Weak Side (Bexley U)

by S.J. Sylvis

She and her friend, Rose, cheered their cups silently, and something involuntarily forced my hand to snatch Claire’s drink before it touched her lips. She huffed and shot me a dirty look, wondering what I was doing. I’m wondering the same. I turned to Rose and peered down at her disapprovingly. “Did you pour this? Or did someone hand it to you?”

“Bryant? Yeah, I guess.” There was a rumbly snicker that came from Emory, and I glared over at him, not in the mood for games. “What?” His brows shot up, and he shook his head innocently. “Oh, nothing.” Why am I acting like this?

Fuck, why do I care so much?

“Just get in my car, Bryant.”

I cleared my throat and gripped my blanket harder. Am I not good enough?

I knew I was a people-pleaser, and I knew the reason why.

“What…” I sounded like I hadn’t spoken in days by the rasp in my voice. Clearing my throat, I tried again. “What are you doing, Theo? I’m fine.” His chuckle rumbled against my back as his breath tickled my hair. “I have ears, Bryant. I can hear you crying.” “I am not crying,” I lied. My cheeks blasted with heat from embarrassment. “You’ve gotta be the most stubborn person I have ever met.”

“You can cry in front of me, Claire. It’s alright.”

“Moving on to anger now?”

“Yes,”

“Good,” he whispered, encouraging me. “You should be angry.”

His hand slapped over my thigh, spreading his fingers out wide. “Claire.” His breath was heavy. “Don’t do this to me.”

expression. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you punch someone.” Shaking his head, he corrected himself. “Wait, yes, I can. You punched London for fuckin’ around on your sister, even though he was twice your age.” “Fuck yeah, I did. I don’t like it.” My shoulders started to tense again. “Don’t like what?”

“Cheating. It pisses me off. Don’t get in a committed relationship if you want to fuck other people. It’s just weak. And then this happens.”

I was halfway through the door when I heard Aasher say, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” And to my surprise, instead of going home, he followed Taytum down the hall and sat there with the rest of the team, keeping watch for the fucker that broke my roommate’s heart.

“Jocks aren’t so bad,” she mused. Then, she rolled her eyes, and I felt my lip curving. There you are. “I guess.”

“Look at me, Bryant.” Chad was approaching, and each step he took closer to her, the tenser she became. Claire’s blue eyes were heavy and clouded by something when she finally glanced up at me. “Are you sure you want me to go?” One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. She finally squared her shoulders and sent me a curt nod. “I’m fine.”

I wouldn’t admit this to anyone, but I was worried too.

“Sounds like me at that age.” “Well, I can only hope he turns out like you.”

“Not busy on Thursdays, I see.”

“You work tomorrow night?” I asked. Claire shook her head, and I watched her closely. She looked both relieved and deterred by that. “So…” I leaned in close so she was forced to peer up at me. Her cheeks turned pink when I smirked. “That means you’re coming to the game, then?” Her laugh was abrupt. “No.”

My smirk was the cherry on top of my triumphant mood. I was a natural-born winner, and even winning this little spar with Claire seemed to feed into that.

Tonight, though, I kept glancing in the stands, appearing unfocused to my team and, most of all, to Coach.

“And here I thought you played your best because a certain someone was in the stands.”

“Honestly?” My cheeks were beginning to ache from smiling so much. Even my voice came out raspy because I had shouted during the game. Who even am I? “That was the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.”

Taytum peered over at me for a second. “There’s a reason his nickname is Wolf.” She paused before turning away to mumble out her next few words. “That and his reputation in the bedroom.”

“How is it going with him anyway?” “What do you mean?” My question was panicky, and Taytum noticed.

“Is the whole roommate thing still going okay?”

“Yeah, things are fine. He…”

“I was wrong about him.”

“Don’t get that look. He just isn’t what I had expected.” “What did you expect?”

“I expected him to sleep with a new girl every other day and then treat them poorly afterward, like the stereotypical jock. But that’s not really true.”

“Well, he does have multiple girls following him around, but he’s at least up front with them and doesn’t fuck every puck bun...

“Respectful. Although, he likes to irritate...

“Theo is just…Theo. I don...

“He took care of you.”

“And you let him.”

Well, what are you two doing just standing there? You are invited to the VIP area.

“Oh. I think it’s funny, too. No matter how many times he tells them to leave him alone, they just won’t stop. Look how annoyed he is.”

“You can let me go now.”

“Now why would I do that, Bryant?”

“Was that planned?!”

“No, but it’s not the first time Claire has stepped in and rescued me.” “Um, what?”

“You forced me to do it last time.”

“Forced you? Careful what you say, girl.”

“You know how puck bunnies are. They’re relentless.” “Not if you have a long-time girlfriend,”

“You’re the only fucking dude on this team that would complain about too many puck bunnies wanting your attention.”

“It’s not like you turn them all down,” I blurted, seemingly more irritated than I actually was. Theo’s eyebrows climbed upward, and one of his lips disappeared behind his white teeth. “I would if you were my girl.”

“Come on, Bryant.” Theo reached his hand out and pulled on the strands of my hair in a teasing way. “I’d be the most faithful fake boyfriend you ever had.” “Wait, what?” Taytum stepped forward and stole the spotlight. “You want to pretend to date her?”

“Yeah, Claire acts like my girlfriend, for all intents and purposes. That way, the puck bunnies stop hounding me after games, showing up to our room unannounced, waiting for me after practice…” His voice trailed off, and I knew everyone’s eyes were on me. “It is a solid plan.” No. No way.