eyes connect.
We cheer for the Bruins throughout the game, and Jason rides the bench until the last five minutes of play.
We wait for him out front after the game and he brings the team with him, all freshly showered with damp hair.
“Wow, I think this is the cleanest I’ve seen all of you,” I quip.
“Sara, are you going to introduce us?” Peter asks, gesturing to Dad with his chin as he adjusts the strap of his gym bag on his shoulder.
“Guys, this is my dad, Andrew Jericho. Dad,” I point to each of the guys and list off their names.
“You raised a great daughter.” Tommy smiles.
“I wish I could take the credit guys,” Dad says. “But Sara came to us the way she is. We just kept her safe.”
The guys wear befuddled expressions on their faces.
“The Dad and Mom adopted me over a year ago.”
A muttering of “oh” and head nods runs through the group.
“So that’s why J calls you Parker,” Chad says, making the connection.
“And who says athletes aren’t smart?” I jest.
“The guys want to go out for pizza,” Jason tells us and then looks at Dad. “Would it be okay if Sara stays tonight and I’ll bring her back tomorrow?”
“Ask her, not me,” Dad says.
Jason’s eyes flicker to me.
“I didn’t bring anything.”
“We can run to the store for whatever you need and you can borrow one of my shirts.”
I turn to Dad. “Are you okay driving back by yourself?”
“Sure, sweetheart.” He gives me a tight hug. “Have a good time.”
“Thanks, Dad. Drive safe and let Mom and Arissa know we’ll be back in time for the appointment.”
“Sure thing.” He hugs Jason. “Thank you. I really enjoyed myself.”
“You’re welcome, Andrew. Anytime my mom doesn’t want to or can’t come up, you’re welcome to it.”
“Watch out. He’s willing to take on your mom for the ticket,” I warn.
He laughs heartily. “I would pay to see that.”
Dad grins. “It could happen. Okay. See you tomorrow.” Dad raises his hand up. “Guys, it was great meeting you. I hope to see you again.”
“Bye, Mr. Jericho!” they call out.
“Let’s get some food!” Swensen yells, brushing his light brown mop out of his face.
Kiernan regales me with a tale of his womanizing ways once we return to the dorm. His sun-bleached blond hair sticks up everywhere and his gray-green eyes dazzle with his smile. I figured out the dazzling eye-smile combination is how he draws people in to his storytelling.
“So her parents were in town for a week and she wanted it more while they were here. Of course, I was only too happy to oblige.”
“Of course,” I mirror, unsure where he’s going with this story.
“By the end of the week, I was shooting blanks!”
My eyes widen in shock. “I think I could’ve lived the rest of my life without knowing that, Kiernan. Wait. Now I have something to use against you.”
He throws his head back for a deep belly laugh.
“Hey! Whass goin’ on here guysss?” slurs a short male student, standing in the doorway. His Bruins hat is on backwards, his blue t-shirt is over-sized, and the crotch of his black shorts falls even with his knees. He holds a beer bottle in front of his chest.
“’Sup, Jordan,” Troy says, holding out his fist.
Jordan bumps Troy’s fist, almost missing it. “Who’sss the cutie?” He makes a bad attempt to whisper to Troy.
“Sara. She’s Jason’s fiancée.”
“Hi, Sara,” he says, his blue eyes gleam as he approaches me in a drunken swagger.
“Hi, Jordan.” I eye him warily.
“Whass up?”
“Just talking to Kiernan.”
“How about you and me talk somewhere else?”
“I’m staying here with my friends.”
“I could be your friend,” he says, leaning over and running his hand over my knee.
I throw my water in his face and jump up as he stumbles back, wiping his eyes.
“Don’t touch me!” Heat spikes through me and pools in my cheeks.
“Ooh. Feisty. I like feisty,” he says, sauntering back to me.
His face distorts into Simon’s in a split second.
No! Not again!
My right hand balls into a fist and swings in a hook, connecting with his left eye.
“Fuck!” Tommy shouts, jumping between me and Jordan as Troy grabs the back of Jordan’s shirt and hauls him back.
“Fucking cunt!” Jordan yells.
“I told you not to touch me!” I holler.
Troy shoves Jordan out the door, telling him, “She warned you, man. And I told you she’s J’s girl.”
“She’s a skank ho is what she is!” Jordan yells.
Swensen and Garth help Troy usher him away.
An uncontrollable shaking takes over my body and I let out