Hell no!
“Are you blokes only calling this meeting coz you’re getting pissed?”
Kaylee leans in. “Are they mad? They don’t seem mad.”
“Pissed,” I say, explaining my English. “Sloshed. Drunk.”
She nods. “Oooh! That makes more sense.”
“No, we’re calling the meeting now because everyone seems to be here. Don’t think we’re missing anyone for a change. It’s the perfect time!”
“Except half of you are trollied,” I remind them, eager to weasel my way out of it.
“So?” Booker snorts. “Half of them are trollied during the games.”
That can’t be true, can it? Is being piss-arse drunk at a match allowed?
I have so much to learn.
Cricket is so much more dignified than rugby—I wish I hadn’t learned to play that at school instead and had chosen rugby alongside my brother; I’d have more confidence than I’m feeling at the moment.
“Seriously?” I squeak out. “You drink during the matches?”
“No, dipshit—there’s no drinking during the matches. I meant they’re usually hungover. Sheesh, what were they teaching you back home? We drink the night before and after, but not during. Christ.”
Well how the hell am I supposed to know?
“Oh my god, Booker, be nice—he barely goes here.” Kaylee jumps to my defense, patting my arm.
They ignore her.
“We have lots of meetings during parties,” Levi informs me. “It’s kind of what we’re known for. We have to kick everyone out first, then the guys can set up.”
Kick everyone out.
Set up.
Shite, they’re actually going to have a meeting tonight. One where they want me to lead a group of freshman players, who probably know more about the sport than I ever will.
“I can’t lead the freshmen,” I blurt out. “I…don’t have a notebook.”
The guys stare.
“Don’t have a notebook?” Booker’s face is cocked up. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I just like to have notebooks when I attend meetings. For notetaking?”
Levi jabs Booker with his elbow. “These British dudes and their crazy ways, acting like it’s the year 2000.” They laugh. “Technology, man—all you need is your phone!”
Right.
My mobile.
“Come on, send your lady on her way so we can get everyone rounded up and get started.” Booker belches loudly and laughs. “Night’s not getting any younger.”
“Are you sure we can’t do this in the morning? Before practice? I can bring bagels.”
Everyone stares at me as if I’ve lost my damn mind.
“Bagels?” Booker asks. “Since when do you eat bagels?”
Since never, but I’m willing to cater a picnic if it’ll spare me from this catastrophe.
“Ha, I was kidding.”
The guys relax.
Levi gives me a pointed look, holding his beer cup high and extending his index finger. “You got this, bro. Don’t be nervous. We all love you.”
Lord, these blokes and their bromances. Levi and Booker and the rest of them love hugs and words of encouragement and cheerleading from the sidelines.
It’s so strange to me.
My mates back home couldn’t have cared less how I was feeling, or that I was nervous or…
“I’m not nervous.” I force out a laugh. “It’s just I promised Kaylee here I would drive her home, with it raining and all.”
Heads crane toward the front porch.
“It’s raining? When did it start raining?”
Since never, but I continue adding to the lie. “Where I come from, a gentleman never lets a woman get home on her own.”
Some nods of agreement, especially from the girls.
“Love that!” Kaylee agrees. “Yes! Love that—he has to drive me home. I’m terrified.” She shivers, playing to the crowd, squeezing my arse with a grip from behind, all the while keeping a somber expression. “I hate the dark.”
I’m liking her more and more.
“Dude, you can’t miss the meeting. Levi has raffle prizes…” Booker’s face is morose.
“It’s true,” Levi says. “I have a few candles and some chocolate chip cookies my aunt Donna made.”
What the actual fu…
Kaylee makes an ‘awww’ sound. “That does sound wonderful, but our boy here doesn’t need to sit in on the meeting—he knows everything he has to know.”
Booker scowls at her, not liking her opinion. “It’s team building.”
Levi sighs. “She’s not wrong, though—our buddy from across the pond doesn’t need to stay. There isn’t anything we can tell him tonight he can’t teach us tomorrow.”
They nod as if Levi’s words are gospel truth.
Wait.
Did he even make sense?
“All right, but come back as soon as you drop her off. We’ll probably be here awhile.”
My shoulders relax as I’m let off the hook. “Absolutely. Won’t take me but a few minutes.”
Kaylee pokes me. “Come on, babe—let’s get going. I’ll tell the girls we’re ready to leave and you can drop them off on the way, ’kay?”
At this point I’ll agree to anything, including shuffling a truck full of giggling cheerleaders around town like I’m their taxi service.
“’Kay.”
“So this is where I live.”
The pronouncement comes as we arrive in front of a little white house on the edge of campus—literally on the edge of campus, straight across from the administration building, so lit up and prominent I wonder if the house is actually part of the university grounds, like the dean’s house.