“But don’t you think the two of you shouldtryto get along? You’re roommates now. Get over the past and move on,” Aria says.
“Moveon?” 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.
When I get home, I go to my football bag and grab his pair of boxers. Giving the ugly ass thing a once over, I toss it onto Bennett’s bed.
I need to stop caring so much about him. He needs to stop being in my damn head all of the time.
He’s not worth my time. He’s just my roommate. I’m going to pretend he doesn’t exist. I have school and ball to worry about. That's where my time is better spent.
Easier said than done.
Staying at home didn’t last long. After about half an hour, I was already sick of sitting alone with my thoughts, so I headed to the nearest bar. It took me three drinks to realize how pathetic I looked. Everyone around me looked like they were having the time of their lives, while I sat there alone, wallowing in my own self-pity.
When I pulled up Instagram and saw Taylor posting photos of the party , I got a bit of FOMO.
Why should Bennett get to go have fun while I’m sitting here miserable? Taylor is my girlfriend. I should be there with her, not him.
That's when I downed the rest of my drink and left the bar, deciding to walk to the party myself.
I texted Taylor to find out where they were. I wasn’t too pleased about the fact that it’s in the same neighborhood as Bennett’s parents. Would Coach or the dean interfere? Or would they let college kids be for the night? It is Halloween, after all.
It’s not until I show up at the house that I realize I’m very underdressed. I didn’t think to dress up, didn’t want to. My black hoodie and jeans are good enough for me.
People start to notice me, saying hi and calling out my name. I nod back, but don’t detour from my mission. Find the alcohol, get trashed alongside everyone else, and find my girlfriend to hang out with.
Yeah, that’s who I’m looking for. Not at all for the six-foot-tall hockey player, who makes me want to wrap my hands around his neck every time he opens his stupid mouth.
With his sexy lips and hair that I want to run my hands through. That moan, I want to hear that moan as he comes apart again, this time with my hands on him.
What the hell? Yeah, maybe drinking isn’t a good idea, because it’s clearly making me unstable right now.
Shaking my head, I frown hard. Fuck it, I need more alcohol to make me forget that asshole.
