Worth the Chance (Watertown University #2)

11. Garrett

Chapter 11

Garrett

I don’t want to say Eliza is a good luck charm, superstitions are overrated and it’s only the first game of the season, but we did win four to zero. I also may have played better than I did all last season. In the locker room, Coach Williams gives his post game spiel, filled with some compliments but mostly critiques before letting us go for the night. We all hop in for quick showers and to change for the night. I currently have no plans but I stink and I don’t want the scent to follow me home.

The team is still amped up, the energy following us out of the locker room and down the hall to where some students and parents wait to see their players. Emilia and Rosie waited here for me once, the rest of the times just meeting me outside or even the next day. I’m so used to not having anyone here that I almost blow right past the hazel eyed girl who’s excitedly waving at me.

“Hi.” I stop short so I don’t pass right by her.

“That was such a good game. You were amazing.” Eliza places her right hand gently on my bicep. The affection seemingly comes natural to her .

“Thanks.” I smile at her, shuffling my feet feeling a little off kilter as I can sense the eyes of my teammates and other students on us.

“Well, well, well, you must be Garrett’s girlfriend.” Alex pops up at my side, grabbing her hand in his and bringing it up to his mouth to place a kiss on it. My eyes roll at the gesture but Eliza lets out a light giggle and her cheeks flush slightly.

“Eliza.” She introduces herself with that dimpled smile.

“And she’s all mine.” I shoot a glare at Alex, the possessiveness easily taking over me.

“Of course she is.” Alex’s eyes dart between us, a smug smirk on his face. I have no idea what’s going through that brain of his but I don’t like it. Trying to not overthink it, I move to Eliza’s side, putting my arm around her waist to pull her closer to me and plant a kiss on her temple. There’s a few whoops and whistles from the guys since they never thought they’d see the day I was publicly affectionate with a girl. What they don’t know can’t hurt them. Besides, even if Eliza and I’s relationship is fake, it’s oddly satisfying knowing the most beautiful woman in the room is wearing your name and number on her back.

“You coming out tonight Gar?” Bryan approaches us, not yet spotting the beauty to my side. “Oh hey, you must be Eliza, I’m Bryan.” He extends his hand to shake hers.

“Nah, El isn’t twenty one yet.”

“Hey, that doesn’t stop me.” Alex chimes in. “Well from drinking there it does but they still let you in.”

“What do you think?” I lower my head, to whisper in her ear. She shudders slightly, which puts a smirk on my face.

“Yeah, that could be fun. I think Mia was going to head out with some girls too.” She nods and I grab her hand, intertwining her fingers with mine. Funnily enough her hand fits perfectly in mine .

“Count us in.” I tell the guys which earns cheering from Alex and a sly smile from Bryan.

When we get to the bar, it’s already crowded and as soon as a few hockey players walk through the door the energy increases even more. Cheers from everyone for our win. I intertwine Eliza and I’s hands again, keeping her as close to me as possible as I maneuver us through the crowd. I finally get us out of the main crowd that formed in the entryway and we make it to the area between the bar and the dance floor area. A group of guys comes up clapping me on the shoulder.

“Great game Moore.” One guy who I kind of recognize from the football team says.

“Three goals in the home opener. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings.” His friend says with a clap on my shoulder.

More of the hockey team starts to move towards us, shrinking the opening space around us. I pull El in front of me, planting one hand on her hip, to keep her from getting bumped or pushed around. As I do her long sleeve rides up, exposing some of her bare skin, the contact setting me on fire. She took off my jersey in the truck and is now just dressed in a thin, white long sleeve and pair of jeans.

It took everything in me to not pull the fabric back down as she shed it. Seeing my last name on her back igniting something in me. I think it’s some natural, possessive instinct all men must have so I don’t read into it.

We join in conversation with the team and some of the guys' girlfriends. Eliza relaxes into me and it feels good to know she can let down her guard with me. Eventually a bubbly blonde appears at my side, tapping El on the shoulder.

“Eli!” Eliza turns around with a bright, dimpled smile on her face.

“Hi Mi’s! This is Garrett.” She nods to me.

“Oh, hello Garrett. Taking good care of my girl? ”

“Mia.” Eliza scolds. I know Eli told her that everything between us is fake just as I told Bryan. We each needed someone to confide in I guess.

“Come dance with us!” Mia’s eyes flick back to a small group of girls on the floor.

“Do you mind?” Eliza looks at me and I move out of the way for her to go with her friend.

“Have fun.” I call after her as Mia drags her to the dance floor.

I move to the bar, ordering just a water, but my eyes keep flicking back to the dance floor. When I get back to the group, I join from the other side so I can have my eyes on her. It’s not that I have to be looking at her but last year when no one was watching my friend Emilia she went outside with some guy, who she was friendly with, and he tried to force himself on her. I do not need a repeat of that so keeping my eyes on her puts me at ease.

I half heartedly join in on the conversation with my teammates as they talk about how great this season is going to be. I agree with them, I do think if today was any indication of how the year is going to go, it will be great.

“You’re so screwed.” Bryan pipes up beside me, just loud enough for me to hear.

“What do you mean?” I turn to him for a split second with my eyebrows raised before swiveling my head back to keep my eyes on my roommate.

“You can’t keep your eyes off her, Gar.”

“It’s not like that. I just need to make sure nothing happens to her.” Bryan just hums, his attention on the blonde at El’s side, as he takes a sip of his beer. I choose to ignore him.

Eliza has a carefree smile on her face as she dances with Mia. The two of them sing along to some pop song, holding hands. As the song fades and rolls into the next, a slower song, I notice someone starting to approach the girls. My eyes narrow in, maybe it’s someone Mia knows, no need to overreact just yet. That is until I recognize the guy as Sam and I can feel my blood begin to boil. Shoving my water into Bryans hand, I stride across the room.

“Yep. Totally screwed!” I hear Bryan laugh to himself.

I get to Eliza in seconds, coming up behind her I wrap a hand around her waist and pull her into me so her back is flushed with her chest. Sam looks confused at first as Eliza stumbles slightly, but then his eyes move up and connect with mine.

“Great game, Garrett.” A wide grin spreads across his face, his eyes are glossy like he’s already had one too many to drink. Oh boy.

“Thanks.” Eliza glances up at me with a questioning look in her eyes as she looks between the two of us.

“I was just coming over to say hi to my Liza here.” His gaze peruses her body, making my jaw tighten. Liza? She doesn’t go by Liza. Who the hell does he think he is?

“Well she’s not your Liza.”

“She’ll always be my Liza.”

“Sam. You know I hate that nickname.” El huffs, clearly annoyed.

“C’mon Liz. I used to call you that all the time.”

“And I always told you I hated it. God, you’re an ass.” I can’t hold back my smile and light laughter. That’s my girl. I’ve noticed she has a sassy side to her that seems to come out around me. I’m loving that she’s using it to put this jerk in his place. Sam looks at her stunned and then looks to me like I should support him. What an idiot.

“I think you should leave.” I nod my head to the door.

“Is she putting out for you?” The words slur together. Yep, he’s definitely had some drinks tonight.

“Excuse me?” My voice is gruff as I swiftly move around Eliza, keeping her safely behind me .

“Is she putting out? She did that for me too, I was her first but then she got ‘too sick’. I’m sure she’ll leave you high and dry too.”

“You need to go now.” I inch in on his space, satisfied when he stumbles back a step.

“He’s just gonna leave you Eliza.” Sam calls over my shoulder, or tries to, his short, slender frame no match for my own. “I hear he doesn’t do love. Probably just using you for sex and when you stop giving, which you're good at, he’ll leave you in the dust. You’ll come crawling back to me.” Everyone in the vicinity's attention has turned to us now, Sam takes note throwing up a peace sign and heading to the door. Screw him. Who does he think he is? He has a girlfriend but wants his ex to come crawling back?

After I see him exit the building I spin around. Eliza isn’t behind me anymore and her friend Mia isn’t here either. My eyes search the space, frantically but I can't spot her.

“Back hall.” Bryan appears at my side, nodding towards a dimly lit hallway. I nod to him my thanks as I jog through the crowd. “What’s everyone looking at? Back to your partying!” Bryan calls and the DJ turns the music, which I hadn’t even realized was lowered, back up.

When I get into the dimly lit back hall, that’s lined with boxes, I spot her. She’s okay. She’s unharmed, physically anyways. She’s pacing back and forth three steps, turn, three steps, turn.

“Cupcake.”

“Garrett.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She laughs. Okay, I wasn’t expecting that. I was expecting some tears.

“I’ll give you two some privacy.” Mia pulls Eliza into a side hug, sending me a look. It’s not a judgmental look but one like she’s assessing me. I can tell she feels protective over El given our whole situation.

“You’re okay?”

“I’m okay. It felt so good to call him an ass.” She laughs again. “I used to hold him on a pedestal, he could do no wrong, but he was all wrong. Everything about him is wrong, especially for me.”

“He is definitely a piece of work.”

“Thank you. Thank you for sticking up for me. Sorry I fled but there were so many people looking I just had to get out of there.”

“Hey don’t worry about it. Do you want to go home?”

“I think I want to dance a while longer if that’s alright? He doesn’t deserve to ruin my night.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Whenever you're ready you just let me know.” We walk back out to the bar, El joins Mia and some other girls and I lean against the bar watching her. There’s a strength to her that I admire. I know she’s had a hard time the past few years that have torn down her confidence but you can see she’s working hard to put those pieces of herself back together, better than before.