Pregame

by Taylor Wade

  He winked, and my cheeks caught fire.

  ~~~~

  Dusty’s was only a little less busy than usual for a Saturday night. The bar was easier to get to, and there were a couple more open tables, but I found that I still had to push through masses of bodies to get anywhere.

  I was enjoying spending time with Jade, and although she was with Luke, the three men were enjoying reminiscing about old times so I had her to myself for the most part. She was a lot like Elle, I realized, and I was glad that I had met her. She was the type of person who gravitated other people to her just by her smile. She was friendly to everyone, with the exception of Emmy, and her loyalty knew no bounds.

  I had ordered a Jack and Diet Coke but I wasn’t drinking much. I was sure Gabe would most likely be here tonight and I was nervous that there would be a confrontation, assumingly ending violently. Jade could sense my worry and told me that everything was fine but my stomach was in a knot and I couldn’t help but glance around the room to see if Gabe was around.

  After we had been at Dusty’s for about an hour, it was only ten o’clock but the boys were starting to get a bit rowdy. I didn’t know anything about Reese’s situation but I would have assumed that he was on probation following his release, which means no alcohol. It was bad enough that he was probably breaking his probation but if he were to get into a fight and got caught than he’d be in big trouble. There were a few guys that had come over to the table and greeted Reese like they had known each other and so word was getting around that Wes Walker’s brother, the one that Gabriel Harris had gotten thrown in prison, was a free man. With each thought, and every new beer the guys ordered, I was feeling more and more anxious.

  I knew he had arrived before I had even seen him. Hoping I was wrong, I turned in my seat as Gabe strolled through the doors with Archer and another guy that I remembered helping Archer get him away from Wes the night that Wes had punched him. He stumbled slightly, and I could see that he was already intoxicated. I looked around my table and was relieved that nobody else had noticed his entrance.

  I said I had to run to the bathroom and walked in the direction I had seen Gabe and his friends go. Pushing through sweaty bodies, I finally spotted them at a corner table positioned diagonal to ours. I turned and was thankful to see that the two tables weren’t visible to one another due to the dozens of people on the dance floor.

  Gabe was laughing with Archer and the other guy when he noticed me approach. I felt awkward but I tried not to let it show. I didn’t want anybody getting hurt tonight, and with all of the guys being intoxicated, I knew that’d be unlikely. I wouldn’t be able to convince Wes to leave since Reese was so excited to be hanging out outside of a jail cell, so I hoped that Gabe would listen and understand. Hopefully his grudge against me had lessened with time.

  Gabe’s smile slid off of his face but he didn’t appear angry at my appearance, just confused.

  “Brookelyn? What are you doing here?” Gabe asked, and I was relieved that he wasn’t slurring his words. Although, the pitcher of beer being split between the three men at the table meant that it wouldn’t be long until he was.

  “Um, just wanted to say hi.” I lied, sliding into the seat beside Archer, across from Gabe.

  “Don’t take me wrong, I love seeing you, but why are you really here?” Gabe was a smart guy—I’d give him that.

  I sighed, “Reese is here.”

  All three pairs of eyes shifted to mine and widened.

  “What? Really?” Archer pressed, astonished.

  “Yeah, he got out today.” I answered, “Listen, I’m just worried about a fight starting and someone getting hurt.”

  Archer nodded his head in agreement but Gabe just let out a harsh laugh and shook his head.

  “I’m not hiding from that fucker.” He told me firmly, “So if you want us to leave, just know that it’s not happening.”

  “Dude, come on. You know it’s a bad move to stay here.” Archer told him, and turned to me, “Thanks, Brookelyn.”

  I nodded but kept my eyes locked on Gabe’s, measuring his actions.

  “So, what? You’re with Walker now?” He asked in a harsh, disgusted tone.

  “Gabe…” The other guy warned.

  “I’m not with anybody. What does it even matter?” I asked, exasperated. I wasn’t over here to talk about my relationship—or lack thereof—with Wes. I just wanted everybody to be okay and have a good night. Why couldn’t he see that?

  “Of all the guys out there, you had to go falling for him.” Gabe sounded sad and I felt a stab of remorse for how everything had happened.

  I reached out and grabbed Gabe’s hand on top of the table, “I’m sorry, Gabe. I really am.”

  He didn’t say anything, just continued to stare at me, but I could tell he was considering the fact that I had never denied falling for Wes. I knew that it was the truth, despite how much I had tried to fight it initially. I didn’t want a relationship, and I was scared, but being with Wes didn’t seem like a choice. I was too far-gone to try to walk away now.

  “Alright, fine. We’ll head out. But I’m not going to run every time he’s around.”

  I understood. It would make things easier, but it wouldn’t be a solution.

  I nodded and he finished chugging the rest of his beer, which had been full, and each guy got up from the table. I waved at them as they got their stuff together and walked back over to my table.

  “You good, B?” Reese slurred once I returned to the table.

  I opened my mouth to reply that everything was perfect when his gaze swung behind me. His eyes widened at first but then he smirked and I could see excitement in his eyes that was more threatening than anything. I cursed under my breath and Jade nudged me. I mouthed “Gabe” at her and she looked horrified but quickly regained her composure.

  “FUCK YEAH!” Reese shouted, “It’s on, mother fucker.”

  Wes and Luke both noticed what, or rather, who, Reese was referring to at about the same time that Reese shot up from the table and headed for the doors.

  Gabe and the two guys had just made it outside when Reese started to run in their direction. Wes and Luke followed after him, both of them cursing at Reese to stop. I grabbed Jade’s arm and we chased behind them.

  It seemed to take forever to make it past patrons and out of the bar doors. Jade covered her mouth as an audible gasp escaped her. A cold sweat broke out over my skin and I was paralyzed by fear.

  Reese was hunched over Gabe, connecting punch after punch repeatedly at his face while Luke had both arms around Reese’s waist trying to pull him away. Archer and the other guy both attacked Reese, trying to get Gabe out of his grasp, but also struggling against Wes who was throwing punches at both guys, trying to protect his brother.

  The entire scene was horrifying. Blood was dripping from every pore of Gabe’s face and Reese also had blood gushing from his lip and above his right eye. Luke was struggling to detach Reese, despite both men being about the same size.

  “GET HIM OFF!” Wes screamed to Luke.

  “No, no, no!” I sobbed, pushing against the strong chest above me. “Get off! PLEASE!”

  He chuckled, and continued to thrust into me. One hand was gripping my thigh open so hard that I knew he’d leave a bruise. His other hand moved from groping my breast to my throat, and I gasped for air as he tightened his fingers around my neck.

  “Scream again, and it’ll be the last breath you ever take you stupid whore!” he spit at me, venom lacing his every word.

  I closed my eyes as tightly as possible, and thought to myself that this was it. This was the moment that I would die. You think about it, and you know about it, but you never think about how you’ll feel in your last moments alive.

  I couldn’t wrap my head around what had happened to him. I know that they say that drugs will change a person, but he said he’d never hurt me. He said he’d stop using. He promised that he would stop. That he wasn’t addicted, and he just used recreationally.
Marijuana could be used recreationally, not this stuff he was on. I should have been smarter.

  This was not the guy I had fallen for. This was a monster. This was a murderer.

  I could feel myself start to slip out of consciousness at the same time that he let go of my throat and moved inside of me one last time. He let out a loud grunt and collapsed on top of me as I gasped for air.

  All I could think about was that I was alive. He didn’t kill me. Not yet.

  I wished he had just let me die.

  Luke finally removed Reese, and he spat on the ground at Gabe but Archer had already gotten Gabe to his feet. Reese must have missed more punches than I had realized, likely from his drunken state, because I noticed that other than his left eye swelling rapidly, he was only bleeding from his nose and his lip. I was surprised that he was able to stand, let alone leap out to grab at Reese. Archer and the other guy pulled him away in time, throwing out curse words to Wes. Wes stood straight as a board, tension filling every muscle in his body, his hands curled into fists at his sides. His chest was moving up and down fast with the rhythm of his breathing.

  Gabe and his friends were finally out of view when I started to breathe again. I hadn’t even noticed that Jade had wrapped her arms around my waist at some point, in both comfort and fear.

  “Fuckin’ douche bag got what he deserved!” Reese yelled, pushing Luke off of him. He stumbled and I felt Jade wince against me but relax when he caught his balance.

  “All of you need to leave the property right now,” a deep voice that belonged to one of the bouncers told us as he stepped out from the doorway.

  “Whatever, man, this place sucks!” Reese told him, and the bouncer just rolled his eyes, motioning us away with his hands. Reese was drunker than I had realized, and the exhilaration from the fight only seemed to add to his high. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

  “You coming?” Jade asked me softly, wiping a tear from her face.

  “I’m going to grab a cab and head home.” I told her.

  She looked like she was ready to argue but decided against it and sighed, leaning into me to give me a tight hug.

  “Call me in the morning, please,” she said.

  I nodded, “I will.”

  I went back inside and called a cab, grateful that the bouncer had let me back in knowing that I was with that group. I guess when you’re not the one throwing the punches you don’t get punished. Who’d have known?

  I went to the bathroom and splashed water on my face. I was still shaking from what had happened, and thankfully, the cab was waiting for me when I got back out front. I climbed into the back of the taxi and gave the driver my address, making a decision that I knew was best.

  When I got to the apartment I was happy that Elle wasn’t there. I just wanted to go to sleep. I removed Savanna’s heels but was too exhausted both physically and mentally for anything else so I crawled under the comforter fully clothed. My eyes started to close but I remembered I was still wearing Wes’s thermal. I sat up and pulled it off, throwing it on the floor. I wouldn’t allow myself to be with Wes. Being with Wes was too dangerous—he’d proven that tonight.

  I let my tears fall before closing my eyes, succumbing to the darkness.

  THIRTEEN

  I woke up to Elle whispering my name beside where I lay trying to stay asleep for as long as possible and avoid the day.

  “Brooke.” I groaned.

  “Go away, Elle.”

  “Brookelyn…are those tears stains?” I smashed my face into my pillow. “I leave you alone for one night and this is what happens? God, Brooke, I’m gonna have to keep you with me all day!”

  I rolled my eyes beneath my closed eyelids and felt the bed move on the other side as Elle slipped beneath the covers. She lied facing me and there was a worried frown on her face.

  “What happened last night, Brookelyn?” She asked gently.

  “I don’t want to talk about, Elle. Let me go back to sleep.”

  “It’s already the afternoon! You’ve practically been in a coma. I finally had to come make sure you weren’t dead!” she cried out.

  “If you’re going to stay in here can you please stop yelling miss dramatic?” I teased lightly.

  “Fine, but if you won’t tell me what happened I’ll just call Wes.” She threatened, knowing I’d concede.

  I sighed and turned to face her fully. “Remember how I told you about his brother, Reese?”

  “Yeah, he was in prison cause Gabe called the cops on him for having drugs or whatever.” She answered, her confusion clear on her face.

  “Yeah, well he got out yesterday.” Her eyes widened and I continued, “and we all went to Dusty’s.”

  “Was Gabe there?” She questioned, propping her head up on her hand.

  “Yeah, and I went over and told him that Reese was there so he agreed to leave, but Reese saw him before they got out of the bar and a huge fight broke out.” I told her.

  “Oh my god.” She gasped, picturing the scene in her head. Nothing she imagined could be as bad as what I had actually witnessed.

  “Yeah, all of them were fighting. Wes, too. They were all drunk and throwing punches.” I said, and understanding crossed her features.

  “Aww, B, I’m sorry.” Elle scooted closer to me and hugged me as I let more tears fall.

  “You really liked him didn’t you?” She asked, not letting me go. I nodded and sniffled.

  “Of course!” she cried, “you finally open up and then this happens!”

  “It’s okay, Elle. I should have known better.” I whispered through my tears.

  “It’s not okay!” she ran her fingers through my hair and I laughed at her momma bear instincts taking over. Elle has three little sibling so she’s used to feeling protective and comforting them. I have had to remind her numerous times in the past that I’m not a child and she didn’t have to kiss my booboo and make it better.

  “You know what sucks the most?” She asked, and I titled my head up to meet her gaze. She frowned seeing a few tears still fall down my cheeks and wiped them away, “Wes isn’t like that. Colin swears he’s a good guy. Yeah, he’s been in a few fights but what guy hasn’t? Especially considering what Gabe did…” I didn’t say anything, just put my head back down on the pillow. I knew Wes wasn’t like that but it didn’t change the fact that he was drunk and got into a fight. Twice.

  “The first time you saw Wes fight, why did he hit Gabe?” She questioned me. I didn’t answer because I knew what she was getting at, “exactly, because he was defending you.”

  She gave me a pointed look, “I wasn’t there last night, but tell me something. Was Wes fighting just to fight or was he defending his brother?”

  She already knew what I’d say, clearly having spoken to Colin about Wes a few times like a true best friend, but I answered her anyways, “He was trying to stop Gabe’s friends from hurting Reese.”

  “That’s what I figured. He’s not a temperamental hot head, Brookelyn. I don’t like the situation but I do you think I push you to hang out with him if I thought you might be in danger?” she asked.

  “Thanks, Elle.” I hugged her tightly, “Let’s make eggs.”

  She laughed and followed me into the kitchen, grabbing a frying pan while I pulled out ingredients from the refrigerator.

  “So are you going to answer his texts?” Elle asked me, lighting the stove and letting the butter melt in the pan.

  I hadn’t looked at my phone since I got home last night but I wasn’t ready to deal with him just yet.

  “Later. I know that Wes isn’t a dangerous guy but that doesn’t change the situation. I still need to think some things through.” I told her. Elle nodded, accepting my reasoning and we worked together making the scrambled eggs and toast, singing Taylor Swift’s ‘22.’