Page 48 of Play Me

“We didn’t,” he protests instantly, and I feel bad for saying it. I know they care about her a lot. “Anyway, she’s fine, maybe a little rattled, but her bruise doesn’t look too bad.” He adds, running his fingers along the side of his face as if picturing her.

I grip my phone tight, wondering how he could be so blasé about her injuries.

“Yo, Seb. Why don’t you get off your ass and stop being a dick and go visit your girl?” Brad yells over to me from his spot in front of the TV.

“She’s not my girl,” I reply through gritted teeth.

“Coulda fooled me,” Marius says under his breath.

“What did you say?” I challenge him.

Marius stands up and faces me, “Come on, man. You think we don’t know what’s going on? What’s been going on since you brought her here? You’re so fucking in love with her, you can’t see straight. Although, since I’m guessing you haven’t gotten her into bed yet, I’m surprised you can walk straight too.”

“Marius...” Jez says, in a warning tone, and stands up, moving in between us.

“No. He needs to hear this. She is lying in a strange bed over there, probably scared out of her fucking mind, not to mention hurt, and he’s just sitting here because what? Actually, I don’t know why? Why don’t you tell us?”

“Shut up, Marius,” I snap at him, my fists gripping the sides of my legs, holding my anger back.

“No, I’m not going to fucking shut up.”

“Hey, maybe you’re the one who’s so in love with her.” I throw the accusation at him, glad to finally get it off my chest.

Marius snickers, and waves his hand dismissing my words. “Yeah, keep deflecting.”

“You’re the one who flirts with her, dances with her. Hey, she might not even have been on the dance floor if it wasn’t for you.” The comment hit below the belt, but it’s too late for me to take it back.

He looks at me hurt for a moment, and I want to apologize, but I can’t. I need to blame someone for what happened to her.

“You are such an asshole. Don’t blame what happened on me.”

“You were right there! Why didn’t you stop it?!” I spring up onto my feet and hurl my words at him.

“She didn’t want me to.” His voice somehow still remains calm, which just enrages me further.

“Who cares? Get the girl OUT of the dangerous situation!”

I’ve pushed too far.

“I told you, she didn’t want me to!” He growls and his face twists into a red rage, throwing his arms over his head.

“You do it anyway.”

“So how does that make me different than the guy who’s grabbing her?”

“It’s for her own good. She got hurt.”

“You don’t think I feel bad about that? She’s like a little sister to me, man. You think I don’t feel like shit that I was right there and didn’t stop it?”

For the first time since it happened, I see the guilt painted all over his face. It’s how I feel inside and it’s horrifying to see it I’ve made him feel it too.

Before I can say anything, Dennis walks through the door.

He knows us well enough to know there’s something going on, but he ignores it.

“It’s taken care of,” he says, referring to the photos, I assume.

“And?” I ask as I watch him walk to the drinks cart. He’s obviously had a long day.