Chapter 11
Easton
It’s Halloween night, but there also happens to be a hockey game tonight. Normally, I couldn’t give two shits about going to a game, but tonight I’ve got ulterior motives.
Bennett thought he could fuck with me by throwing out my socks? Nah. Luck was on my side, and I found them before they were gone for good.
For him, on the other hand, karma is coming out to play.
Did I use Taylor to get some information out of him? Yes. And it came in handy, because I found out what his lucky charm is.
A pair of ugly ass boxers that resemble assless underwear more than anything else.
As soon as Taylor told me, I searched our room for them, even his hockey bag, but couldn’t find anything. I was ready to give up on my revenge when I walked into our room this afternoon and saw the very pair of boxers sitting on his bed.
Bennett was taking a shower, and I had the perfect opportunity to snatch them. It was now or never, so I grabbed them and shoved them in my football bag. I couldn’t risk him finding them in the trash. Not that I’d throw them out, because unlike him, I’m not a monster.
When he came back from his shower to get ready for the game, he started freaking out, looking for them.
I hate that a part of me felt guilty. He looked pretty upset. Then I remembered what he did, and well, fuck him. He deserved it.
“I hope Bennett is okay,” Aria says, shifting in her seat. “He seemed so upset.”
Taylor casts me a guilty look. “I think we took it too far,” she says, voice low so only I can hear.
“No,” I whisper-hiss. “He was going to throw out my socks! He deserves this.”
“But he didn't. You got them in time. No harm done.”
I narrow my eyes. “Are you on his side?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I’m not on anyone's side.”
“You should be on mine,” I growl. “I’m your boyfriend."
“Easton.” She gives me a look. “You're acting like a child.”
“He started it,” I grumble.
“Really?”
Our conversation is interrupted as the players skate onto the ice for warm-ups.
My attention instantly goes to Bennett as he skates out on the ice. I can’t see his face from here, so I’m not sure what kind of mood he’s in.
They go about their warm-ups, and I watch for any sign that he’s off his game. Not yet, from what I can tell.
The game starts, and everything seems fine. At least for the first half. Then things start to go downhill fast. The Silver Knights were winning until the other team got three back-to-back goals. They’re down to the final few minutes, and it’s tied.
Aria looks a mess, worried for her friend. When I see Bennett rip off his gloves and start beating the shit out of another guy on the opposing team, my heart sinks into my stomach.
Lips parting in shock, I get to my feet. Bennett gets a few hits in until the other guy starts fighting back. Bennett is taken down to the ice, the other guy on top of him,
“Oh my god!” Aria gasps. “He’s gonna kill him!”
He’s not. The refs and players are interfering, pulling off their respective members. Bennett is brought to his feet, and my stomach turns when I see his lip is bleeding, nose too, blood dripping down his face. Bennett shouts at the guy he was fighting with as his teammates pull him off the ice.
Once he’s back at the player’s bench, his dad starts to lay into him.
He’s kicked out of the game.
Fuck.
This isn’t what I wanted. I want him to be off his game, not for their team to lose, or for him to be hurt in a fight.
As I sit back down, the bit of joy I had from getting my revenge on Bennett is gone.
Taylor looks at me with a guilt-stricken face before wrapping her arm around Aria, who is worried about her friend.
“He’s fine,” I say to no one in particular.
He’s fine. Just a bloody lip. Nothing to be worried about.
So why did I have the urge to go down there and check on him, and then find that asshole on the other team and bust his lip open, so he’s matching with Bennett?
The game ends, and our school loses. I’m not sure what I thought I was gaining from this prank. It might not be my team, but it is my school. I shouldn’t be cheering against them.
I’m overthinking this. Shit like this always happens in hockey. It’s not like taking his lucky boxers is the reason all this happened.
“I can’t believe that happened,” Aria says, chewing on her lower lip. “I’ve never seen him so upset. He’s never been in a fight on the ice like that before. He’s always so good at making sure the other team doesn’t see that he’s bothered.”
Well shit. Never mind what I was thinking beforehand. Maybe this was because of me.
No, it’s not. I didn’t make him lose his cool. I didn’t force him to get into a fight with that guy. That was all him.
Aria wants to wait for Bennett to leave the locker room. They’re supposed to be going to a Halloween party together tonight.
I was planning to leave, but I kind of want to stay until I can make sure he’s okay.
“Oh my god.” Aria gasps when Bennett emerges a half hour later. “Your lip!”
Shit. He looks bad.
“You should see the other guy.” Bennett chuckles, trying to smile, but winces in pain when his lip starts to bleed. “Fuck.” He reaches up and dabs at it.
“Here.” Aria reaches into her pocket and pulls out some tissues.
“Thanks.”
“What happened? You don’t get into fights, Bennett,” Aria asks.
“I know,” he sighs. “I don’t know what's gotten into me tonight. The guy was taunting me, trying to get under my skin. I let it go for a bit because it was just your typical smack talk. But then he said something about my brother, and I just lost it.”
“What?” Aria’s eyes widen. “What did he say?”
Bennett’s jaw grinds. “He said something about my gayness rubbing off on my little brother. And now my little brother was trying to turn his brother gay. Like, what the fuck does that even mean?” he growls. “And on top of all of that, my lucky boxers just fucking vanished.”
He shakes his head, running a hand through his still-damp hair. “It’s just been a really shitty night. I fucked up, and now our team has lost. I just...” he sighs. “I can’t drive tonight, because I plan on getting fucked up.”
“I can drive,” Aria says, giving Bennett a hug.
He wraps his arms around her, giving me a glance like he’s wondering why I’m here.
I’m wondering about that myself.
Not able to look him in the eye, I glance at Taylor. Oh shit. I know that look. She’s going to crack. Fuck. I give her a warning glare, silently telling her to keep her mouth shut.
She bites her lip, looks Bennett’s way, and blurts. “It was our fault.”
I groan, closing my eyes. Fucking hell, Taylor.
“What?” Bennett frowns. “What do you mean?”
“I’m sorry!” Taylor rushes out. “I told Easton about your boxers. He took them. But only because you tried to throw away his lucky socks.”
Bennett’s angry eyes dart my way. “You took my fucking boxers?!”
“You took my socks first!” I argue back.
“Not on purpose.” He growls. “I didn’t know they were your lucky socks. I thought they were just some nasty, holey pieces of garbage. I thought you only kept them because you knew it would piss me off, since I asked you to get rid of them when I told you they smelled like ass.”
My cheeks burn. “I didn’t,” I hiss. “I didn’t get rid of them because they were my lucky socks!”
“You didn’t tell me that!” he shouts. “And when I found out, I tried to get them back for you. But the trash man already came, so it was too late. You took my boxers on purpose to hurt me.”
“I got them back,” I grumble.
“What?”
I sigh heavily, feeling like an asshole now. “I saw them in your trash the night before, and I took them out.”
“Wait, you have your socks?” Bennett’s nostrils flare. “So, you did all this for nothing?”
“No, I did it as payback because you took my socks first!”
“I didn’t mean to!”
“Okay, okay!” Aria shouts. “Look, I can’t begin to understand what this whole superstitious, lucky charm thing means to you all. But from what I’m hearing, this is all a big misunderstanding.”
“That cost me my boxers,” Bennett huffs.
“I didn’t throw them out.” I narrow my eyes. “I’m not an asshole like you.”
“Hey.” Taylor steps in next. “We’ll give the boxers back,” she tells Bennett. “You have your socks,” Taylor reminds me. “Now, I know you two don’t like each other, we get it, and we understand why.”
Bennett and I glare at one another, the tension between us thick. I know he wants to kick my ass right now, and I don’t blame him.
“But don’t you think the two of you should try to get along? You’re roommates now. Get over the past and move on,” Aria says.
“Move on?” Bennett shifts his glare to his best friend. “I’m not sure if you remember, but this asshole punched me in the face.”
“We were thirteen!” I argue.
His eyes snap back to mine. “Yeah, and best friends. I’m sorry I kissed you.
I read the situation wrong. But all you had to do was tell me you didn’t feel the same way, not stop being my friend and ice me out for years.
” He shakes his head. “I’m done with this conversation.
Either you're coming to the party with me, or not,” he tells Aria as I stand there, hurt, with anger bubbling inside me.
She looks at Taylor. “Are you coming?”
Taylor looks at me. “Go,” I tell her, not wanting to be the reason everyone's night is ruined.
“Are you sure?”
I nod. “It’s Halloween. Plus, this is my fault. I dragged you into it. I’m just going to head home and call it an early night.”
“Easton.” She chews her lower lip.
“Go.” I soften my voice. “I’m fine, really. Don't let me ruin the night, okay?”
Bennett starts to walk away, leaving Aria standing there, torn between staying at Taylor’s side and following after him.
“Call me if you need me.” Taylor leans up and kisses me on the cheek before walking over to Aria.
I watch as the two of them follow after Bennett.
Fuck this. Fuck this petty bullshit. I’m done. If Bennett wants to play games, he can, but I’m done. I’m too old for this.
Night ruined, I walk back to the house.