Scoring the Quarterback

by SM Soto

  “Do you even know what it was like for me as a kid?” I question. “Without a mother? With a dad who paid more attention to the older sister, and her mother who hated my guts? I don’t even know mom’s family—my family— for Christ’s sake! All I know is what you’ve shown me, you, and Gina’s mom.”

  Dad flies out of his chair. “I get that Natalia. I do. But you’re wrong, Gina’s mom was the bigger person. She put a roof over your head and put up with my infidelities. Having to see you every day wasn’t easy for her, or me, or our marriage. And as for your mother’s family, they weren’t the kind of people I could trust with my daughter. That’s why your mother came to the States—for a better life!”

  “So you just kept me from her?” I shout angrily. “She was my mother and that was my family! You had no right. You robbed me of a happy, normal childhood.”

  “I am your father, Natalia, that gives me every right!”

  “Did you even love Mom?” I ask in a sad whisper. I’ve always wondered if they were really in love or if he was just looking for a quick screw. His face falls, and he looks pained, winded even.

  “Of course I loved her. How could I not?” The emotion in his voice is thick, spurring more tears from me.

  “Then why couldn’t we have been a family? You loved her, she loved you…things could’ve been so much more different, Dad.”

  He runs a frustrated hand through his hair. “It wasn’t that easy. I was still married and had a three-year-old daughter. What was I supposed to do? Just leave my wife for your mother? I know you don’t want to hear this, but I still loved Gina’s mother. It just wasn’t the same kind of love I had for your mother.”

  I groan. “See this is what I don’t understand! You stayed not because you wanted to, but because you had to! Now look at how everything turned out. Do you even know, most days I can’t even remember what Mom’s voice sounds like?”

  I know I need to calm down, but I can’t. I was robbed of the family I should’ve had. I was robbed of a relationship with my mother. And I was robbed of a normal childhood.

  “I don’t expect you to understand. You’re a child. Yes, I made some mistakes, but I’ve tried to put everything in its rightful place since. Keeping my wife and Gina happy. Giving you a safe place and a family that cared for you. I did it all to fix things! I didn’t ask for your mother to fall in love with me. Hell, I didn’t even realize I fell in love with her until it was too late!”

  That gets my back up immediately. He never once said he wanted to, but that he had to, and that hurts. My anger bubbles over.

  “So you think by doing all that you fixed things?” Anger laces my voice. “Well you didn’t. It’s not even close. Not by a long shot.” My eyes burn with unshed tears. “If anything, you’ve royally fucked everything up for your own selfish reasons! You wanted the best of both worlds, but let me tell you something, Dad, it doesn’t work that way!”

  His fist slams onto the table, rattling it and the glass on top of it. “You don’t get to talk to me that way!”

  The fury through my veins pumps menacingly. “Actually, Dad, I do. You let her fall in love with you, then you waited to tell her about your other family!”

  “Natalia. You don’t understand. I wasn’t happy and—”

  I quickly cut him off.

  “So using another woman made you feel better?” I shout incredulously. “You should’ve ended it if that was how you felt! Now Gina and I are the collateral damage! Don’t you get it? You could’ve changed the way these events happened.”

  “We had a child together, Natalia. I couldn’t do that to them!” he shouts, now equally flustered. I suck in a shocked breath. My lip trembles uncontrollably.

  “But you could do that to us, right?” I say shakily with tears pooling in my eyes. “Because we meant that little to you.”

  He shakes his head furiously denying me.

  “Natalia….”

  “You’ve ruined not only my life but the life I should’ve had. And for that, I’m not sure I can ever forgive you,” I whisper coldly before I gather my stuff. My father shouts something after my retreating form, but I’m no longer listening. I’m already out the door, running to my car. My chest wracks with sobs. There’s a pain in my ribs, like an ice pick being jabbed into me repeatedly. Again. Just like with Luke.

  Everything is falling apart.

  I drive home and collapse in my room, deciding not to go to class. I can’t handle it today. Luckily, I have today off work, so I don’t have to worry about putting on a fake smile the rest of the day. My phone buzzes from my nightstand, and I silently hope it’s Luke. I swipe the screen and when Aaron’s name pops up, I feel nothing. He’s just not Luke. I was a fool to think I could replace him with a guy like Luke. He doesn’t even hold a candle to the man I love.

  With a sigh I swipe across the screen.

  Aaron: Hey beautiful ;) my frats throwing a keggr tnite. Want to come?

  I chew on the inside of my cheek as I think it over. Ever since Aliza and Sam brought to light all those things about Aaron, I haven’t been able to see him the same. I can’t believe that I’ve been so determined to forget about Luke that I settled for someone like Aaron, who is most definitely not my type. But then again, he’s been nothing but sweet to me from day one. How can I possibly turn down going to a party for his frat house? Plus, it’ll probably help get my mind off all the messed up shit going on right now. Screw it. I type out a quick response.

  Natalia: Sure. What time?

  Aaron: I’ll be here at 9 if you want to come a little early.

  Natalia: K.

  Well, it looks like I’m going to a frat party tonight. I guess there really is a first for everything.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Luke

  It’s nine at night on a Friday and I’m at home in bed. Fuck, I’m a pussy. How the hell did this become my life?

  I know how, Natalia fucking Baldoni.

  The gorgeous Latina with the dark hair, a beautiful mind, and a spitfire mouth that I love.

  Loud banging on my closed door jostles me up from my comfortable position.

  “What?” I bark.

  “We got a fucking problem!” Drew barks back. My lip curls up in frustration for being bothered. Goddam it, man. I just want to be left the fuck alone. I hop off my bed and swing my door open with a sour look permanently etched onto my face.

  “What the fuck is it?”

  “Aaron’s frat is throwing a party tonight and Jared just saw Aaron. How close do you think they’ve gotten? Would she ever go to something like that?”

  Every part of my body stiffens, and my heart rate kicks up. The adrenaline rush I usually feel before a football game is kicking in right fucking now. Drew looks just as worried as I’m currently feeling.

  Mother fucker.

  “Not willingly. Fuck!” I seethe. “You go meet up with Jared. I’m going to Natalia’s place, maybe I can catch her.”

  We break quickly just like we do in football and get our heads in the game. I drive like a maniac to Natalia’s, hoping to catch her if she’s about to leave or catch her while she’s having a quiet night in with Sam. I’m praying for the latter. I throw my car in park and run up the stairs to their apartment. I bang on Natalia’s front door like a mad man and hope they’re home.

  C’mon, C’mon, answer the fucking door already!

  “Hold the fuck on!” Sam growls from the other side of the door. The sound of lock unclicking is all I hear before the door is swung open revealing a furious Sam.

  “What the fuck are you doing here, asshole! How stupid are you?”

  “Where is she?” I try to push my way through the door, but she places a halting hand in the middle of my chest.

  “I don’t fucking think so, sister fucker. She’s not here, so leave!”

  My heart drops. Fuck. She’s gone!

  “I need you to tell me where she is, Sam,” I manage to say as calmly as I can.

  “Piss off, dick-bra
in.”

  Slamming my hands on the frame of their front door, my calm slips and I shout, “Please, Samantha!”

  She growls in irritation. “She went to that ass-wipe Aaron’s party.”

  “FUCK!” I roar. Aliza pushes Sam out of the way, looking worried.

  “What’s wrong, Luke?”

  I run a frustrated hand down my face.

  “Aaron isn’t who she thinks she is. I’ve tried talking to her, but she won’t listen. The dude is a fucking scumbag. Caught him a few years back forcing himself on some drunk girl at one his parties. That wasn’t the first rumor about him either.” Both of their faces drain of all color.

  “Oh no,” Aliza mumbles in horror.

  “Shit,” Sam hisses. Her features are still strung tightly. “She didn’t give me an address or anything. She just said she’d call me if she needed anything. Dammit! I knew we should’ve gone with her.”

  “I know where his frat is. I’m going to find her.” I stalk off and race down the steps back to my car. As I’m opening my door Sam and Aliza come into view.

  “Oh, no you don’t. Not without us, shitbrick,” Sam says, glowering at me.

  We make it to the party in record time. I do my best to ignore all of Sam’s filthy looks meant for me. Yeah, I know I’m still on your shit list. I fucking get it already. We barge into the house and immediately start looking for tan skin, and a mane of dark hair. It’s only a little after ten, so it’s still relatively early in party speak. They could still be milling somewhere around here. I don’t bother with pleasantries when a few people try to strike up conversations with me. Don’t have time for that shit.

  I ask around the party if anyone’s seen Aaron, but I get nowhere. That is, until one of his frat brothers slips up. Sometimes, alcohol can be a wonderful thing—loose tongues and all.

  “Yeah man, he went upstairs a while ago with this super-hot chick.”

  I shove him out of the way, urging Aliza and Sam to follow. I fly up the stairs and throw every door open until I get to the last one—that’s locked, of course. The music blaring from the house is so loud, I can hardly hear anything. I can’t tell if there’s anything unusual happening on the other side of the door.

  “What do we do?” Aliza asks from behind me.

  I don’t bother answering. Instead, I back away from the door giving myself a running start and shove my shoulder into it. Pain tears through my shoulder, and the door barely budges. Fuck!

  “Seriously? Who do you think you are? Fucking Superman or something—”

  Ignoring Sam, I back away again and charge toward the door. This time it flies open upon impact. A deafening crack tears through the air, and splinters of wood fly off in every direction. When my eyes lock on Aaron and Natalia, I. See. Fucking. Red. Natalia has her shirt off and Aaron is hovering over her practically devouring her mouth. They haven’t even stopped to come up for air. A feral growl erupts from my chest just thinking about him going any further with her.

  She’s mine, mother fucker.

  Something races up my spine as I take a minute to assess the scene before me. Aaron’s panting into Natalia’s mouth but she’s not reciprocating. She’s not doing anything, actually. She’s flat on her back with her hands on her sides.

  What the…?

  And it’s then that I realize she’s fucking unconscious. My whole body goes taut with corded anger, until it just snaps. I roar loudly and charge Aaron. His head whips to the door that’s now hanging off the hinges, and his glossed-over eyes land on my enraged ones. I yank him by the collar of his shirt and toss him off Natalia like he weighs about a pound. His shoulder collides against the hardwood floor with a loud smack.

  “What the fuck man!” He howls in pain from the other side of the room. The gasps from the door let me know the girls have finally walked in.

  “Natalia!” they scream in unison.

  “One of you make sure she’s okay, and the other dial 9-1-1,” I bark. I swing my attention to Aaron who’s still groaning in pain. My upper lip curls in anger. I haul him up by his neck, fuming, and pin him against the wall.

  “What the fuck did you do?” I seethe. He doesn’t answer right away so I slam him against the wall again, forcing his head to thump against the plaster loudly.

  “Alright man, fuck! I only gave her a fuckin Rufie so she’d loosen up. She said she wanted to have fun.”

  “You drugged her?” I roar. Something splinters in my chest just thinking about what he could’ve done to her had we not gotten here when we did.

  My anger clouds my vision, and I’m no longer in control of what I’m doing. My fists slam into his face over and over, relishing in the crunching sound beneath my fists. I can’t feel a thing. The adrenaline pumping through my veins has my body on autopilot. Flashes of red cover my fists every time one leaves his face.

  Aaron’s barely standing now, not even making an attempt to protect himself. I unwrap a hand from his throat and watch as he falls in a heap on the floor. But I don’t stop my assault there. I climb on top of him and proceed to slam my fists into every open space on him. I’m winded. I feel like a crazed animal, but I can’t stop. I won’t stop.

  “Luke stop!” The scream penetrates the fog and I freeze with my fist in mid-air. Aliza’s tear stained face comes into view.

  “Luke…,” she whispers, staring at my hands. “Please, stop now Luke.”

  I look down at Aaron and my stomach churns. Fuck, I think I’m going to be sick. I can’t even tell what his face looked like before today. Blood trickles from his already bruised and swollen face. I immediately know I’ve fucked up.

  “The police are on their way. Go Luke. I have Natalia’s phone. I’ll call you, and keep you up to date, I promise. Just make sure you’re gone before they get here,” Aliza says, gripping onto my bicep, trying to pull me to my feet, but it’s a futile attempt. I can’t. It’s almost like my body is paralyzed, unable to move.

  “Go! What are you still doing? Go!” Sam shouts by Natalia’s side.

  I stand up on shaky legs and take one look at Natalia’s stiff body. They wrapped her upper-body with Aliza’s sweater, but she still looks helpless, and I can tell she was crying. Her face is blotchy, and her hair looks wild. She was probably so afraid. The ache in my chest intensifies with that thought.

  “No.” I find myself saying. Aliza and Sam whip their gazes to me. “I’m staying with her.”

  “Luke, if you don’t leave now, who knows what will happen to you! You’ve just beat a guy fucking unconscious. Think about your future!” Sam yells in a panicked voice. Her emerald eyes are wide begging me to listen, but I can’t.

  “No!” My voice booms. “None of it matters! I’m fucking staying.”

  Aliza says something to Sam, making her back off.

  I walk across the room, stepping over Aaron’s unconscious form toward Natalia. I lower myself next to her. I tuck stray pieces of soft brown hair behind her ears and lift her limp hand into mine. A sharp pang shoots through my heart.

  This is all my fault.

  I place a gentle kiss on the palm of her hand and hold it tightly. She’d never let me do that if she was awake, so I’m going to enjoy the feel of her touch while I still can. I know when she wakes up, things will be back to normal with her hating my guts, but I can live with that. So long as she’s okay.

  “I’m so sorry,” I rasp out thickly.

  Someone places a hand on my shoulder and I look up into Sam’s watery eyes. The music downstairs is cut off and people downstairs start yelling. Hopefully it’s the fucking medics. Sam runs out of the room to show them where we are. The rest is a blur. The cops and ambulance show up, demanding us to move away from Natalia. They check her vitals and question us about what happened. What did she ingest? How much did she ingest? How long ago was it taken? And I didn’t have a fucking answer for not one of their questions.

  One of the officers gets a good look at Aaron still out from my beating on the floor. They check him over after Nat
alia.

  “He’s breathing, with a strong pulse. He’ll live. He just took one hell of a beating.” As much as I would’ve liked to kill Aaron, I’m glad he’s alive. There’s at least that one thing I didn’t fuck up. The youngest looking officer, Ruiz, turns to me, asking the question I’ve been waiting for.

  “I need you to go over the events of what happened here tonight. Did Aaron attack you at all, Mr. Caldwell?”

  Aliza’s voice cuts me off just as I’m about to speak.

  “It was self-defense. Luke shoved the door down, and Aaron came after him. So he fought him off. Aaron admitted to giving her a date rape drug, then Luke and Aaron continued to fight each other.” She recounts. I stare at her completely dumbfounded. She’s not technically lying, but she’s also not telling the exact truth either. Aaron didn’t fight back or initiate anything, not once. It was all me.

  “And you’re certain Aaron was fighting back, Miss?”

  “Yes.”

  The officer looks between us warily, eyeing my bloody hands, then eyeing Aarons untouched fists. Eventually, he decides to give up.

  “Alright. They should be driving her to Alvarado Hospital soon.”

  ***

  The drive to the hospital is silent. Sam was the only one they allowed in the ambulance, so Aliza and I are driving there. It’s uncomfortably quiet, except for Aliza’s sniffle every now and then.

  “How’s your hand?” she asks quietly as I weave through the cars on the freeway.

  I look away from the road and down at my bloodied knuckles. I ignore the sharp pain shooting through my arm now that the adrenaline has worn off. My grip tightens on the wheel.

  “It’s fine,” I say curtly. I should’ve had the EMT’s check it back at the frat house, but my top concern was Natalia, she needed their care more than I did.

  “You took a big risk doing what you did,” she states. I can feel her staring at me and my jaw clenches.