The Sophomore (College Years #2) - Monica Murphy Page 0,16

have to grow up and be responsible.

The only one who agrees with this thought process is Caleb. That guy is insane for all women, and I love him for it. He will bang whoever he wants, whenever he wants to. I aspire to that. I did do that while on tour. It was a sing fest and a fuck fest. A bit of a drug fest too, if I’m being real.

And now, I’m doing nothing. Playing football. Going to class. Having a few beers on the weekend, smoking a little weed. We’re back to playing Call of Duty in the evening too.

Honestly? It’s kind of boring, compared to what I was doing over the summer. Singing and touring and meeting new people. Seeing new places, performing for new crowds, reveling in their adulation. That was some cool shit.

It was lonely though too. Being on the road. Traveling constantly, having no one to share it with beyond my bandmates. We grew closer. They’re cool, but they’re not my friends.

Not like these guys.

Once we’re done with practice and showered, we head over to a Mexican restaurant not too far from Tony and Caleb’s condo. We order our food at the counter and go find a table, which is a fight considering how many people are currently in this place.

“Everyone loves their tacos,” Eli says after we finally snag a table.

I take a sip from my soda, wishing there was a splash of whiskey in it. “They have damn good food.”

“The girls are hosting a party at my place tomorrow,” Tony says conversationally. “You guys are invited, of course.”

“What girls are you talking about?” I ask.

“Hayden, Gracie, Joselyn, Ellie,” Tony says. “The usual gang.”

“I hate that Ava’s not here,” Eli says. He looks down in the dumps.

“Bro, you planning on visiting her during our bye week?” Caleb asks.

“She wants me to,” Eli says. “Though I told her she should come here. See her family and her friends.”

“You should go there. And I’ll come with. Check out the babes.” Caleb grins.

“Do not take his ass,” Tony says, jerking his thumb in Caleb’s direction. “You want private time with your girl. Not to have to entertain this guy the entire weekend.”

“I can find my own entertainment,” Caleb says, irritated. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I’ll be your babysitter,” I tell him with a sly smile.

Caleb lifts up his hand for a high five and I give it to him. “Sounds like a plan,” he says.

“You two will be up to no good,” Eli mutters, shaking his head.

“That’s the idea,” I say, already looking forward to the change of scenery. “When’s our bye week again?”

They laugh at me, and I laugh along with them, but I’m serious. I don’t remember. I’m caught up in my head most of the time, and it’s not the best place to be right now.

“You know we play San Diego State in September,” Tony says. “You can see her then too.”

“It’s great that they’re on the schedule,” Eli says with an enthusiastic nod. “When football season’s over, I’ll be able to see her even more.”

“Then maybe you won’t be such a pouty baby,” I tell him.

He glares. “Whatever. You don’t get it.”

I ignore Eli’s anger toward me because I know he’s right. I don’t get it. I’m not in a relationship. Don’t have a girl that means that much to me—with the exception of Ellie, and she’s mad at me so I blew that. I don’t really have many people that mean that much to me in general, besides the ones who are sitting at this table.

A server shows up with our food and we dig in, conversation forgotten as we each devour a plate full of tacos.

“What’s up with Ellie anyway?” Caleb asks when he’s on his last taco and finally comes up for air. “Haven’t seen her much lately.”

At least I’m not the only one.

“She’s around,” Tony says mysteriously, sending a meaningful look in Caleb’s direction.

Caleb snaps his lips shut and shoves his last taco into his mouth.

And that’s it. That’s all they’ve got on that particular topic.

Ellie is around…where? What’s she doing? Who is she hanging out with? How are her classes? Does she like Fresno State? Who is she living with? Is she at the dorms? Is she happy? Has she made any new friends?

My questions are endless because I’m genuinely curious. I miss her. I miss her more than I want to admit. She was my touchstone throughout the summer. The one constant I could count on.