Page 50 of The Friend Zone

Last year I kept telling myself that it was just a crush. She was with Topher and it was probably a case of wanting what I knew I could never have.

When their relationship ended, I had the entire summer to develop the ridiculous hope that maybe Bay and I could become more than friends. That maybe things happened for a reason and Topher’s loss could be my gain.

The reality was that Bay hadn’t moved on and was still reeling from the breakup.

I turn off the shower, walking into the locker room with the idea that I might go for a walk or hang out at the athletic center. I’m not in the mood to face my teammates just yet.

I’ve been in the shower long enough that everyone should have left, but my luck seems to have definitely run out.

Jagger is fastening his belt when I enter the main locker room and he looks at me like he wants to start shit.

I ignore him, walking to my locker and begin to get dressed.

Of course I have no such luck that he would leave before I turn around. At least I have underwear on though. Whatever unpleasant conversation we’re about to have, I feel better not to have it naked.

“What a shit show, huh?” he says.

I grind my jaw, irritated with him for stating the obvious. “Yeah. Thanks for trying to kill me out there by the way.”

He doesn’t look repentant. “You started it. I was just trying to get through that fucking drill but you were like a boulder and then you hit my stick with yours. Sorry but if you have something to say to me, just be a man and fucking say it. We aren’t on the school playground at recess anymore.”

This is rich, coming from him. “Are you calling me immature?” I snort. “After breaking up with Bay by text? And then you took a fucking date to last night’s party? High school is over, motherfucker. Maybe you missed the memo. And if you had injured me today, it could have cost me everything I’ve ever worked for.”

This time Jagger hangs his head. “I know. I’m sorry. I just—I fucked up so fucking hard. You were right, I should have manned up and talked to Bay face to face. And I shouldn’t have taken Candace to the party. The look on Bay’s face last night killed me. When you got in my way earlier, I thought you were trying to beat me up for all the crap I did in the past twenty-four hours.”

Now fully dressed, I cross my arms over my chest. “That’s exactly why I wanted to hit you. Don’t remind me actually, because there’s still a good chance I might decide to kick your ass. You promised you wouldn’t hurt her, Jagger.”

He covers his face with his hands. “I know. I panicked and I acted like a complete dipshit. In my head, I justified my actions by telling myself that it was just a hookup. That we had agreed on no strings attached and Bay wouldn’t even care. I was supposed to be a fun rebound.”

I’m about to tell him how much of an idiot he really is, but Ryker beats me to it.

“Bay isn’t a no-strings attached kind of girl, dude. I could have told you that the second I met her and I haven’t known her for over three years like you have.” He has changed into his street clothes and must have gotten a drink from one of the vending machines outside, since the arena’s canteen is closed on Sundays.

We both look at our forward center as he takes a sip from his bottle of soda.

“What’s it to you, Moore?” Jagger snaps. “You’re right, you’ve known Bay for a whole five minutes. What makes you the expert on how she feels?”

Ryker isn’t intimidated by Jagger’s belligerent tone. “Maybe the fact that she told me how much you hurt her?”

I’m glad Bay had someone to talk to. I swallow the jealousy at the thought that up to a couple of weeks ago, that would’ve been me. “Thanks for being there for her, man.” I mutter.

“Of course I’m gonna be there for my girlfriend.”

There it is again.

He called Bay his girl earlier. I hoped it could have been just to piss off Topher, but my rotten luck strikes again.

Jagger reacts in a way he has no fucking business to. “Your girlfriend? What the fuck are you talking about?”

Ryker remains calm. “I’m falling for her. I told her that last night and she feels the same way about me.”

The look on Jagger’s face tells me all I needed to know about his ridiculous rebound deal. Bay might not be a no-strings attached kind of girl, but it’s more than obvious that Jagger caught feelings for her too.

“So that’s how you act? The second Cole and I turn around, you swooped in?” he accuses Ryker.

“I didn’t swoop in. After you made me apologize to her for the party incident, I realized that I really care about Bay. I was going to pursue her anyway. I guess the two of you just did me a favor by taking yourselves out of the equation.”

He’s right.

---