Free Let Me In by Leigh Jackson

see the curve of her cheek through the frayed strings.  I automatically reposition myself in my jeans and promise myself that I will make sure that Kori stays sitting down all night.  I would hate to have to kick some other pervert’s ass; the only pervert who is allowed to look at Kori is me.
              Kori and I find a table with a good view and settle in for the game.  The bar is packed with sports fans anxious to watch a good game, and it takes a few minutes for us to get service.  We order a basket of wings and nachos and a pitcher of beer.  We click our glasses together as we give a mock toast.
              “To Chase, the ultimate douchebag.”
              “To Chase,” Kori repeats.
              It’s the second quarter when Kori decides that all the beer she has swilled back needs to be released.  As she’s gone to the bathroom, I’m startled by a guy sitting in her seat.
              “Kori O’Malley, huh?  Nice.”
              I narrow my eyes and look at him.  “What the fuck are you talking about?”
              He jerks his head toward the bathroom.  “I fucked her.  She’s good.”
              “You have three seconds to get your ass out of that chair before I kick your ass.  One.  Two.”
              My new friend holds his hands up in defeat.  “Look man, I didn’t mean any offense.  Kori fucks.  That’s all.  She’s always been upfront about it.  I figured you knew.  Are you two dating?”
              I didn’t have to explain myself to this prick, but I find myself doing it anyway.  “We’re friends.”
              He shakes his head in confusion.  “Kori doesn’t do friends.  She claims she doesn’t do them.  What’s different about you?  You don’t do relationships either, so maybe that’s what it is.”
              I shrug my shoulders.  “Maybe it’s the fact that I’m not a fucking douche who goes up to complete strangers and talks about girls I’ve slept with.  That’s just my guess though.”
              He looks embarrassed as he processes my words.  Just then, Kori returns from the bathroom.  Her body stiffens when she sees me sitting talking to this idiot.
              “Ethan,” she mutters in greeting.
              He nods his head at her and stands to leave.  It’s only when he leaves that I realize my hands are clenched into fists.  Unfortunately, Kori notices it as well.
              “What did he say?” she demands.
              “Nothing,” I lie.  I don’t want to hurt her feelings.  I know that she hooked up before, just like me.  I don’t care about that.  That’s not saying that I want to have the guys that she slept with shoved in my face, but I definitely don’t judge her for how she has lived her life.  I’m not a hypocrite.
              “Liar,” she snaps out.  “He told you that we fucked, didn’t he?”
              I nod my head to confirm her suspicions.  “I don’t care, Kori.  We’ve already discussed this.  Remember, I’m not exactly a saint either.”
              “But you’re a guy.  That makes you a player.  It makes me a slut.”
              I pierce her with a stare.  “That’s just semantics, Kori.  Quit worrying about this.  I swear to you that I do not care.  I couldn’t care less if you had slept with the entire campus.  And I certainly don’t care what other people think of me.  So don’t let them bother you either.”  And with that, I lean over and brush a kiss against her lips. 
              “Fine,” she huffs out. 
              “Anyway,” I add, “they’re just jealous because the most beautiful