COLTON
I pop another candy into my mouth, listening to the guys blabber. I honestly thought about staying home and watching something, but it’s a freaking tradition, one that I have no desire to break. After each party, we come here to talk, drink, and eat. Nothing fancy, and I kinda like it. Especially with M&Ms. I smile to myself and glance at the table where Layla and her best friend sit. Benson and Moore just walked in and stopped to have a few words with them.
Suddenly, Moore turns on his heel and stomps over with a wry face. I wonder what happened to make him so angry. He slumps into the chair across from me and mutters under his breath, “Fucking bitch.”
“Who?” I tear my gaze away from the table and focus on him. He looks at me and forces a smile.
“That Ava chick. She’s hot but a total bitch.”
“Ava?” Clay asks, taken aback. Moore looks at him and nods. “Well, she sure has the guts to stand up for herself, but calling her a bitch? Come on.”
“Don’t ever remember seeing you so smitten.” I nudge him in the ribs, but he laughs.
“I’m not smitten.” Clay takes a swig of nonalcoholic beer. “I’m just stating the obvious.”
“What do you mean she left your bed?” Layla’s voice cuts through the atmosphere, and everyone looks at their table. I try to hear what the freshman is saying to her best friend but fail. I just see her smile.
“Do you think Benson fucked her?” Moore narrows his eyes, as if he’s planning something.
“Hmm, the thought didn’t even cross my mind,” Clay mumbles. “You?”
“Me either.” Hell no, I’m not letting slip what I know already. I will use it later for my own benefit.
“Maybe he did.” Rodgers puts his bottle on the table, watching as Benson turns around and strolls in our direction. “He said she’s off-limits for the team.”
“I don’t care what he says. That chick is a piece of work, but I need to add her to my book,” Moore mutters, mostly to himself. His eyes stay trained on the freshman. “She will be on my list, I don’t have any doubts.”
“Do you want to make a bet?” Clay takes another sip of his beer. Moore peers at him, and a leery smile plays on his lips.
“Yeah, why not?” He extends his hand to my best friend. “By winter break, she will have spent the night in my bed.”
“And I say that you won’t even get to finger her, let alone fuck her.” Rodgers takes his hand, and they turn to me. “Break it.”
I blink, putting my M&Ms on the table. “What does the winner get? I want my share too.”
“Dunno.” Moore shrugs. “I don’t care. Make it fun.”
“How about…” Clay falls quiet, thinking. Suddenly, he breaks into laughter, shaking uncontrollably. “The last day before winter break, the loser goes to class in a dress and full makeup.”
“Are you five?” Moore frowns. “I said make it fun.”
“That’s fun.” I hold his gaze. “Are you backing out?”
He’s silent for a second, but then he nods. “Whatever. I know I’ll win.”
“What about the winner?” I press again, glancing between them.
“The winner…” Moore drums his fingers on the table. “The winner will get five hundred dollars.”
“I don’t have that kind of cash lying around.” Clay furrows his brow. “How about the winner gets a bottle of their choice? Whiskey? Tequila?”
Moore rolls his eyes in annoyance. “Fine. Break it, Thompson.”
I break their hands apart, sensing a strange feeling forming in my head. I don’t like it.
“Did you just make a bet?” Evans, our left defenseman, shouts, drawing attention to the three of us.
“Maybe.” Moore grins, sneaking a glance at the girl’s table.
“What is it?” Benson asks.
“Nothing special.” Clay shifts in his seat. I have known him for years. He’s uncomfortable, and he probably already regrets suggesting the bet. It’s a common problem with him. He does things and only then thinks about the consequences. “Did you fuck your sister’s best friend?”
Clay, you stupid idiot. Subtlety is definitely not his strongest suit.
Benson takes a bite of pizza, chewing on it and saying nothing. Yet his eyes are emitting fire. He’s royally pissed, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Everyone is silent, waiting for him to say something.
“Why are you jumping to that conclusion?” His jaw tenses.
“Dunno.” Clay lets out a short laugh. “You said she’s off-limits, and maybe it’s because you want her to yourself.”
Benson shakes his head with a smile. “Ava is my sister’s best friend, but the truth is she’s my friend too. I care about her a lot, and don’t want her to get hurt. That’s all.”
“Yeah, I understand. Sorry about that.” Clay becomes serious in an instant as his gaze shifts to Moore. If he succeeds and she knows there was a bet, she will be hurt. No doubt about it. “Just a pity that you—”
“She spent the night in my room after someone kicked her out of the party.” Benson stares at me for a moment. “We talked, and she made me realize that I don’t have any right to forbid her from doing what she wants. She’s not my sister, after all.”
“Wait.” Clay looks excited. “Does that mean…?”
“Yes.” Benson laughs wholeheartedly. “Ava is not off-limits. Just keep in mind that if any of you morons hurt her, you should be ready to get your ass kicked.”
Now I feel stupid. If I’m right, and they slept together, how could he be okay with her dating someone from the team? Or even just fucking someone from the team? If she were mine, I would never share her.
“Sorry, guys.” Clay stands up and goes to the table where Layla and the girl sit. My eyebrows go up because I have no idea what he is doing. It’s unusual, and I don’t even know what to say.
“What the hell is he up to?” Moore hisses. “Does he want to win the bet by sweeping the girl off her feet so I won’t even have a chance?”
“Fuck if I know,” I scoff, snatching my M&Ms from the table and tossing the rest of the candies into my palm.
We stay at the diner for about two hours. I chat with the guys, glancing at Clay from time to time. He’s still with Layla and her best friend. The freshman’s laugh is melodic. A few times, I catch Benson looking at them too, and I don’t know how to explain what I see. But I don’t know how to explain my own feelings, so that is no surprise.
I go outside to smoke, the only bad habit I still have. I’ve had a pack stored in my glove compartment for three months, if not longer. But I don’t have even a moment alone, as Benson joins me too. His gaze is severe, not a hint of a smile on his face. I light up my cigarette, looking back at him. If he wants to talk to me, he should be the one to start the conversation.
“What you did yesterday was wrong,” he finally says, leaning his back against the wall. “I found Ava totally lost. She had no idea where she was going. She’s still learning her way around campus, Thompson.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” I blow smoke and see him wrinkle his nose.
“You should apologize to her, not me.”
I frown. “Not gonna happen.”
He runs his palms over his face, threading his fingers through his hair when he reaches it. “What is this all about? She said she ruined your night with her roommate, and you got in an argument. Is that any reason to treat her like she’s nothing?”
“She just…” I stop speaking, taking a drag of my cigarette. Does he know about the slap?
“She’s just what? As far as I know, Clay was there with you, and he doesn’t have any problems with Ava. Only you.”
Only me. She doesn’t affect Clay the way she affects me.
I lower my gaze to my feet and think. Benson knows how to keep secrets, and he won’t make fun of anyone on purpose.
“She slapped me across my face for what I said to her.” I look back at Benson and see cheerfulness in his eyes.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Why am I not surprised?” He pushes off the wall and takes a step closer to me. “Listen, Ava has a temper. She’s a freaking tornado, as her father often jokes. And let me tell you, he’s not wrong. She slapped you because you offended her, not because she has a problem with you. So don’t take it personally, Colton. And please, leave her alone. People love to gossip, and what happened yesterday didn’t go unnoticed.”
“I just kicked her out,” I argue, but he shakes his head.
“It’s amusing that you still have no idea how much power you have around here.” Benson puts a hand on my shoulder. “People will see her as your enemy. A target of derision and talk. I don’t know what Monday will bring for her, but I’m sure it won’t be nice. No one wants to be on your bad side, especially girls.”
When he puts it that way, he might be right. I swallow the lump in my throat and put out my cigarette. “Okay,” I tell him, throwing the butt into the trash can. “She knows I’m sorry. I bumped into her on her way out of your room this morning.”
Benson blinks at me, speechless. Then he takes a step back and hides his hands in his pockets. “She didn’t want to go back to her dorm when I found her. Besides, my place was closer. It’s not like that was the first time we slept in the same room.”
I smirk knowingly. “Yeah, you’ve known each other for years. She’s family.”
“Exactly.” He scratches the back of his neck, looking around. “I probably need to get going. I promised to give Layla and Ava a ride home. So…”
“Sure. And don’t worry: I will do my best to behave around her,” I reassure him.
“Please do,” Drake laughs. Then he walks back to the diner, leaving me alone.
I don’t understand anything. I start doubting my own gut. Both Benson and his sister’s best friend give me a headache with their actions. One second, I think they have something going on between them, but the next—they prove the opposite. It doesn’t make any sense.
The door opens, and she’s the first one to walk out of the diner. My eyes travel up and down her length, and again I’m mesmerized by her. She’s wearing tiny denim shorts and a red tee. My stomach twists and turns, and my skin warms up. Our eyes lock on each other’s, and I don’t want to look away, but this moment can’t last forever.
Layla pushes her best friend out of the way. Her eyes land on me, and her face lights up. I give her an awkward grin, stepping out of their way. Yet she strolls right up to me.
“Your best friend asked my best friend on a date.”
My brows furrow, and my jaw drops. I don’t know what surprises me the most: Clay’s invitation, or his fixation on this girl. Oh, look who’s talking, Mr. Boner in His Jeans. “Cool.”
“What if we make it a double date if she agrees? Would you go with me?” Layla puts her hands on her hips with a seductive smile. Is she serious? How on Earth does Clay’s date have anything to do with me?
“Sorry, but no.” I straighten my back.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re not my type,” I state, and she scowls. I meet Benson’s gaze as he nods, stepping closer and wrapping his arm around Layla’s shoulder.
“Come on.” He pushes her to start moving. I notice her angry stare, but I don’t care. Better to be honest now than sorry later. “Bye, Thompson.”
I stay rooted in place, watching them walk to Benson’s car. Layla throws her hands in the air every so often. She’s pissed, and it annoys her brother. I shift my gaze in the best friend’s direction and see her climb into the car in silence. Will she agree to a date with Clay? Does she like him?
I huff, turning around and walking back into the diner. I just want to be home, alone in my apartment. I feel my hard-on in my pants, and it irritates me. What was the point of hooking up with Amy if I’m hornier than I was? Maybe because you chose the wrong girl, idiot?
I hate my life and that girl. She’s the reason I feel like a fool.
