Chapter 9 #2
My shift started at ten, but by the time I can take a break, even to take a piss, it’s already midnight. The kitchen doesn’t close until one, so I know I still have a lot to do.
It’s normally not this busy on a Wednesday night, but there are a few games going and people are packed in here like sardines to watch on the big screen TVs.
I don’t see the point. It would be a lot better experience if they’d just have a get-together at someone’s house or something. How can you even hear the TVs over all the noise?
“Hey.” I step out from the back, to the front bar where my boss is working. “You mind if I take my break now?”
Cooper looks at me over his shoulder and nods. “No, but first, could you give me a hand here, please? Can you take these drinks over to table five, near the window? A customer bumped into Stacy and spilled drinks all over her uniform. She’s in the back changing.”
“Yeah, sure.” I nod, grabbing the drinks he sets on the counter.
Taking breaks isn’t something I care too much about.
My job is pretty chill, and I only work for a few hours at a time, so they’re not really needed.
But tonight has been crazy, and my damn hands feel like prunes from having them in the water so much.
We have industrial dishwashers, but Cooper likes to make sure everything is clean, so we have to make sure to wash them by hand first.
Weaving my way through the crowd, I try to keep myself from bumping into people so I don’t spill the drinks.
I make it to table five, but pause when I see who is sitting there. “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I grumble to myself.
Bennett looks over at me with a surprised expression. “Easton?”
Gritting my teeth, I place the drinks on the table. “These are for you.”
“What are you doing here?” Roland chuckles.
“I work here.” I give him a blank look.
“Really?” Bennett’s brows furrow.
“What? You got an issue with me working at a bar?” I snap. “Some of us don’t have daddy's money and need to work for a living.”
“Hey,” Roland speaks up. “What the hell, man?”
Bennett’s face falls. “No,” he says. “I just meant that I come in here all the time, and I haven’t seen you. That's all.”
Oh.
Well, I'm being a raging asshole for no reason.
“I work in the back. I was about to take my break when Cooper asked me to bring these over.” I nod to the drinks.
Bennett nods, the moment awkward as hell.
I don’t say anything else, turning around and making my way back to the bar.
“Thanks for that,” Cooper says. “It’s slammed in here tonight. It’s a blessing and a curse sometimes,” he chuckles.
“No problem. If you need any more help, let me know.”
“I will. Go on that break.”
Nodding, I head toward the kitchen and outside to the alley.
The cool night air kisses my skin. I sigh, leaning against the brick wall and look up at the stars.
My head is a mess, so many damn things running through it that I don’t understand.
I’m supposed to be over Bennett. He’s someone from my past.
Yes, we used to be best friends, and yes, I used to have a crush on him. But I was a stupid kid.
I’m older now, an adult. He’s someone I haven’t talked to in years.
So why is he all I fucking think about now?
I hate that I find myself craving the old times when it was me and him. He was my only safe place, the only person I ever felt happy with.
As time went on, I found new people to connect with. But he was always that first.
First best friend and first crush.
He was also the person who had me thinking in new ways and feeling things that I shouldn’t have.
My damn gay awakening.
“Fuck me.” I sigh, scrubbing at my face. It was easier to forget about him when I was never around him.
Now, he’s everywhere. And not just because we share a room. He’s showing up to football practice, and he’s at the parties I go to. And it’s all because of him. Roland. To see him, to hang out with him, to date him.
I shouldn’t care what Bennett does, and who he does it with. But I do, and I fucking hate it. I hate him.
After fifteen minutes of letting my fucked up mind get the better of me, I head back inside to finish my shift.
Once everything is clean, I clock out and head toward the front. I’m surprised to find Bennett and Roland still here.
“Thank you two for helping me clean up. Lesson learned when it comes to multiple game nights. Put more people on shift.”
“No problem, Uncle Cooper.” Bennett chuckles. His face falls when he sees me.
He glares at me, and I glare right back.
“Ah, babe? Are you ready to go?” Roland asks, seeing the tension between us.
Babe?
“Yeah.” Bennett pulls his eyes away from me and smiles up at Roland. “Let’s go.”
I’m in a pissy mood my whole walk home.
Why him? Of all the guys I could be attracted to, why him?
Am I just holding on to past memories? Years have gone by, and I don’t even know who he is anymore. From what I’ve seen of him now, he’s nothing special.
Sure, he’s hot, and he has a nice body. I bet he’d be amazing in bed. But what else about him could make my head a fucking mess?
Taylor says I’m in love with him, and that I never got over him, despite what I’ve been telling her and myself.
So, maybe I’d occasionally stalk his socials, or watch him from afar when I knew we were in the same room? It was curiosity, that's all.
And maybe a bit of guilt. And longing.
If it wasn’t for how I reacted in the treehouse, if I didn’t punch him in the face and actually talked about how I was feeling, then maybe–.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “Not going there.”
By the time I get back to the hockey house, I’m exhausted. Bennett is already in bed, fast asleep.
As I grab a clean pair of clothes to take a quick shower, I pause when I notice something in the trash can by his bed.
Brows furrowing, I walk over and peek.
My eyes widen. Are those my lucky socks?
This motherfucker was planning on throwing out my lucky socks!
What the hell? I need these. They’re my good luck charm, and I have a game this weekend.
He’s trying to sabotage me. Why else would he take what belongs to me and throw them out?
Fishing them out of the trash can, I stand over Bennett and glare at him. That Mr. Nice Guy act isn’t going to fool me.
He wants war? Well, bring it on. Two can play at this game.