It Was Only Ever Erin

Chapter 20 - Poker Faces

Jason’s P.O.V – Wednesday, June 25th, 2am

While we were at the club all the guys, including Max, decided to go to mine afterwards for an impromptu poker night. Max, unlike the girls, had the next couple of days off so didn’t need to worry about an early start. As Ollie, Mikey and I were setting up the table and Jack and Deano were getting snacks and drinks together, there was a knock at the door.

“It’s open,” I called and saw Max coming through the door. “The girls get home okay?”

“Yeah, they were fine. All exhausted and complaining about their aching feet,” he said rolling his eyes as we chuckled. I’d liked Max ever since meeting him at the barbecue; he was an easy going, genuine guy and all the others had got on well with him at the club earlier. He held up the six pack of beers he was holding. “Grabbed these from home.”

“Yes! He can come again,” beamed Deano as he and Jack came in with the snacks and we all sat round the table, getting the game underway.

“So how do you all know each other?” Max asked.

“Jase and I were neighbours when we were 9 and we all hung out after school playing video games. He didn’t actually go to the same school as all of us though until senior year,” said Ollie, Max looking up at me.

“Why the move?”

“…Bad behavior,” I smirked being deliberately vague.

“Early career in pharmaceutical sales?” Max grinned knowingly. We all raised our heads to look at him. “I’ve met pharma reps and you aint one of ‘em. Also Jack wasn’t a subtle dealer at the club – seriously dude, get a work/life balance,” he finished with a laugh, looking up to see us all staring at him in anticipation. “Oh, I don’t care and I’m not gonna tell anyone,” he smiled and went back to his cards.

There was a long, tense pause before Jack said, “…I can be subtle,” and everyone started laughing again.

“So you all went to school with Erin?” Max asked.

“Yep.”

“Does she know?”

“That we went to school together? Yeah” I quipped as he rolled his eyes. “Yeah she knows, she’s known since day 1. My mugging was less of a mugging, more of a deal gone wrong and since I couldn’t really go to the hospital without getting arrested, she took me back to her place and patched me up.”

“Huh, who knew she was such a rebel. Also, if our medical school professors heard she treated a gun wound from her couch she would be in sooo much trouble! What was she like in high school?” We all ended up answering over each other, except Mikey who just shrugged.

“Nerd” said Jack and Ollie.

“Hot nerd” said Deano.

“Pretty much the same as she is now” said me. Max was clearly trying to untangle the jumble of words we just threw at him.

“Jase is the only one who really knew her” said Ollie,. “As I’m sure you could imagine, she wasn’t the kind to hang out with the troublemakers, nor us the nerds. Which umbrella did you fall under?”

“Oh I was deep into my goth, rock music, teenage angst phase for the majority of high school. Luckily I got over myself in time for college,” Max answered, everyone bursting out laughing.

“Yeah, we’re gonna need to see pictures,” smiled Jack.

“I will show you my shameful youth photos the day that Bryce can go a whole 20 minutes without mentioning that he was approached for the Olympic shuffleboard team”

“Oh my God he totally told us that story twice tonight!” Dean wheezed through his tears of laughter, everyone else joining in. Mikey however, suddenly let out a small growl of frustration.

“God, where do I know that guy from?!”

“What, Bryce?”

“Yeah, I know I’ve seen him before and I can’t think where!” Mikey huffed, rubbing his eyes hard as if trying to massage the memory back into his brain.

“Either way, he’s a d**k. He’s been all over Erin again recently,” Max added, with a look at me.

“The guy really can’t take a hint can he?” I muttered, mainly to myself. “Why do you hate him more than most?”

“How long have you got?” chuckled Max darkly. “He has no interest in practising medicine, joining a worthwhile career is a condition of getting his trust fund. He’s put more people in hospital than he’s ever helped get out of it. When he’s not smiling for the ladies or anyone he deems to be ‘important’ he’s a sadistic son of a b***h. The number of times the guys in our class have gone out for drinks and he’s just beaten on some stranger for kicks; thinking it’ll impress us.”

“Jesus, you serious?” I said, taken aback by what I was hearing. “The guy always seemed like such a peacock, all for show.”

“Less peacock, more gorilla. Like I said, he’s only smiles and manners around girls or people higher up than him. If he can’t charm what he wants out of someone he’ll either buy it or beat it out of ‘em.” A long, stunned silence followed this revelation.

“Wow… bet you’re glad you didn’t refuse him that kiss tonight now, huh Jack?” grinned Deano and everyone laughed, shaking their heads and getting back to the game.

***************

Erin’s P.O.V, Wednesday, June 25th, 11pm

As I’d predicted, Bryce was clearly tucking his tail between his legs today as he’d called in sick to work. Honestly, it had been bliss – not having to constantly dodge him or wonder if he was gonna try and make some kind of move on me. June had suggested going to HR about it but honestly, I couldn’t be bothered; it didn’t feel worth the hassle and awkwardness it would cause along the line.

I’d just got home from going to see Mom and Elliot. She was still oblivious to what his part-time job had involved and as far as she was aware, he had just quit to focus more on school. He has been working really hard these last couple of months, trying to make up for lost time and picking his grades up. It seemed that having him and his family threatened by a high-ranking mobster was all it took to get him on the straight and narrow. One to bear in mind for the future!

Since Elliot has been getting his life straight, Mom has also been improving. The house is almost unrecognisably clean and she hasn’t needed me to prompt her to have a shower for a month now. She still can’t drive around so I still get the groceries, but I don’t mind; I like going to check up on them still.

‘Life is good right now’ I smiled to myself.

As I checked my phone I saw a message from Jason sent a couple of hours ago.

JASON: Hey gorgeous, lads’ night is rolling over into it’s second day so will have to rain check on tonight and see you tomorrow. I promise I’ll make up for lost time ;) Love you xxx

I walked into my bedroom to get changed, typing “You’d better ;)” but never got the chance to press send. The second I got through the door it slammed behind me, making me shriek and drop my phone and leaving me in the dark. A second later the light was flicked on and after a few seconds my eyes adjusted to the brightness and landed on Bryce, staring at me and leaning against the door – blocking my only way out.

***************

Jason’s P.O.V, Thursday, June 26th, 1pm

Our poker night had turned into more of a guy’s mid-week weekend involving more drinking, poker and an Iron Man marathon. I’d messaged Erin last night to say I wouldn’t be able to meet up and would see her tonight instead but hadn’t heard from her since. I think she may be mad at me for ditching her for the guys, but I’ll make it up to her later.

I’d only just woken up and everyone except Ollie was still asleep; we hadn’t got to bed until 3am. Ollie was at the kitchen bar nursing a cup of coffee and pointed at the pot over his shoulder to show he’d made enough to go around. I poured myself a mug and leant on the counter opposite him.

“Eugh, I am not a morning person,” I said, running my hand over my face.

“It’s 1pm jackass,” Ollie murmured, face smushed against his hand. “You’ve run out of food by the way.”

“You mean, you assholes ate all my food,” I said, then groaned a loud, frustrated growl. “Eugh, I’ll go to the store”

Ollie stretched and stood up, making his way to the bathroom saying, “I’ll come with you.” I finished off my coffee then changed quickly upstairs. As I made my way to the front door I saw something white peeking out from under it. Bending down I pulled it closer and saw it was a note, “Jason” written on the front in Erin’s handwriting.

Why had she left a note under my door?

Had she come by while we were asleep?

I opened the note and felt my heart stop as I read the first lines:

“Dear Jason,

I’m sorry I wasn’t brave enough to say this to you in person, but I felt you deserved an explanation. I just can’t be a part of your life anymore…”