working out or with the guys, but she knew that Cam didn’t have a lot of close guy friends. Everyone wanted to know him or be seen with him, but he managed to keep himself somewhat aloof, to not really belong to any one group. This had endeared him to her. Sometimes, he did seem like a lonely, little boy.
He’s probably seeing someone else. But the thought didn’t bother her as much as it should have. She realized that it was actually a relief not to have to see him. Grim thought. She had never been one to take cheating lying down by any means. She had always been very possessive when it came to Galen, her only other real boyfriend. Thinking about it, she had also been far more sexual with Galen than she was currently with Cam. She’d actually been quite horny. They’d worn each other out. But not anymore. What had happened to her? When had sex become a chore?
And it wasn’t just Cam. It’s not like he’s a bad lover. It was something with her, too. She remembered that at first with Cam it had been fireworks and earthquakes. But not anymore, not in quite a while. The truth was that she just didn’t get into it with Cam. It was something to be gotten through and then lay on the bed awkward, wary, wondering what he was thinking, and, as she admitted for the first time, hoping that he wouldn’t stay the night. We never know what to say to each other afterwards. Unfortunately, that often ruined the act, itself.
Impulsively, she went down on her knees beside the bed. She pulled out a plastic box from underneath her bed. She opened it up. It held a couple of framed photographs of her family members and some high school shots. There was one of Ben, Galen, and herself, arm in arm, at her graduation. So much has changed. Kjersten set it aside. She had brought them with her from her home to adorn her dorm room. For the first few months, they had, even after she and Galen had broken up. The pictures had come down when Cam had entered her life. He had taken the pictures down, tossed them on her desk. “It feels like all of Eagle River is watching us,” he’d said.
There was an element of truth to it, so Kjersten had dutifully left the pictures down and then put them away, but after that the room never felt like her own. That was the start of the compromising.
Next, she pulled out a thin stack of opened letters that Galen had written to her during her high school years when she’d been away at summer camp or for spring break in Vale or Aspen. It still hurt too much to read them. Next, she removed a couple of newspaper clippings and a folded magazine. It was a Wisconsin State Journal. The cover shot was of Galen, his arm was drawn back in the classic quarterback pose, his face was lean and determined, and his eyes, targeted on some distant receiver. Finally, there was a dried corsage. She held it in her hand, running her fingers along the pink satin ribbon. It slid smoothly through her fingers. It was from their first dance together, at that long ago homecoming. That first dance. The first time they’d held each other.
Chapter Nine
Anticipation
~ Galen ~
The day had finally arrived. Galen had thought about, dreamed of it for so long, it didn’t seem possible that it was finally here. The Eagle River Warriors were set to play in the Division Two State High School Championship game in Camp Randall in Madison against the Milwaukee Jefferson Wildcats. It was by no means a perfect day for football. The November afternoon was chilly and the overcast sky promised rain.
The night before, when Coach Murray had walked his team through the gates of the storied football stadium for their pregame practice, Galen’s heart had pounded.
“I can’t believe that we’re going to play here!” Troy Kendy, one of the Eagle River receivers who was frankly impressed, voiced Galen’s own thoughts.
“This place is huge,” one of the other boys echoed. “And there’s going to be TV stations here, too. Think about how many people are going to see us play.”
“This is where the B-b-badgers p-p-play,” Seamus Duffy, whose stuttering worsened significantly whenever he was nervous, managed to get out.
“No shit, Sherlock. You must be some kind of genius or something,” Troy mocked. “Hey, Galen, you’ll probably play a game here next year when you’re a Bearcat. I woulda chosen the Badgers myself. Who wouldn’t want to be a Badger?”
Galen didn’t respond. Be cool. He was very aware of Tom Murray’s eyes on him. The rest of the team is losing it. I gotta keep it together. Be a leader.
“You boys can drop the ball here as well as anywhere else,” Coach Murray stated flatly. “All I see is a football stadium. You’re football players, here to do a job. We’re not some damn tourists. So, quit gawking around. Yeah, this stadium is big, but you boys gotta remember we’re here to do a job. You know what the Badgers do here? They play football. There isn’t any magic to it. What are we here to do?”
No one answered.
“I said, what are we here to do?” Murray’s voice grew loud and commanding.
“Play football.” A few desultory voices responded.
“I can’t hear you.”
“Play football!” This time, the voices were loud and clear.
“All right then. You boys remember that. I won’t put up with any star struck bullshit from any of you. Do any of you corn fed farm boys get what I am telling you?”
There were a few nods here and there. Galen just stared silently around at Camp Randall.
“Just remember, boys. People come here to play football. If you’re here as spectators, then you’re wasting my time and yours, and I’m going to be pissed that whole four hour ride home. It’s good we’re here today to get the gawking over with. Let’s go do the grand tour.”
Most of the boys eagerly trooped off after Tom. Galen, alone, remained standing where he was. He allowed the strap from his bag to roll off his shoulder. The bag dropped to the ground, and he pivoted about, taking it all in. The red brick walls, the fields, the stands. Exhaling slowly, he tugged at his Vikings baseball cap. Would Kjersten come to the game? Please, God, let her come and please let me play great. His next thought was less charitable, Cam Fawst never made it to a State Championship Game in high school. He shook his head. All this stuff is making me crazy. He couldn’t let his family and Coach Murray down, and he wouldn’t let Eagle River down. Keep your head clear. Be focused. Forget about Kjersten and Cam.
“Hey Galen,” Troy called to him from the tunnel to the locker room. “Coach wants you down here now. You aren’t going to believe.
* * * *
Cam shifted in his stadium seat. “Kjersten, I still don’t understand why you’d want to come to a high school football game in this crappy weather.”
“It’s the State Championship game. Everyone from Eagle River is here, today,�
�� Kjersten beamed, waving to another friend. “It’s awesome.”
In response, he grunted. He glared up at the sky from which a misty rain was beginning to fall. “I can think of about a hundred places that I would rather be.”
“Come on, you love football.”
“Playing it, not watching high school kids.”
“High school kids from your home town, and you asked to come. Hi Lauren! Hi Maddie!” Kjersten waved to friends from Eagle River. “I’m going to go talk to them, okay?” She glanced over at him with some concern.
“Yeah. Sure,” Cam decided to let her off the hook. Today was the first time that they’d been out together since Cat and her goons had beaten him up. Afterwards, Cam had lain low for a few days, claimed he’d had the flu. He’d stayed out of the weight room and out of public until his face had looked normal. Thankfully, I wasn’t seriously hurt. That would have sucked. He hadn’t pressed charges or pursued it in any way. Doing so would have brought him some seriously negative attention from the press. But Kjersten hadn’t called, not once, the whole week. Things are going south with her, too. This was why he’d called her, because now that he was losing her, he wanted to hold on. She’d blown off his invitations at first, but when he’d called on this particular morning, she’d mentioned that she was going to the Eagle River and Milwaukee Jefferson game and he said he was, too. Once he said that, there was no way that she could gracefully back out of going with him.
It’s not going well, Cam acknowledged. The tension between them was palpable. Now she wants to ditch me. He tilted his head, allowing the water to run off his brim. Then, after adjusting his coat, he sat down, and pulled the brim of his hat lower over his eyes. This totally sucks.
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