Page 9 of The Goalie

That was true.

I wasn’t actually going home.

Since Sam left before I could catch her in the parking lot, I began to drive to her apartment complex. Lucy texted me the address seven months ago for the same reason she texted me Sam’s phone number. I would say she was paranoid, but Lucy just had an abundance of information and had no problem sharing it.

By the time I got to Sam’s apartment, I couldn’t figure out if this was a good idea. I was only here because I wanted to fuck Sam. Again. Sam, the person I hated up until an hour ago.

I should go home.

I should go back to the party and fuck a stranger.

And yet, I made no move to do that.

I sat in my car, stared out my windshield, and wondered if fucking Sam again—if asking her—would be worth it.

5

Sam

I snuckout of the party during the song. I didn’t want to stay. I needed a hot shower. I needed to get the thought of Dan Holmes being inside of me off of my body and out of my mind.

I shuddered just thinking about it. I shuddered thinking about how my body responded to his so naturally, like we had been together for a while. Like we knew each other inside and out.

I heaved at the thought of being with Dan. Sure, he was good-looking, but he was such a dick that any hint of desire I might have had because of his looks had vanished because of his attitude. And, okay, sure, he was an extremely talented NHL goalie so his arrogance was warranted—at least partially.

But he had always hated me and I had always hated him, so the fact that we had sex in Lucy’s gym locker room…

I gagged again.

I reached my car without throwing up, thank God. This dress was gorgeous, and even though I’d probably never get the opportunity to wear it again, I did not want to vomit all over it.

I started the car and pulled out of the lot. I was the only car to do so. Everyone else was still enjoying the party. I couldn’t blame them. Lucy was so good at organizing events that there was no way anyone could be bored at one of her functions. I did regret leaving without saying goodbye to her, but I hoped she would understand. Maybe if I pretended it had to do with the fact that me and Josh broke up a few weeks ago and I wasn’t quite ready to socialize just yet. She’d probably call me out and tell me it was bullshit—which it was—but at least it made sense.

The drive back to my apartment was quick. I lived about ten minutes away and Saturday nights weren’t filled with traffic as long as you knew which routes to take. Houston was a party city and people loved to go out on the weekend, but the streets I took home weren’t busy and I pulled into my assigned parking spot in front of my first-floor apartment.

I walked inside, locking the door behind me, and contemplated whether I should shower or bathe. If I bathed, I would have the opportunity to read, which I enjoyed to do when I could find the time. However, soaking in a tub of hot water that had Dan Holmes excrement in it turned my stomach over again.

Shower it was.

I carefully stepped out of my dress and removed my mask. Why I didn’t do it the second I got in the car, I didn’t know. It probably had to do with the fact that I forgot it was even there due to the fact that I was distracted by the disgust I had for myself.

When I stepped in my shower, I relaxed. The beads of water sliced into my skin, forcing the muscles in my body to loosen and ease. The steam warmed my face and caused me to get sleepy.

After a good ten or fifteen minutes, I stepped out of the shower and dried off before pulling on my pajamas. I was ready to collapse onto my couch and pull up Hulu. Maybe I could watch the latest season ofElementarynow that Josh wasn’t here. He wasn’t into police procedurals, which should have been the first sign that he was not the right guy for me.

My phone rang. I grabbed it and saw a number I hadn’t saved in my phone. The only person who would be calling this late at night was Lucy. We had just been together and she probably wanted to know where I was and why I had left so early, especially without grabbing cake.

“Hello?”

“Sam? I was hoping you’d answer.”

Josh? Why was my ex-boyfriend calling me so late?

I clenched my jaw and rolled my eyes. I couldn’t believe I let myself answer. No one good ever called after a certain time, especially guys. At one point, unless an emergency was going on, there was only one thing they wanted.

“What do you want, Josh?” I demanded to know.

I knew I was being a bitch right then. I didn’t try to make sure my tone was civil. I couldn’t care what he thought. I was in no mood to deal with him and his bullshit, especially since I could feel Dan’s hands on my body even after a shower, even after the hour or so since we were entangled with each other.