Page 6 of Sidelined Love

I jump into action, sliding between Wilder and the other guy to prevent things from escalating further. “Hey!” I shout. “Fucking cool it! It’s supposed to be a fun night for all of us.”

Rob joins him now, and I predict that this is going to get ugly fast. I can see from my peripheral that some of our teammates move toward us too, showing that we aren’t alone either.

The music has been turned down, probably by someone who wants to get a front-row seat to the drama. I’m trying to think of what to say next in order to defuse the tension drifting between our two groups, but I come up empty. That is unlike me, but this is an unusual night.

But I need to find a solution before fists get thrown. I glance over at Asher, and he gives me a small nod, alerting me that he has my back.

I clear my throat and speak once more. “We were here to play a friendly game and have a good time. It would be wrong to have this end on a shitty note.”

Despite my attempts to mediate the situation, my words mean nothing.

“Stay out of this,” Seth says. I get a whiff of his breath and it is both the least pleasant thing I’ve smelled in a while and a mixture of different alcohols. It triggers something within me and makes me wonder how much he’s had to drink tonight. His friend takes several steps closer to Wilder, making it clear what they are gearing up for.

Wilder’s stance shifts subtly, feet spreading to better distribute his weight as he prepares himself for a fight. “Back the fuck down or you’ll regret it.”

That warning only further escalates the situation. With a noise I can’t quite describe, Seth lunges toward Wilder before Ican do anything, but thankfully, Wilder’s reflexes are sharp. As if he hasn’t taken even a single shot of tequila, Wilder shifts to his left and counters with a swift uppercut that startles Seth.

I’m in motion before I fully register what’s happening, grabbing Rob’s arm to make sure he can’t jump into the fight as well. The crowd backs away even further in an attempt to avoid getting harmed in the fight, but staying nearby enough to watch what is going on.

Seth’s fist flies toward Wilder, but before it can connect, Knox and Blaise appear, grabbing Seth’s arms and pulling him away. Asher stands between them while I grab Rob. We manage to break them apart, but not before Seth has a split lip.

Rob fights against my grip, but there’s no way I’m letting him go. The only thing that is preventing us from getting into an all-out brawl with them is us not wanting to lose our ability to play our next game.

With the situation finally under control, I take the lead once more. “Alright, the party’s over for you two. Let’s get them out of here.”

If any of the assholes want to say something, they know better at this point. I can hear the guy I’m holding mumbling under his breath, but he says nothing as we escort him and his friend to the front door. Blaise opens it and we shove them out of the house without further incident. Knox makes sure the door is securely closed behind them.

“Fuckin’ A,” Knox mutters, rubbing the back of his neck. I’m willing to swear that I heard a collective sigh of relief once the door clicked shut.

“Back to our regularly scheduled programming, then?” Blaise suggests with a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, let’s forget about all of… that,” Wilder agrees. I can see a small bruise forming under his chin, but the other guy looked far worse for wear. “Anyone up for more drinks and shots?”

“Already on it,” Asher chimes in and I watch as he heads toward the kitchen to grab what he needs to pour more shots.

Soon I’m standing there with another shot filled to the brim, and I take it all in one swift motion. The feeling of the burning liquid sliding down my throat will never get old. The mixture of it and the adrenaline coursing through my veins because of the fight should have me feeling as if I’m floating on cloud nine.

But I’m not.

As my gaze lands on my friends and teammates that have gathered here tonight, I’ve never felt more alone.

3

HAILEY

Early the next morning, my phone’s alarm sounds loudly at five a.m., and it takes me a second before I manage to turn the shrilling noise off. I understand the point of having an alarm is to alert you about something, but can’t they make the sounds more pleasing to the ear?

I lay in bed for a second before I force myself to move. I somehow manage to drag myself into the shower and get ready for the day. While doing all this, I’m glad I don't make too much noise. The last thing I want to do is wake Jade up because that would make me an asshole. No one else deserves to be up at this ungodly hour.

After completing what I need to get done, I grab my bag and walk out the front door, making sure to close it behind me as silently as I can. The brisk morning air brushes against my face, aiding in my attempt to wake myself up. The campus is still asleep as I make my way toward Brewed Beginnings. The silence that surrounds me is only broken by the occasional bird chirping in the distance. While it is quicker for me to drive, walking to work is usually peaceful and I enjoy doing it.

As I approach the coffee shop, I notice the lights are already on which means either my manager or coworkers are there. I pray to myself it's the latter because if it's Marc, he's only going to annoy me.

The chime above the door at Brewed Beginnings café sounds as I push the door open. Thankfully, I see Ben and not Marc. I’m already counting it as meaning that today will be a good day because things could be so much worse.

“Morning, Hailey,” Ben says from behind the counter. He briefly looks up at me before turning his attention back to restocking supplies.

“Hey,” I reply as I head to the back room to put my things down. Once I've done that, I walk back to the front while tying my apron behind my back. “Is Marc here?”

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