reeled. Rocky was saying things that I’d never really dived deep into before. And she was right. We wandered through life, passing people on the streets, on campus, in a bar, at a restaurant, and we never once thought that anything bad was going to happen because of one of them. We had this innate trust for strangers because we trusted ourselves.
“It makes sense,” I said, hoping she felt understood. “There is a level of trust we have while doing everyday things. We trust that no one will try to murder us while we’re doing them. And that was broken for you.”
“Definitely. I mean, if you haven’t been through something like that, you can’t even begin to understand what it’s really like. I thought I was going to die. And there’s nothing that prepares you for that level of fear or for all the feelings that come after it starts to sink in.”
“I’m really sorry you went through that. I can’t believe you were there.” I wiped at my eyes because my own tears had started to fall just as Rocky seemed to be pulling herself together.
“That’s why I joined the sorority,” Rocky said with a half-grin.
Mac perked up. “Wait. You were in a sorority?” he asked with the cutest expression on his face.
“Don’t get too excited, buddy. It wasn’t my idea. My mom had pushed for it. She said that if I was going to move down here and go away to school after everything that happened, she wanted to make sure I had friends,” Rocky explained with a twisted laugh. “Clearly, she didn’t know how sororities work.”
“They aren’t always the nicest of girls,” I said even though I’d considered rushing one once or twice over the years. It was the females like Hayley who had stopped me. I never wanted to be associated with that kind of mean girl-esque crowd.
“Understatement of the year.” Rocky guffawed. “I mean, depending on which one. They aren’t all bad.”
“I don’t mean to cut this short—and I’d stay here all day with you if I could, Rocky—but I have to get back to school. Coach will kick my ass if I miss any classes, and he’ll make me run until I puke later.”
“I can drive you guys back to campus,” Rocky offered, but Mac and I both said, “No,” at the same time.
“No, really, it’s okay.” I rounded the corner into the kitchen and gave her a hug, whether she wanted one or not. I didn’t think she hugged me back, but I didn’t care. “Rest. Call your brother. Do whatever you need to do. I’ll come check on you later, all right?”
“Does that mean she’s getting fresh cookies?” Mac asked.
Rocky’s eyes lit up. “Cookies?” She looked marginally happier than she had a moment ago.
“Sunny makes the best cookies you’ve ever tasted. Better hope she brings some when she comes to check on you. Matter of fact, I’d be unwell for, like, weeks if I were you,” he said with a grin, and I walked back toward him and swatted his shoulder. “Why are you always hitting me?” He pouted.
I didn’t answer him. “I’ll see you later, Rocky. You’ll be okay if we go?”
“Yeah. I’m all right. Thanks, you guys. Seriously. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there. But now, I want cookies, Sunny, so I’ll just be sitting here”—she clasped her hands together under her chin—“waiting like a sad puppy for a treat.”
“You won’t be sorry.” Mac sauntered over to her, pulled her into a hug, and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I feel protective over you now,” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “Oh jeez. Here we go. Take him away.” She gave Mac a shove in my direction. “Please. Bye, Baseball Boy. Pretend we never met.”
“Not a chance,” he said, and I laughed as I had to practically force him out of her front door.
“I’ll ignore you in public,” she yelled.
I quickly closed the door behind us, so Mac couldn’t turn around and head back inside to argue with her.
“Come on. I need to stop at my place real quick.”
Clearing the Air
Mac
I
looked at Sunny and asked, “She wouldn’t really do that, would she?” referring to Rocky ignoring me in public. I wasn’t sure my ego could take the hit.
“You’re so sensitive,” she said, which wasn’t really an answer.
“You know this about me already,” I whined as we reached her front door, and she unlocked it. When did I turn into such a pussy?
“I still