23. Chapter 23
Carter
“ W hat did you say to Beth?” I asked, walking into the apartment.
Benny was cradling a Nintendo controller in his hand and was too focused on the game to care that I had said anything.
I walked over to the TV, hitting the switch and watching Benny’s face twist from confusion to frustration when the screen went black.
“What the fuck was that for?” he asked, still holding the controller when he lifted his hands. It came unplugged, and he cursed under his breath before he bent back down to plug it back in.
“I asked what you said to Beth.” When he was still more concerned with the controller, my blood started pounding against my eardrum. I snatched it away from him, resisting the urge to kick the gaming system that I had paid for.
Benny sat back, crossing his arms and smirking. “Dude, relax.” That was the last thing I was going to do. I curled my hand into a fist at my side, gripping the controller too tightly in the other. “She was here earlier.”
“What did you say?” I asked again, emphasizing every word with a slight pause. “She’s upset. She won’t even look at me.”
“All I did was suggest she shouldn’t feel so comfortable.
” He what? Beth should feel just as comfortable as I felt having her live rent free in my mind.
I glared, and my chest heaved. “Man, I don’t even know why you’re upset.
You can get a piece of ass anywhere—one that probably puts out easier. ” He laughed, and I grumbled.
When I dropped the remote, Benny looked offended. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked. I felt the tape Beth gave back to me in my pocket, and a fresh wave of anger caused my vision to turn red.
Benny put his hand on his chest, almost surprised that I’d ask.
Maybe it should have been obvious. “Is this really that serious? I mean, you can get any girl you want. You could have the hottest honey on campus, and you’re going for Ms. Goodie Two Shoes?
You can do better!” He shook his head, standing up and taking the controller back from me.
“I have to go.” I started to turn around, determined to get Beth to talk to me.
“Later,” he said, turning the TV back on. “Now that you’re done with her, maybe she’ll finally let the rest of us take a ride.”
My fist met his face before I’d spun completely back around, and Benny dropped the controller. “What the fuck?” he shouted when he put his hand up to touch his cheekbone. “All this over some chick?”
I hit him again, ignoring the sting in my fist. The ache I felt in my muscles didn’t compare to the pain I’d felt when Beth gave me my tape back.
“Some chick?” I hit him again, sending him backward onto the couch.
I hovered over him while he glared up at me, looking less threatening when he was below me.
“She’s not just some chick. She’s my chick, and you stay the fuck away from her. ”
“Well by the sounds of it, she’s not your chick anymore. Isn’t that why you’re so upset?” His voice sounded more nasally, and a trickle of blood ran past his lip. That didn’t stop me from hitting him again—neither did the cut that split open on my knuckle.
“Stay. Away. From. Beth.” I emphasized each word like its own sentence, punctuating it with another punch. Then I grabbed his shirt, pulling him up until my face was close to his. “And figure out somewhere else to live. Your name isn’t on this lease, and you no longer live here.”
“Dude, fuck you.” Benny started to stand up, ready to fight back even though he looked less threatening with the cuts on his cheek and lip.
I lunged for him just as the door behind us opened, and Anthony rushed in.
“Whoa, whoa. What the hell is going on here?” He grabbed my shoulders, pulling me back off Benny and looking between us.
My breathing was heavy. It felt like the room was spinning, and the only way to get it to stop would be to leave.
“Ask him,” I snarled, clenching and unclenching my fists. If I didn’t leave now, I was going to have a bigger mess on my hands than I was willing to deal with. “I gotta go.”
“Where are you going?” Anthony narrowed his brow, twisting his face in an effort to figure out what he had walked in on.
“I’m going to find Beth,” I said, opening the door. “Get him out of here before I get back. I don’t want to see him again.”
Now I just had to hope Beth would talk to me.