Liam

After my talk with Tay, I'm still conflicted about what I should do about my situation with Mel. I know Tay is right- I need to be patient and move only as fast as Mel is willing and ready to. It's just hard not to act on what I'm feeling when my entire being is calling out, telling me to get closer, to touch her, to tell her what I'm feeling.

I know if anything happens with Mel, it will all be worth the wait. The waiting, though, that's the hard part. And with the current timing, it's especially difficult. I don't have practice or games to distract me from everything going on inside my head.

My only saving grace is the upcoming wedding between Chase and Lindsey. The big day is getting closer, and luckily the lovebirds are providing some distraction from my frustrating predicament.

The wedding will be in Aruba, but pre-wedding festivities, such as the bachelor and bachelorette parties, will be held here in New York before we leave. These two events have taken up most of the conversation in our group lately. For that, I'm very grateful. It's given me something to fill my mind other than my taunting thoughts regarding Mel.

Chase and Lins want a small ceremony, very intimate, with only close friends and family on the guest list. Chase asked T.J. and me to be his groomsmen, and Lins asked Tay and Mel to be her bridesmaids. They decided to forego the tradition of appointing a best man and maid of honor, reasoning that they couldn't decide which of their best friends should fill the roles.

So, the tasks that would typically be handed over to the best man are now being handled by T.J. and me. Likewise, Taylor and Mel will share the maid of honor tasks equally.

The current task on our plates, you ask- planning the bachelor and bachelorette parties. The girls disappeared a while ago to meet up with Lins. So, while they are away, Chase invited me, T.J., and the rest of the guys on the team over for some long overdue guy time.

I'm kicked back on one of the couches in Chase's living room, sipping a beer while Rob and Drew argue over who took home the better-looking girl last night. I can't help but laugh as I listen to them. I look over at Chase and see he's doing the same as our teammates bicker back and forth.

T.J. grabs the empty chair next to me as he opens his fresh beer bottle. "Those two still arguing?"

I nod in response as Chase answers, "Yep. They've been going at it for twenty minutes now."

T.J. rolls his eyes. "Unbelievable."

Chase laughs as he sets down his drink. "Didn't you use to do that kind of shit before? Comparing conquests and all that?"

I see T.J.'s head snap in Chase's direction. "Hey! I never did that shit when I moved here."

I share a look with Chase, unable to hold back my smirk. "Yeah, only because you met Tay your first day visiting the complex. If it hadn't been for that, you'd probably be over there arguing alongside those two."

A smile curls on T.J.'s lips at my words. After a minute, he replies, "Yeah, thank God for that day."

His smile widens as he looks down at his drink. "One of the best days of my life."

The tiniest bit of envy starts to creep into my veins. He and Tay are some of the lucky ones, finding their love match and getting to spend their days and nights together. They don't have to worry about being alone. No, they'll always have each other.

My thoughts are quickly interrupted as Rob and Drew finally stop arguing. Now, they've turned their attention to T.J. "Ohhhh, shit! Look, he's off in la-la land again." Rob smacks Damien's arm, pointing to my smiling roommate.

A wicked smirk creeps onto Damien's lips as he observes T.J. "Ooooo. Whatcha thinkin bout, T?"

T.J. doesn't have time to comment before Ben chimes in. "You imagining your girl, hmmm? Come on, share! She rock your world last night or somethin?"

The boys start laughing as Chase smacks the back of Ben's head, trying to deescalate the situation. That seems to pacify T.J. for the moment.

They all like to rib on the guys in serious relationships; it's just what they do. Most of the time, it's all in good fun, and the boys usually don't take it very far, so there's no bad blood between any of us.

Just when I think the teasing is over, one of the new guys pipes up. "Come on, T.J., you gotta throw us a bone here. I bet that sexy girl of yours has some moves. Mmmm, what I wouldn't give for a night in your shoes with her under me."

Oh, fuck!

Roman, the new center who was traded to us in Patrick's place, is drunk, chuckling to himself at his words. He's the latest addition to the team and is still learning what's acceptable and what isn't when it comes to joking around with the rest of the guys.

Everyone else in the room is quiet, waiting for the shit storm that's about to unleash.

T.J. clenches his jaw, sending a death glare to Roman. Just before he lunges at him, Drew grabs ahold of Roman, pushing him against the brick wall on the other side of the room.

"Don't fucking say shit like that!" Drew seethes.

Roman looks around wide-eyed. "B-but they started it." He points toward Rob and Ben.

Drew shakes his head, pushing Roman further into the wall. "You took it too far! Say that kind of shit again about any of the WAGs, and I'll kick your ass!"

He releases his hold on Roman after the newbie nods in understanding. Drew storms off to the kitchen as T.J. narrows his eyes at our drunk teammate.

Noticing T.J.'s demeanor, Roman holds both hands in front of himself in surrender. The last few minutes have sobered him up considerably. "I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean anything by it. Your girl is hot, but I took it too far. It won't happen again."

All eyes are on T.J. as he stands and approaches Roman. He stops inches away before speaking lowly. "I'll let it go this time because you're drunk, and you're still learning how we do things around here. But you say that kind of shit again; I'll break your fucking nose!"

The newbie gulps as he bobs his head. As T.J. returns to his seat, he lets out a heavy breath, still visibly pissed by Roman's previous comments.

Drew comes back from the kitchen with a beer in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. He drops the water on Roman's lap as he walks by. "You're cut off for tonight. Time to hydrate."

Seeming to have found some sense, Roman doesn't argue. He twists open the water and takes a long drag.

Wanting to calm the mood, I lean over to T.J. "Hey, you got any more ideas for the bachelor party?"

As soon as the boys hear me say those last two words, all attention turns to T.J. and me.

Damien's eyes light up. "Did you say bachelor party?"

Rob chimes in. "As in, strip club?" He wiggles his eyebrows.

I shake my head as Chase interjects. "No! Absolutely not!"

He looks between T.J. and me. "No strip clubs, or strippers, or escorts, or anything like that. I'm serious!"

I hold up my hands in front of me. "Hey, that was never part of our plan. Don't worry. We wouldn't do that to Lins."

Rob and Damien whine. "Aw, come on!"

Ben starts in, "But it's your last chance, man. Last time before you tie the knot."

Chase shakes his head animatedly. "Nope. Not doing it. Been to strip clubs before, don't need to see that shit to feel fulfilled or whatever shit you guys are trying to insinuate. I'm happy with Lins and don't need a night out at the strip club to make me feel like a man. My girl is very capable of doing that all on her own."

I cringe, trying to ignore the last part of Chase's monologue. T.J. notices and snickers off to my side.

At least his mood has improved.

For the next half hour, we go back and forth with the boys over what the plan is for the bachelor party. The single guys try to argue about going to a strip club or hiring a stripper for the night. Me and the rest argue for what the groom wants.

In the end, it's agreed that we will follow Chase's wishes. We decide to catch a baseball game during the day. Then treat him to a nice dinner before we go bar hopping to round out the night.

We earned a few gruffs from the single guys, but Chase put his foot down on the stripper front. So, we were finally able to get everyone on board. Once that was decided, we all sank back into our seats for another drink.

Ben and Damien were still groaning about the lack of strippers at the bachelor party when someone suggested the single guys go sometime on their own. That seemed to sate the horn balls.

Ben nods at the idea. "Hey, maybe while we're bar hopping, we'll run into some hunnies."

Damien wiggles his eyebrows. "Now you're thinking, Benny. We'll just pick up some girls on our way."

Chase shakes his head, and T.J. rolls his eyes while the single men add their own agenda to the plan for the bachelor party.

I mostly tune them out when I hear Roman speak. He's apparently feeling brave again after his near-death experience with Drew and T.J. "That's a good idea. You think that redhead that hangs out with Lindsey and Taylor will be around that night? Maybe she'd be up for a good time."

Now, it's my turn to be pissed.

I'm about to open my mouth when T.J. beats me to it. "Don't even think about it, newbie!"

At T.J.'s warning, Roman pales, suddenly remembering the promised ass-kicking and broken nose from earlier.

I let out a slow, steady breath, trying to calm my nerves. As I do so, I look down at my hands which are now clenched tightly, making my skin look translucent. I release my fists and take a deep breath.

Thank goodness T.J. stepped in. Who knows what I would have done to Roman for making a comment like that about Mel.

The way I've been feeling lately and my reaction a few seconds ago, I don't know that I would have let that go with just a warning.