Matchplay (11 page)

I could feel several tears escape down my cheeks.

When Aaron noticed I was crying, he shot up. “Please don’t cry, Sunshine.” He wiped the tears that were now streaming down my face. “I want you. I really want you. I’ve wanted you from the moment I first laid eyes on you. The day you were moving in.”

He pulled me close to him and embraced me. “I want your first time to be special. You deserve it. Promise me, you’ll let me do this for you.”

“Okay,” I whimpered.

“You make me feel like I’m in high school again,” Aaron said.

“Is that good or bad?’ I asked.

“I learned to love someone when I was in high school and now I’m learning again
.” 

“Well, this is all new to me,” I admitted.

He raised an eyebrow. “All?”

“All,” I reiterated. “Because of my mother’s illness, I didn’t date in high school. I never had a boyfriend. Never went to prom.
Never even kissed anyone. Until I met you.”

Aaron looked into my eyes with such tenderness, I felt like crying again. “I’m glad you picked me to be your first
.” 

“Me, too
.”

“And I want to be your last,” he said firmly. He planted a soft kiss on my lips. “I want these lips all to myself. I want you all to myself.”

I tried to hold back a yawn.

“Are you getting tired?” Aaron asked. “It’s getting late. Do you want me to go?”

I shook my head. How could I tell him I never wanted him to go? “Maybe you could sleep here tonight?” I suggested my voice uncertain.

He smiled. “I would love to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up with you in my arms but I want you to be sure. Think it through. If anyone sees me leaving your room in the morning, you know what they’ll think, even if it’s not true. Are you ready for that?”

He had a point but I was willing to risk it. But I had just one question first. “You’re out of The Tournament, right?”

Aaron hesitated for a moment. Oh, no. The thought of him still being involved in something like that was completely revol
ting.

“I’m out of it,” he said finally but I wasn’t convinced.

“Look at me,” I said and he did as he was told. “You’re sure you’re no longer participating in The Tournament.”

His gaze was now intense. “I’m sure
.” 

“Okay, then let’s go to sleep.”

Aaron laid his head on my pillow and he pulled me into him so that my head lay on his chest. I melted into the warmth of his body. His kissed the top of my head and whispered, “Goodnight, Sunshine.”

“Good night,” I managed to get out before I fell into a peac
eful slumber.

Nine

A Mulligan

W
hen I awoke the next morning, it took me a moment to remember that I had someone in my bed with me. My head was still on Aaron’s chest and his arms were around me. We had stayed like that all night. The sun was starting to peek through the shade, so I knew it had to be later than I normally woke up. This time of year, it was still dark when I awoke. I glanced over at the clock and saw it was a little after eight.

As soon as I moved, Aaron woke up. He kissed my forehead. “Good morning, Sunshine.”

“How did you sleep?” I asked.

“I could definitely get used to that
. And you?”

“I think you cured my insomnia
.” 

“If you think that’s a good sleep, just wait until we start ha
ving sex.”

I gave him a sheepish half smile. I really couldn’t wait to be with him.

He looked over at the clock. “Eight fifteen. Shit. I have a Clubhouse meeting at nine.”

“Why so early on a Sunday?” I asked.

He got up and stood in front of the mirror trying to fix his matted hair. “We’re giving the new recruits some chores to do and we have to make sure they all get done and get done right. It’s my duty as the President to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
      I got up from the bed and stood next to him, looking at the two of us in the mirror together. Aaron kissed my cheek. “You’re beautiful in the morning.”

“You’re not so bad yourself
.”  

“We’re having a get together with some of the other social clubs tonight.
Nothing formal. I’d like for you to be there. Would you like to come?”

I still didn’t feel comfortable in The Clubhouse but I could sense it was important to Aaron. “Okay, sure,” I agreed.

He kissed my cheek. “Be there around eight?”

I nodded as Aaron took my hand and lead me to the door. He kissed me then whispered in my ear, “I can’t wait to see you again tonight.” 

***

W
hen I stood at the doorway to The Clubhouse, the same two guys were guarding the entrance as had been there the night of Parent’s Weekend. They looked at me as if they were trying to recall how they knew me. I was sure I was probably the only one who had refused to sign their book.

“You need to sign in,” the taller guy
informed me.

“I’m not going to do that,” I
countered.

The guy gave me a closer look then seemed to remember me. “You’re the girl, who Donovan knows.”

“I’m Aaron’s girlfriend,” I said matter-of-factly.

The shorter guy stifled a laugh.
Asshole.

“Aaron said I didn’t have to sign the book, remember?” I
was now fuming.

“Whatever
.” The taller guy shrugged.

I marched past the two buffoons and headed toward the sound of rock music. There was a room, that had a fully equipped bar, dance floor and even tables for people to sit. It was like a small nightclub in their house. The room was about half full already and I wondered how I was going to find Aaron. I looked around but I didn’t see him. I did see his friend, Evan, standing with two other guys near the bar. Evan intimidated me but he was the only person I knew besides Aaron.

As I got closer to the bar, Evan’s gaze met mine and he gave me an odd look. It immediately made my stomach crawl and I decided against speaking to him. Then I saw him elbow the guy next to him and point in my direction. He spoke loud enough for me to hear him. “Hey, isn’t that the chick that Aaron scored with last night?”

My stomach lurched.

Evan continued. “I heard he walked out of the Virgin Vault early this morning. You know what that means. Aaron’s gonna post a big score on his card. Now that Aaron’s warmed her up, I wouldn’t mind giving her a go. I usually don’t go for his sloppy seconds but in her case, I think I’d make an exception. I bet she’s still pretty tight. She needs a real man to really loosen her up.”

To say that I was completely and utterly disgusted would be the understatement of the year. I was so sick to my stomach I needed to get out of there and fast.  Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aaron. He looked at my face then looked over at
Evan and his friends. They were now laughing and pointing in my direction.

Aaron marched over to Evan. “What the fuck is going on?”

“What do you mean?” Evan said trying to stifle a laugh.

“What the fuck did you say?” Aaron was now seething with anger.

“I just wanted to know what that little girl is doing here? She didn’t get enough of you last night, so she came back for more? I guess she doesn’t know the rules of the game. Score and move on. Right, Aaron? Or maybe she’d like to give some of the other guys in the house a piece?”

I suddenly felt like I was watching something that wasn’t real. At least, I hoped it wasn’t real. Could I really have been that stupid? Did it even matter that we didn’t have sex? Those guys already had their minds made up about both me and Aaron.

When Aaron looked at me, his expression was so pained, it pierced my heart. I knew I loved him but I also knew that I couldn’t be with someone, who lied to me. He looked me in the eye and told me he was no longer in the Tournament. It wasn’t true. I also wondered what his choice of friends said about his character. 

I turned and hurried out of the house as fast as I could. I was able to make it outside and take a few needed breaths of fresh air before Aaron caught up to me. He grabbed my elbow and pulled me close. I didn’t resist but I also knew it was the last time he would ever touch me.

“Please let me explain,” he pleaded.

“There’s nothing to explain,” I said coldly. “Do you know what your friend, and I use the term loosely, said to me? He said
horrible, disgusting and degrading things, Aaron. If he knew that you cared about me, if he knew I was someone special to you, why did he say those things? I think it’s because he didn’t know. You never bothered to tell him.”

Aaron’s eyes were now getting wet. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. But it was too little too late.

“And that’s not even the worst part. You lied to me. You looked into my eyes and lied. You told me you were out of the Tournament and you’re not. I can’t be with someone who lies. End of story.”

“I was going to get out of the Tournament. I swear. I just needed time.”

“You told me you were already done with it. All your friends think I’m nothing but a score on your card. Is that what you want your friends to think of me? That I’m someone they can sleep with and discard? Is that how you treat someone you care about, Aaron? You told me that you would never do that to me. I guess that was a lie, too. I wanted to be with you. I wanted a relationship with you. I guess we wanted two completely different things.”

“It’s not like that
.” He looked lost. Empty. Hollow. It was a look I had only seen once before. It was the look my dad had in his eyes the day we buried my mom.

“Goodbye, Aaron
.” I said as I turned and walked away. This time, he didn’t stop me.

By the time I got to my room, I was emotionally drained. I had cried most of the way but I still felt like I had a few more rounds of tears left in me. I plopped myself on my bed and stared at the ceiling. It was my own fault. I trusted someone I knew had
a reputation of being a womanizer and I thought he was going to change for me. What a fairy tale! At least I didn’t sleep with him. My first time would be with someone, who actually deserved it. I thought about what it would be like to be with Lucas. He would never break my heart the way Aaron did but he couldn’t capture my heart the way Aaron did, either.

It wasn’t long before Olivia burst into the room with
Marney. They were still on a post-speech tournament high. As soon as they saw me, they both went wide-eyed.

“You look like shit,”
Marney observed.

“What did the asshole do this time?” Olivia sighed.

Between more sobs, I told them both the latest Aaron saga.

“You know there are other guys on campus besides Aaron,” Olivia
suggested. “You are aware of that?”

“And other girls,”
Marney added and winked at me.

I grabbed a tissue and blew my nose.

“If you keep dating the asshole, we’re going to have to start going to Costco for the huge mountain of tissue boxes,” Olivia joked.

At least that got me to smile.

“This is really fucked up? You know that, don’t you?” Olivia complained.

Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. The three of us looked at each other. “Is Lucas coming over?” I asked.

Olivia shook her head. “He had a meeting over at The Geek Patrol.”

The knock grew into a pounding.

“I bet it’s Prince Charming.” Olivia sighed.

I
felt too weak to move. “Would you get it?”

Olivia nodded.
“It would be my pleasure.”

She went to the door with
Marney on her heels. I dragged myself up and followed. Olivia slowly opened the door. I gasped when I saw Aaron. He was completely disheveled. His eyes were all red and puffy, like he had been crying as much as I had. His button-down shirt was half untucked and his hair was a complete mess. I could smell alcohol on him. I had never seen him consume that much around me.

“I need to see Sunshine
.” He was slurring his words a bit.

Olivia looked puzzled. She didn’t know about his nickname for me.

Aaron blinked a few times then stared at Marney. “Who’s that guy?”

Olivia pointed a finger in Aaron’s face. “That is my gir
lfriend.”

Aaron’s head titled a bit as he continued to stare at
Marney. “That guy is a girl?”

“I think you need to leave,” Olivia said sternly.

He shook his head. “I’m not leaving until I see Sunshine.” He crossed his arms over his chest as defiantly as he could in his drunken state.

“You do realize it’s the middle of the night,” Olivia said. “The sun won’t rise for a while. Maybe you’d better go home and sleep.”

Aaron shook his head again. “No, I won’t go. I won’t ever go. I need a mulligan.”

“Do we look like we’ve got beer in here? Besides, you don’t look like you need anymore.”

Marney chuckled. “A mulligan is like a do-over in golf.”

Aaron went wide-eyed. “Do you golf?” he asked
Marney.

Marney
gave a hearty laugh. “Do I look like I golf? My brother is on the school’s golf team. He’s been golfing since he was a kid.”

It looked like Aaron was trying to process this information then he said, “I need Rainy to let me have a mulligan.”

Olivia glanced over at me and shrugged. I shrugged back. I didn’t know what to do either.

I stepped closer to the door so Aaron could see me. His face brightened when he laid eyes on me. “There you are, Sunshine.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “What do you want, Aaron?”

“There are three things I need to say to you. Will you come out here so I can say them?”

“If I come out there and listen to you, will you then go home and get some sleep?”

Aaron nodded.

“Fine,” I said as I stepped out the door.

Olivia and
Marney closed the door to give us some privacy.

When I glanced up at Aaron, he looked so sad and vulnerable and the pain in his eyes was so evident, I could feel it to my core.

“I know I fucked up. And I don’t know if you’ll ever forgive me or if I even deserve it. But there are three things I need to say to you.”

The seriousness of the moment seemed to sober him up co
nsiderably. He continued, “First, I want you to know that I love you. I’ve wanted to tell you that for a while but I wanted to wait for the most special and perfect time. Since I may never get another chance to tell you, I just wanted you to know.”

I could feel the tears welling in my eyes but I tried my best to hold them back. I didn’t want Aaron to see me cry.

“Second, I want you to know that you’re an incredible person. You’re beautiful, passionate, intelligent, strong, even courageous, and tenacious. I know you will do great things and leave your mark on the world. And I know I don’t even come close to deserving someone like you.”

Before I could stop it, a lone tear escaped and rolled down my cheek. Aaron smoothed it away with his thumb and then left his hand on the side of my cheek.

“Third,” Aaron said softly. “Even though I don’t deserve it, I hope you’ll consider giving me another chance to prove I can be everything you deserve in a man.”

Then Aaron leaned down and gave me a soft kiss. My heart skipped a few beats. Aaron stared into my eyes. “I love you, Rainy. And I always will.”

Then he turned and walked away.