Read Online Days of You and Me by Tawdra Kandle - Free Book Online

know, my wife is a master matchmaker. She’s got lots of single friends. Nice girls, too. Not just jock junkies.”
    I shook my head. “No girlfriend, but not really looking, either. It’s, uh, complicated.” Explaining to a teammate that the woman I loved had married our mutual best friend a few months back and that I was living in some kind of weird limbo right now was more than I could handle at the moment.
    He frowned, and then his face cleared. “Oh. Ah, okay. Well, Ellie knows a lot of eligible guys, too. And you know Lorganson? Second string safety? I think he’s single now, too.”
    “Uh, that’s really nice of you.” I reached for my own towel. “But it’s not the dudes I’m into, actually. I like girls. I like them a lot. Just right now, there’s one who’s really fucked with my head, so I’m steering clear for the time being.”
    “Got it, brother.” He nodded, compassion in his eyes. “If you ever need a place to hang, or someone to talk to . . . I’m around. And Ellie’s real good at being a listening ear and giving a chick’s perspective. So . . . just remember that.”
    “Thanks.” I stood staring into the darkness of my locker until Corey had headed off to the showers, whistling as he went.
    I was about to follow—at a respectable distance, of course—when I heard the sound of my phone vibrating on the shelf where I’d left it before practice. Picking it up, I frowned at the screen.
    Nate .
    I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a text from him. When we were in college, we’d communicated through Quinn, mostly, although I remembered him sending me some quick congratulations messages after games. Touching his name, I scanned the words.
    Nate: Are you going to be in NJ anytime soon? Need to talk with you when you can.
    It was an odd request, and coming on the heels of my brooding over home, it hit me hard. Normally, the answer would’ve been a fast and definite no, but there was a small break in the schedule coming up, giving us some rare free time Friday afternoon into Saturday morning.
    Leo : No plans but can probably do an overnight this weekend if it’s urgent. What’s up?
    I can call you.
    For a moment, he didn’t respond, and I checked the timestamp to see if maybe he’d sent the text earlier and might be napping now. But then the phone buzzed again.
    Nate : Kind of urgent. Not a phone call kind of talk.
    I sighed as I answered him.
    Leo: Okay. Be there Friday late afternoon. Will text when on my way. Your house?
    Nate : No, we’re living at the shore. Carrie and Quinn’s house. Thanks. See you then.
    I rubbed the edge of the phone, my lips pressed together. A jumpy kind of dread licked at my gut as I debated over what to do. I had a feeling maybe I knew what Nate wanted, why he needed to talk to me. And no matter how much shit had gone down between us, no matter how fucking angry at him I was just now, there was one thing I knew for sure.
    I wasn’t ready to say good-bye.

    It was a typical August day at the Jersey shore, meaning the sun was hot and the air was humid. In the interest of expediency, I’d hopped a direct flight from Charlottesville to Atlantic City, rented a car and driven down to Ocean City, texting Nate that I was heading his way.
    I knew this route well, since my great-aunt had lived in Ventnor when I was growing up, and my family had frequently visited her before we drove down to spend time with the Russells at their shore rental, the same house Carrie now owned, and the same house where apparently Nate and Quinn were currently living.
    Nerves were jumping around my stomach at the thought that I might see Quinn today. The last few times we’d talked had not gone well; I’d let my anger get the best of me the day after she married Nate, and at the grocery store on the Fourth of July, I’d skirted out-and-out meanness when I’d let her think Sarah and I were together, as in dating. I’d seen the bleak hurt in her weary eyes, and