Page 86 of O Goalie Night
Her laughter is silenced by a loud knock on my door.
“What was that?” Beth asks in a panicked voice and damned if I know the answer. I sit up in bed just as another three loud bangs shake the room.
“Fozzie! Open up!”
Fuck.
“It’s your brother. I better find out what he wants before he breaks the door down, okay? I– I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I almost said “I love you.” It was on the tip of my tongue, ready to roll off.
“Okay…text me if something’s wrong?”
“I’m sure everything is fine, but I will. I promise.”
I almost told Beth that I love her. The implications make me light-headed as I stand and make my way to the door.
Am I in love with Beth? Yes. Is it too soon to tell her? Also yes.
Is her brother pounding on my door because he found out about us and has come to beat me to death with a pillowcase full of pucks?
Possibly.
“Alright, alright,” I say, throwing open the door.
Outside my room stand Ben, Will, and Austin in almost identical outfits of jeans and long sleeved shirts.
“Did we interrupt your beauty sleep? It’s okay. I’m pretty enough for the both of us.” Austin’s smug face is looking especially punchable at this moment. Ever sincethe Christmas party, he’s been goading me more than usual. Smiling at me for too long. Making snide comments under his breath. He grates on my nerves at the best of times, but this is starting to become intolerable. I’m sure it doesn’t help that my girlfriend just joked about wearing his jersey in bed.
“What is going on? Other than you assholes waking everyone on the goddamn floor.”
“We’re going out.” Ben states plainly.
“Okay. Have fun.” I start to close the door. A hand swings out, slamming onto the wood.
“You’re coming. Get dressed.”
Irritation prickles at the base of my skull and I cross my arms as I lean against the doorframe. “I’m not going out.”
“Come on, Fozzie. I need this.” Ben rubs at his temples. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days. “When do I ever ask you for anything?”
A chorus of “Constantly,” “Always,” and “All the damn time,” is his response.
Ben glares at Austin and Will before continuing. “Please, man? I just survived a breakup and need to fuck someone new to get her out of my system. It’s Friday night, we’re in the city of love–”
“The city of love is Paris. We’re in Chicago,” Will pipes up, but Ben ignores him.
“I need to go out and I need you there looking out for me.”
How did I become the adopted mother to this lost baby bird of a man? The last thing I want is to be dragged to some dive bar with these idiots, but what choice do I have? He’s my best friend and Beth’s brother, and I don’twant his judgement, or lack thereof, getting him in trouble.
“Give me five minutes. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
“I knew I could count on you, Fozz.” Ben is already walking away, leaving before I can change my mind. “That’s why you’re the best.”
I hope he still feels that way when he finds out I’m in love with his sister.
Haveyou ever found yourself in a situation that makes you question all of the choices you’ve made in your life? Really made you want to sit down and pour over memories of the roads you took to get to where you are at this exact moment in time?
Standing against this wall, observing the room around me, all I can think is how the fuck did I get here.
