Out of My Element by Taryn Plendl Page B

on.” Tom pulled me off the
field and to the parking lot.
    “Fuck!” I kicked a discarded fast
food cup across the blacktop. When I reached my car, I pressed my forehead
against the cold metal, trying to get myself under control.
    “You want to tell me what the hell
that was about?” Tom spoke quietly. He was always so calm. In fact, it was kind
of ironic that the only time I’d ever seen him fight with anyone was when he
was defending the woman he loved. Tom had punched Ava’s ex-boyfriend one night
at the club for calling Talia a bitch. I could finally see what made him break
like that. The crap Adam was spouting off about Chelsea pushed me over the
edge. Now, more than ever, I wanted to talk to Chelsea. If Adam had said or
done anything to hurt her, I just might be back for a second round.
    I turned and leaned back against
the car, looking up to the cloudy sky. “He was talking shit about Chelsea,” I
mumbled.
    “Okay, well shit … you set him
straight, but I hope like hell that he doesn’t press charges against you, Nick.
I’m pretty sure you broke his nose.”
    “I don’t care, Tom. I did it, and
I’d do it again.” I looked at him, thankful for the understanding I saw in his
expression.
    “Come on, let’s go get a beer.” Tom
led me to his car, tossing his phone onto my lap as I sat down. “Text Trevor.
Tell him to meet us at the sports bar.” He pulled out of the parking lot, fully
prepared to do damage control.
    ***
    By the time Trevor got there, I had
three shots and two beers in me, and was feeling pretty good. One day, I will
solve my problems with maturity. Today, however, it will be with alcohol. Tom
filled him in on everything that happened at the game, and Trevor just sat
back, shook his head and chuckled. “I’m glad I could amuse you, man.” I glared
at him.
    “Shit, Nick, I’m not laughing at
that; I guess I just never thought I’d see this day.”
    “What? The day that my temper would
get the best of me and get me kicked out of the game I loved the most?” I
snapped.
    “No, not that, but I am sorry that
happened. I was referring to you falling in love. Finally caring about a woman
more than yourself.” Trevor raised his beer. “Welcome to the club.” He and Tom
clanked bottles and laughed. Tom turned back to me and smiled. “Don’t look so
shell-shocked. We tend to fall in love the same way we get sick: without
wanting to, without believing it, against our will and completely unable to
defend ourselves. It was bound to happen—even to you.”
    I tried hard to be pissed at them,
but I couldn’t. When it all came down to it, these guys were my best friends.
They had my back, no matter what, and Trevor was right. I hadn’t really given
it much thought, but I did care more about Chelsea than myself, and if that
meant getting kicked off the team because I defended her honor, well so be it.
In love? Was I in love with Chelsea? Hmm, I think I could live with that.
    About three or four beers later,
Tom and Trevor were helping me to the car. “What am I going to say to her?” I
slurred. That’s funny; my words had sounded much clearer in my head. It was
like I was talking in print in my head, but my words were coming out in cursive.
I started laughing for no reason, and the looks on my two best friends faces
made me laugh harder.
    “You might want to wait until
you’re a bit more sober to talk to her about anything important, Nick,” Tom
suggested as he buckled my seatbelt.
    “It’s okay, I won’t put all of my
cards on the table right away. I’m going to find out where we stand,” I
slurred.
    “Seriously, Nick. You’ll scare her
off at this point.” Trevor laughed.
    “Why do you say that?” My voice
sounded funny. “That. That. Isn’t that a funny word?” I started laughing
again.
    “Nick, there are two kinds of
brutally honest people in the world: very small children and drunk people. You
might want to sober up a bit before you pounce on her with your