“Angel,” I clip. “This isn’t that. I’m just trying to be a friend.”
“I know and you’re a good one. No, the best one, and as my best friend, I’m looking out for you. Being with Amanda fucked you up, and I don’t want that to happen to you again.”
I shouldn’t be annoyed. I know his intentions are good, but I feel this surge of protectiveness over Josie. I don’t like the assumptions or what he’s insinuating about her.
“This isn’t an Amanda situation because I’m not dating Josie, nor do I like her like that.” Frustrated, I drag my fingers through my hair before I put my hat on. “Can’t two people just be friends?”
“They can but you guys only became friends because of that situation. You don’t want things to get messy.” His face softens. “And look, I get it, Josie’s hot. Her tits are distracting, but?—”
A pinch of annoyance grabs ahold of me, but soon it’s not just that but something else. They collide, becoming green and ugly.
“Don’t say that again. This has nothing to do with her chest. I’m?—”
The door to the locker room slams open, and loud footsteps and a harsh voice take over the already loud room. “Where the fuck is Daniel?”
“What?” I snap, pivot, and look down at Bryson.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” he seethes, pointing his fingers at my chest.
Right, I forgot about that. Josie didn’t hold back and I sure as fuck wasn’t going to stop her. He deserves that and more.
“What are you talking about?” I innocently ask.
“Don’t fucking act like you don’t know. You fucking slashed my tires, didn’t you?” His jaw tics, his eyes are dark, and his body vibrates with rage.
I fight back not to smile or laugh. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I have better things to do than to?—”
“Don’t fucking play stupid with me.” He jabs his finger at my chest. “You’re still pissed because Amanda cheated on you with me, but it’s not my fault you couldn’t keep her happy. Couldn’t fuck her right. Get over it. I get you’re upset because she textedme and sent me nudes but…” He smirks, spewing the words with so much venom.
I’m sure he expects me to go off. Probably thought that was going to set me off, but unfortunately for him, it does nothing. I’m so unaffected, I half zone out, wondering if Josie knows just how pissed off he is. I wish she could see this. I wonder if she’d laugh because I know I sure as hell want to.
“Bry,chill out.” Angel speaks over him, smiling and talking to him the same way he did to me when I found out he slept with Amanda. He used those two exact words in that same nonchalant tone. “Danny was drunk as shit Friday night. Puked his brains out all over his room.”
“Yeah and I had to clean that shit up,” Gray says from the other side of the locker room, scowling and shuddering as if he were remembering it.
Kai rolls his eyes. “You had to clean it up? You mean I had to after you gagged and complained you had a weak stomach.”
“And because of that, I couldn’t sleep because you were all being loud as shit,” Noah grumbles.
I almost lose it at Noah jumping in, but I shouldn’t be surprised. He may be quiet, but he’s the kind of guy you know will always have your back. Though I’m kind of shocked at how quick and easy my roommates came up with that lie.
I’m going to owe them big time, but seeing Bryson all riled up is worth it.
Bryson’s nostrils flare and he grunts, but then realization flashes across his face. “Of course it wasn’t you, fucking Josefine. That bitch,” he mutters under his breath.
“Don’t call her that.” All my humor disappears in an instant.
He stifles a pathetic laugh and cocks his head to the side, studying me. “I saw you dancing with her. I know what you’re trying to do so don’t act like you care about her. You’re trying toget back at me, but I don’t care about that bitch. Fuck her for all I care.”
I clench my jaw, fury twisting around my insides until all I see is red. “I’m not playing, Bryson. Don’t talk about her like?—”
“She’s. A. Fucking. Bitch.” With his eyes locked on mine, he slowly punctuates each word, taunting me. “A. Fucking?—”
I’ve never blacked out before because I was so consumed with anger I couldn’t think.
Black takes over every inch of my vision, which is why I don’t think when I fist my hand, pull it back, and collide it with the side of his face.
His head jerks and he stumbles back. He tries to gain control of his balance, but he loses it and falls on his ass.
