Page 31 of Every Hidden Truth

“Ben, for Pete’s sake, calm down before you force my hand!” Coach Kane captured his jaw and forced their eyes to meet. “You could all face suspension for this. Don’t push it.”

“Come on now, Kane. Let’s not be hasty. There’s no real harm done.” McKinney grasped Boyt’s shoulder.

Ben’s coach set his jaw with an audible clack. “Your boy looks like he broke his nose, McKinney. We can’t just—”

“They’re just boys being boys. We’re in the middle of the season. You handle yours, and I’ll handle mine. There’s no reason to make a mountain out of a molehill.”

“Yeah, it was just a misunderstanding.” Eric shrugged and spit bloody saliva onto the floor.

Coach McKinney scowled and pointed to the wrestling room. “In my office now.”

Rolling his eyes, Boyt scoffed. “Whatever.” He glanced my way, licking the blood from his lip, and bile teased my throat. “See you around, Brigs.”

Expecting the reaction, Ronnie tightened his grip on Ben as my boyfriend surged forward. “Ben, think. This will just come back on both of you.”

As he blinked away his blind rage, Ben glanced my way, his beautiful face swollen and bleeding. “Silas?”

“Keep your boys away from my team, McKinney.” Coach Kane finally surrendered as he yanked Ben away from me. “As for you two, get to my office. I have half a mind to give you both detention for the rest of the semester.”

“Coach, I need to walk Silas to his truck.” Ben’s voice cracked as he scrutinized my injuries. “Coach, please.”

“You’re gonna go to my office now. I’ll make sure he makes it.”

Their stalemate lasted a good minute, but finally, Ben nodded. Ronnie hooked a finger in Ben’s belt loop and tugged. Ben stumbled back.

His pained eyes met mine. “I’ll come over as soon as I can, okay? Go straight home.”

Normally, the bossiness would have annoyed me, but I was too shaken to do anything but nod.

His coach pointed in the direction of the pool room as he approached me, and Ben allowed Ronnie to lead him away. I tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace as I turned and followed his coach.

“You wanna tell me why that boy was so adamant about walking you to your truck?” Coach Kane asked as we left the building.

“It was nothing,” I denied. “Just a misunderstanding.”

“Mhm.” His doubtful grunt set me on edge, and I hurriedly unlocked Mabel to escape his suddenly soft gaze. “I’m not the enemy, Brigs. Is there something you’d like to tell me?”

Like the coward I was, I shook my head resolutely. “No, sir. But please, don’t suspend Ben. It wasn’t his fault.”

“I can’t exactly do nothing about this. Those boys are on my team, and there are expectations—”

“It was my fault,” I blurted, panicking. “I started it. Ben was just defending himself.”

Coach Kane held up his palm, and I quieted. “You don’t have to lie to me. I know the kind of boy Eric Boyt is. So, I’m going to ask you one more time. Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

His gaze x-rayed through me, and I swore he could read the truth in my head. But once again, I shook my head, looking away.

He sighed, disappointed. “Get yourself home, and put an ice pack on your face.”

“Yes, sir,” I mumbled as I climbed into my truck.

My phone chimed in my pocket, but I ignored it. I shoved my keys in the ignition with trembling fingers and carefully pulled out of the parking lot as Coach Kane returned to the school building.

I barely managed to make it home before my panic attack hit.

10

Manliest of All Boners

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