Garrett’s blue-grey eyes dart to his bandaged hand before he shakes his head. “Let’s just say the other guy's face is worse than my finger.”
My brows shoot up. “Now I really want to know what happened. Who’d you hit?”
Garrett shifts uncomfortably but doesn’t remove his arm from me. “Tony Anders.” He doesn’t elaborate.
“And what did Tony Anders do to piss you off?”
“Let’s just watch the game.” He keeps his eyes trained on the oval where Fox Pines is playing Woodall Ridge. All the guys are in the side today, apart from Garrett. His injured finger means he has to sit on the sidelines and support his teammates.
Unlike Marcus and Jared, Garrett didn’t grow up with us. He moved to Fox Pines a few years ago from Redfield and fell into the boy's group through footy. He’s always been kind to me, even though I know he has a temper. I’m not sure if his temper is just a trait he’s always had or if something happened to make him feel anger so consuming that he has to release it. I totally understand that sort of anger now.
Unfortunately for Garrett, if he doesn’t already know that I’m not going to give up so easily, then he’s about to learn. Not because I’m nosy, but because I have a feeling that it has something to do with me.
“We can watch the game while you tell me about your run-in with Tony.” I insist, working to keep a straight face.
Garrett chuckles, looking down at me, a strand of his wavy brown hair falling over his right eye. He’s about the same height as Ayden. His eyes are blue like Jared’s and Ayden’s, but Garrett’s has light flecks through his, making them appear more grey. Neither Garrett’s nor Jared’s eyes seize my heart the way Ayden’s do, though.
“What are the chances that you’re going to let this drop?”
“Zero chances, buddy. Spill.” I give him a toothy grin, and he chuckles before clearing his throat.
“Tony is currently receiving dental treatment from my fist because the fucker stood by and watched your dad carry you unconscious out of the school. He saw you go into the office. He even overheard the office ladies speaking about how it’s wrong that your dad is trying to force you to leave with him, and then he watched your dad carry you out. The little prick is fucking lucky dental work is all he needs.”
Holy shit! I’m actually lost for words. Not because Tony Anders is a dip shit that didn’t man up, but because Garrett stood up for me, and even now as he speaks, sounds so fiercely protective. My stupid eyes fill with hot tears, so I quickly turn my head and blink them away, but Garrett notices and tugs me closer to his side.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat, Lex.”
These guys. I don’t know what I’ve done to be lucky enough to deserve their loyalty. I knew we were all friends, but I never knew until this week how much our friendship means. Hell, it feels like more than friendship. These guys feel like my family.
It’s hard to concentrate on the football game playing before me. My mind is a mess flitting between memories, both good and bad, and the new things I’ve learnt since coming back home. Glancing around the oval boundary, I search to see if Abbey or any of the girls from school are here, but I don’t spot any of them. Abbey’s boyfriend, Daniel, doesn’t play football, so I assume she is with him somewhere, and since it’s cold as fuck outside today, I’d say the weather probably kept the other girls away.
Thankful the footy finally finishes, I’m surprised when the boys announce that we’re going to Simon’s for the night while his parents are away. I think about arguing my case to go back home for a night of silence, but it’s for that reason that I don’t. I don’t want to be alone.
It’s not uncommon for the guys to have people over for a night of celebrating after a footy win or even a loss. The difference with tonight is that they don’t invite anyone else. It’s just us in Simon’s big house, and every time they get a message or call from one of the girls from school, they ignore them or shut them down, refusing to let anyone else join us. I’m sure they are doing it for my benefit, and I love them for it.
For the second night in a row, we have pizza for dinner. I have a single slice, and the boys try to force more into me, but they lose that battle. Stubborn should be my middle name! After eating, Simon brings out a box filled with bottles of alcohol, and the boys start drinking. Even though my mood is flat, I join them to have a few drinks hoping it will numb my pain. When the relaxing buzz kicks in, it has the desired effect and calms my anger giving me a sense of peace as I sit lazily in a beanbag, happily watching the boys hang shit on each other and talk footy while trying to play pool in Simon’s rumpus room.
“Jesus, now Abbey wants to come over,” Simon complains, tossing his phone on the bar counter.
“Abbey?” I shoot upright in the beanbag. “Chuck me your phone, Simon.”
“Ah, that might not be a good idea, Lex.” Marcus tries to intervene, but Simon has already launched his phone in the air towards me.
I catch it easily and tap Abbey’s number. It starts to ring.
“Hey, Simon. So, can me and the girls come over? Tasha really wants to see Marcus.” Hearing Abbey’s voice is a relief until I take in what she just said. She doesn’t sound like a girl who is missing or concerned for her best friend.
“Abbey?”
I’m met with silence. It’s so quiet down the line that I pull the phone back to check if we are still connected.
