Page 16 of College Hockey Bully

“The fuck are you doing?” I try to yank myself from his grip, but my best friend holds hard and fast.

“When I told you to confront Noah, I meant with your words, not your fists,” he puffs, grimacing to keep me in place.

“I’m just going to have a word with him.”

“Right after you bash his face in. Not good for team spirit, my friend, especially with the upcoming game.”

His last words sober me. With a huff, I relax, and he lets me go.

“I told them not to lay a fucking finger on her.”

Cameron rolls his eyes. “And I’ve been telling you that Noah is a ticking time bomb. Give him a reason to act violently and he will. You should’ve never gotten the team involved.”

“This is my fight as much as theirs,” I point out.

“You threw that girl under the bus without any proof. The security team didn’t even confirm it was her that made the call, yet you blabbed her name to the guys. You put a target on her back. Telling them not to lay a finger on her is like telling a dad not to beat up some guy who’s bullying his kid.”

“Cameron, all I want is Scarlett out of here, because I don’t trust her. She’s up to something. Call me paranoid all you want, but my gut feeling is never wrong.”

“You want to get her out, but at what cost?”

“I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure she’s not harmed. You have my word.”

“Your word has lost its value since you started butting heads with that asshole Noah. You were a better friend back in high school,” he mutters.

Well, that guy in high school didn’t know his father was no good. Forcing a smile, I squeeze his shoulder. “You can count on it, dude. Your little girlfriend will be safe with me.”

He doesn’t smile back. My own smile dwindles. “That was a joke, Cam. This is where you come in and say, ‘I don’t have a thing for Scarlett’.”

“I don’t,” he replies, not meeting my eyes.

A heavy sensation drops in my gut. “Seriously?”

“Dude, no! I’m not into her like that.”

“I mean, it would be fine if you were,” I reply, ignoring the crazy voice in my head yelling,‘Fuck no, it wouldn’t be fine!’.

“Scarlett’s not even my type. You know I don’t like blondes.”

For some reason, his reply floods me with relief. I pat his shoulder. “You really need to get back out there, though. I don’t understand why you’re celibate, anyway.”

“I already told you; I’m done getting played by these women out here. I’m saving myself for the right woman, someone who won’t rip my heart into shreds.”

He keeps saying that, but I can’t recall Cameron ever getting his heart broken. “Look, whatever floats your boat, brother,” I reply, easing back into the car. “Catch you tomorrow.”

Cameron waves faintly at me as I drive off and he stays on my mind until I get to the outskirts of Hempton. He has always been my voice of reason, ever since we were kids. Maybe he’s right about being too hard on Scarlett. Maybe she didn’t have an ulterior motive for calling security that night. Maybe she thought we were some hooded thugs about to rob the place.

Nah.

She saw me.

She knew exactly what was happening. Cameron probably has a point, though. What’s done is done. If Scarlett wanted revenge for whatever reason, she got it. Unless she gives me a concrete reason not to trust her this time around, I should probably give her a break.

Maybe.

The sudden blaring of Linkin Park’s‘Numb’has me glancing at the screen on my dashboard. Although, there’s noneed to look when I’d set that ringtone specifically for her. I’ve spent the last week and a half ignoring her calls and it’s only a matter of time before she shows up at my front door.

“Casey.”

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