Page 88 of O Goalie Night
“Come on, Fozz. What is the big deal? She’s ready and willing. And you haven’t gotten laid in ages.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Austin chuckles darkly.
I stiffen, glaring at him, but he’s too busy staring daggers at Ben to even notice.
“What is he talking about?” Ben asks. When I don't say anything, he turns to Austin. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m just saying, I'm pretty sure our boy Fozzie has been doing just fine lately. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s off the market altogether.”
Ben looks between the two of us, not comprehending. I could fucking strangle Austin.
“What?” Ben is waiting for someone to fill him in. “Do you have a girlfriend I don’t know about?”
Words evade me. I can’t lie to his face, but I also don’t want him to find out about me and Beth like this. If Austin would just shut his fucking mouth–
“Either that, or your sister’s been finding creative ways to repay his hospitality. Maybe in the backseat of his Lexus?”
The fucker saw us.
Ben freezes where he stands. It’s as though someone threw a bucket of ice water on him, sobering him immediately. For a minute nothing happens; the three of us stand there, motionless, waiting for someone to react.
Then Ben’s fist connects to Austin’s cheek. I hear the impact over the music and watch Austin’s head snap back at an unnatural angle. Ben lunges for him again, shaking me out of my stupor as I throw myself between them.
“Ben! Enough!” I hold him around the waist as he attempts to throw another punch at a staggering Austin.
“What the fuck is happening?” Will yells, arriving on scene. He stands in front of Austin, who’s got a hand up over his injured eye.
“Take it back!” Ben shouts, still trying to get his hands on him. I’m taking elbows to the ribs as I attempt to hold him back. “He said Foster was fucking my little sister. Take. It. Back.”
Will’s eyebrows shoot up as his eyes round on me. “Are you?”
Fuck.
Still attempting to wrestle Ben away, I look around to see we’re attracting attention. There are a couple of people taking videos with their phones, including the girl that Ben wanted me to take home. Perfect.
I need to get everyone out of here before someone calls the cops. If Ben gets arrested, this could go from bad to catastrophic.
“Of course he’s not,” Ben spits. He’s still furious, but no longer struggling against me. “Tell them, Fozz.”
My throat feels tight as I scan the room for the nearest exit. “We need to get out of here,” I say calmly. “People are filming us. If the cops show up, we’re fucked.”
Ben blinks at me, looking so lost and confused. “Are you fucking her?”
I stare back at him, swallowing hard. “It’s not like that.”
Four words. Four single syllable words are all it takes to end our friendship.
My best friend of four years looks at me like he doesn’t even know me.
“Foster’s right. We need to get out of here. Now.” Will leads Austin towards the exit and Ben and I follow without a word.
We find a cab immediately. A small miracle. The night air is freezing, but nothing compared to the cold shoulderBen gives me on the ride back to the hotel. I check on Austin, who doesn’t appear to have a concussion, but is still in rough shape.
Will attempts to make conversation, but gives up when no one responds.
It’s late when we get to the hotel; we file through the empty lobby in silence. Will and Austin make it to the elevator first.
“We’ll get the next one,” I tell them when the doors open. Will looks hesitant to leave us alone, but nods and leaves with Austin.
