It almost sounded as if he thought I’d take my anger out on Avery.
“Well, it’s just that girls in your presence seem to have a way of getting hurt.”
“I never laid a hand on Layla, and you can ask her for all I care, so if that’s what you mean, you’re out of line.”
“Come on. We’ve all seen the arguments, the fights, the verbal abuse. But hey, I’m not perfect. I’m just saying you should focus that anger. I’m the one who can help you do that.”
“You’re focusing it, all right.” At himself. I thought it was time to explain what happened before this guy put his foot in his mouth much further. “Coach had the nerve to tell me that if I had listened to him and left Avery alone, she wouldn’t be in the hospital right now. Like I need to hear that. It’s like saying since I’m into her, she’s automatically in for a rough time. It’s bullshit. I care about her.”
“She’s hot, but shit, you have a ton of hot girls on your jock every fucking weekend. This girlfriend shit will get old, won’t it?”
“No, the party shit is what got old. I saw how Layla moved on, and I wanted that too. Avery is the girl for me. I’m not even tempted.”
“Dude, how? You have the cheerleaders and half the other girls at Pro-U willing to go on their knees for you.”
I laughed. He just didn’t get it. “Yeah, half of them have been.”
“Damn, you should get tested,” said Will, giving me his goofy laugh. He was just fucking around and making small talk, so I tried to lighten up a bit.
“Funny.”
“So, let’s compare notes. We’re bound to have been with some of the same girls.”
“Maybe. And now that I think of it, maybe I should get tested.”
“Funny,” he said, repeating what I’d said in a mocking tone. “Have you ever been with Lizzy?”
“Who hasn’t?”
“She gives the best head, doesn’t she?”
“Not the best,” I said. I wasn’t sure why I was engaging in the conversation, but as long as he wasn’t saying anything offending, I didn’t care.
“Seriously? She has no gag reflex and can take it to the balls.”
“Maybe she can take yours that deep, but not mine.” I laughed, mostly just ribbing him. Lizzy was like a fucking black hole. She could suck you in from both ends. “I’m over all that. I saw how happy other people were settling down, and I decided that’s what I wanted.”
“I’d have to find the right girl. Until then, with you not around to poach pussy from the Omegas, I’m going to get as much as I can.”
“And I give you my blessing, man. You’ll have it easy with that bunch.”
“What about Britany? She’s still hung up on you, you know? She’s telling everyone she’s going to get you back.”
“I’m off the market,” I told him. “I’ve turned her down for months. She sucked me off once, and now she thinks she owns me. I don’t need it. She’s a stage-five clinger.”
“She’s a nice girl, though. And you have to admit she’s hot.”
“She’s hot, but she’s short and mouthy too.”
“See, I never mind a mouthy girl. I figure just keep it busy, and you don’t have to listen to them.”
“That’s one way,” I said with a laugh. He had a really odd attitude for someone who was worried about my anger issues. I knew Will had an addiction problem and had really fucked up in the past. I thought it was Dillon who had befriended him and helped him out, but I decided to leave that conversation for another time. Maybe I’d ask Dillon about him myself.
As we made it back into town, I couldn’t stand the small talk anymore. “Do you think you could just drop me at the hospital? I could get a ride home from there, but I really want to see Avery.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea after what happened? Don’t you think that will upset her?”
I wondered for a moment if he could be right, but I decided to take my chances. “Nah, it’s fine. I’m not going to burden her or anything. I just want to see her.”
“Oh, okay. I’m going to stop for gas first if that’s cool.”
I reached into my wallet and pulled out a twenty. “Here, take this and put it in the tank.”
“Thanks, man.” Will pulled into the nearest station, and when he got out to go in and pay, I noticed he had taken out