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The rustle of people moving, the clatter of steps on the metal bleachers, laughter of children, and shouts of excited teenagers filled the football field of St. Benedict High School as patrons of the Cougars’ winning game packed up to head home.
In his football uniform, fresh from the game, Beau escorted a clingy Dawn, still in her cheerleading uniform, to the blacktopped parking lot next to the field as her parents waited by the gate.
“Promise to call me every night, even when you are at the river.”
Her sweet voice had the tinge of desperation to it, but he didn’t care. Getting her out of his hair for a weekend was what he needed.
“I’ll call day and night.” He searched the field, hoping to see Sara. “You know I can’t go a day without you, Dawn.”
Dawn pulled away, and his eyes instantly went back to her. “Remember, I love you, Beau.”
Love? Did she even know what the word meant? To him, love meant possession, rage, power—not some fuzzy warm fairy tale.
“I have to go. Coach always wants to do a recap of the game after we get off the field. He’ll probably bring up my two TDs to Mitch.” He kissed her cheek. “Can’t miss that.”
He took off running for the locker room, glad to have gotten away before she pushed for his feelings about their relationship. He didn’t have any.
When he made it to the metal doors of the gym entrance, Sara was waiting. His anger for her still smoldered, but tonight he would take care of it.
“You and me at the river tonight?”
She gave an ambivalent half-nod. “What about Dawn? I saw you and her at the gate.”
His gaze drifted down her red top and snug blue jeans. “She’ll be gone all weekend. I told her we needed a break, so she’s going away with her parents.”
Sara’s eyes lit up and she moved away from the doors. “I like the sound of that.”
He admired Sara’s hips as she sashayed away.
This day just gets better and better.
* * *
“Man, you nailed it tonight.” Mitch pumped his fist in the air as Beau turned his car into the Rouse’s Grocery Store parking lot for a liquor run. “When you hit me with that twenty-yard pass, I was like boom. We crushed it.”
The fiery beat blasted from the stereo speakers, the cool fall air sifted through the cracked windows, and the high from the game radiated through Beau’s system.
“It was sweet.” Beau headed around the side of the store to the back-loading area.
“And now we’re gonna have ourselves a wild time at the river.” Josh leaned in from the back, his broad shoulder barely squeezing between the bucket seats. “So glad Dawn cut you loose for the weekend. I hate to say this, dude, but she’s a downer.”
Beau turned to the loading dock, not wanting to give away his true sentiments about Dawn, but he had to agree.
“Lately she’s been different. I’m not sure what the problem is.”
“You just tell her who’s in charge and she will back down.” Josh scanned the inky darkness around their car. “Chicks dig an alpha male.”
“My sister reads them alpha male books like they’re goin’ out of style. All chicks do.” Mitch batted his chest with his fist. “Be the beast, dude.”
He wanted to laugh. They have no idea.
“You guys aren’t in relationships.” Beau parked next to the rear entrance. “It’s not so easy just telling women what to do. You have to finesse them into thinking what you want is what they want.”
Josh looked mystified. “How do you do that?”
Beau dialed down the music, itching to boast about his special talent.
“It’s a question of power. You have to assert yourself in a relationship. You ask a girl what she wants, pretending to be considerate and all, but before she can have time to think about it, you put suggestions in her head. Where to go out? What she should wear? Who her friends should be?” He thought back to how easily he had conquered Dawn. “Pretty soon, her wants are yours. When you have the little things down, you can manipulate their thoughts and move on to bigger things like sex.”
Mitch turned to him, his eyes wide with amazement. “Dude? You’re creepin’ me out. You really do that shit?”
“Shut up.” Josh leaned in farther. “Go back to how you get girls to have sex with you.”
Beau was well aware he wasn’t dealing with the brightest of the bunch, but that was why he hung around them. What he did to girls, he could also do to friends.
“You weren’t listening. You cajole. You sweet talk. You tell them what they need to hear, and then once they’re addicted, you change the rules.”
Mitch chuckled, his coarse laugh cutting through the air. “Sounds like the same crap you’ve done to win over everyone in town. The good boy, no drinkin’, smokin’, or drugs, do-gooder.” He thumbed Josh next to him. “But we know better. You’re a badass.”
Beau shook his head. You have no idea.
Josh’s brow furrowed. “So, what happens when you do all that stuff and they still refuse to sleep with you?”
Beau just smiled.
Bright fluorescent light bathed the car as the back door to the grocery opened.
Eddie emerged, carrying a box loaded with bottles.
Beau climbed from the car and met him at the trunk.
“Here ya go.” Eddie held up the box. “Wish I was going with you guys. I remember the river used to be a blast.”
Beau set the box in his trunk. “Yeah, still is. Thanks for the supplies, Eddie.” Beau reached into his pocket and handed him some cash.
“Let me know whenever you guys need more.” He looked at the two, one-hundred-dollar bills before tucking them into his shirt pocket. “Your liquor runs sure help pay the baby bills.”
Beau shut the trunk. The ass-kissing store clerk disgusted him. One of many in the small town who saw his family as a meal ticket.
Losers.
“We stocked up?” Josh had a boatload of exuberance in his voice.
“Yeah, we’re good.” Beau started the car. “Let’s make this a night to remember.”
