“I wasn’t fired. After you left, I convinced Drew not to press charges.”
“How did you do that, Bryce?”
“I don’t like the tone you’re using, Bodie.” I stand and walk toward him. “All I did was tell him I’d press sexual assault charges against him for touching me.”
“I didn’t mean anything by that. This is all coming out wrong.” His words come out fast, laced with frustration. “Can we just start over?”
“How did you mean it then, Bodie? Because you’re doing a terrible job at apologizing.”
I see the stress taking hold of him when he sinks down on the couch, and his fingers scrunch into his curls.
“Okay, let’s take a step back.”
His panicked eyes shoot up to me. “What do you mean? Are you, like, breaking up with me?”
“No, Bodie. But that can’t happen again. I understand jealousy. I had my own bout of it with your teammate.” I’m embarrassed to be lecturing Bodie about this now that I mention it. “But I also didn’t beat his ass in a bar full of people.”
“I’m sorry, and thank you for making sure he doesn’t press charges.”
“I saw the videos. Did you get in trouble at work?”
“Sort of. It can’t happen again.”
“Will it?”
“I don’t know.” He raises his voice unexpectedly, startling me. “I never thought I’d do something like that before, but for some reason, being with you makes me…I don’t know.”
I take a seat next to him. “I get it, Bodie.”
“Do you?” His voice turns soft. “Because I’m thinking maybe I wouldn’t have reacted that way if we were just friends, and that scares me a little.”
“What are you saying, Bodie?”
“I’m saying, I don’t usually act like this, and if us being more than friends makes me act this way, is that a good thing?”
“So, this is my fault?”
“No, it’s not your fault, Bryce. I’m sorry it happened. I reacted too quickly, but I couldn’t control myself when I saw that asshole’s lips and hands on you.”
“But you think we should probably just be friends again?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to, Bodie.” I stand and head to my room. I can’t think clearly on such little sleep.
“Don’t walk away from me, Bryce.”
“I’m not walking away; I’m just tired. We can talk later.”
He doesn’t let me close the door. “Don’t do this. Please.”
“Don’t do what? The damage is done, isn’t it?” We stare at each other through the small space that Bodie’s foot wedged in the door allows. “I just want to sleep.”
I die a little inside the second his foot frees the door to close. I hold his gaze until the gap disappears, and then I’m left in my room alone, like I asked for, as regret rears its ugly head.
Bodie has avoided me for almost a week. I thought by now he would’ve come home to talk, but he’s been at Emmett’s place while they’re in the playoffs. They’ve won every round so far and only have one finals round to go before the cup. He’s played great games all season, and the playoffs have been just as good. I texted to tell him how proud I am of him, and all I got back was a simple ‘thank you.’
“Are you going to apologize?” Calisse asks for the third time today.
