Page 184 of Between the Blue
Rhett ends up throwing his arms around Ben and pulling him into something that resembles a hug, seemingly trying to calm him down, but Ben just takes the opportunity to take Rhett down to the ice with him.
“Bennett, stop!” I make out Rhett saying.
Ben doesn’t even seem to acknowledge him, landing a punch across his face, followed by another one immediately after that makes blood instantly start to trickle from the corner of Rhett’s mouth.
“Okay,fuck you then,” Rhett growls, and then shoves Ben so suddenly that he’s sent off balance, falling to the side. Rhett takes the opportunity to roll on top of him, whipping his arm back to throw his own punch.
But then all three refs appear along with Buck and Wiz, and it takes every bit of strength from all five of them to separate Ben and Rhett.
Two of the refs start pushing them towards what I initially think is the bench but then realize is the tunnel entrance, whilethe other heads towards the middle of the ice, making a dramatic motion of putting his hands on his hips.
The arena immediately erupts into shouts and sounds of booing. And then the referee comes over the speaker announcing, “Game misconduct for number twenty-four and number nineteen of the Texas Storm. They are both ejected from the game.”
My gaze immediately shoots to where the guys are being shoved off the ice, and I find Ben’s eyes already locked on me. They stay that way until he disappears from my view, and before I’m even aware of what I’m doing, I’m moving.
I register the game picking back up to my side, the fans still losing their minds and seeming to try to reconcile what the hell just happened, but I can’t stop my feet. I round the corner, shooting straight down the tunnel.
I just see the locker room door swinging shut as I break into a run, catching it before it can fully close. I keep it open just a crack, holding my breath as I try to decide my next move, but then the sound of Rhett’s voice makes me freeze in place.
“What the fuck did you think you were doing out there?”
“Not now,” Ben grunts in response.
I shove my ear further in the crack of the door, but then the noise of a slamming locker makes me startle.
“Yeah, no,” Rhett retorts. “You’ve been sayingnot nowto me for ten fucking years. But you just slammed your fist into my fucking face and got us both ejected, so there’s actually no better time than right now.”
“I might have to do it again if you don’t back off, Sutty.”
“What iswrongwith you?” Rhett demands.
“Right now,you.”
“Bullshit.”
“Excuse me?” Ben growls.
“It’s not me, and you know it.”
I open the door enough so that I can look inside, and when I realize Ben and Rhett are a row of lockers over from the entrance, I move like a reflex. I feel possessed, like I don’t have control of my body anymore as I creep inside, stopping just behind the row of lockers and peering around them so I can get a glimpse of the two of them.
“It’s her,” Rhett says, his voice low.
Ben whips his head around to look at him. “What?”
“Don’t play stupid with me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Rhett’s tongue pushes into his cheek as he steps closer to Ben. “You’re known to be a hothead. At least you have been in the NHL.” He pauses, shaking his head. “That’s another story–”
“There’s no fucking story.”
“But ever since she got here,” Rhett continues, “you’ve been out of control.”
“I’ll be back at intermission,” Ben announces. “Don’t look for me.”
Ben starts to move in my direction, but Rhett pulls him back by his shoulder.
