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I stand, keeping my mouth firmly closed while I try to escape the room.
“Oh, hell no, sit the fuck down, kiddo.” Bennett laughs, his eyes glittering with amusement. “Theodore, you can leave. But we will be having a talk later about this.”
Closing my eyes with a groan, I slide back into the chair while Theodore hightails it out the room without a second thought.
The lucky fucker.
“I should have seen this coming, right?” Bennett sighs, staring at me. I’ve no idea what he’s talking about, and when I ask him as much, he only chuckles. “You and Theo getting together. It was only a matter of time.”
“We are not together,” I tell him firmly, leaning forward. “He fucking hates me, B, has for years.”
“Is that what you think?”
What else am I meant to think?
The dude went from being my friend to a virtual stranger overnight. Since then, we’ve had only two semi meaningful interactions and both of those were fuelled with alcohol and ended with me being left alone after he got what he wanted.
“That boy doesn’t hate you, kiddo. I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but any fool with eyes can see there’s no hate within either of you. Now, you can sit in here for the rest of your lesson, because we’re going to pretend I told you off for throwing that girl’s bag across the floor. At least then if anyone asks, we can say I’m doing my job correctly.”
I laugh, standing and rushing him. When his arms fold over me, I snuggle into his chest, allowing the warmth and comfort of him to coat me like a blanket. “You’re the best.”
TWENTY
Bennettfindsmeinthe gym the next morning, the same place he always does. He unbuttons his black jacket, slipping it off and tossing it to the floor, before rolling the sleeves of his white shirt up to reveal ink-covered forearms. I ignore him, continuing to pound on the leather bag in front of me.
“In the ring, kid,” he tells me, tightening the bun in his hair and hopping up on the raised platform. It’s there for training, though, hardly anyone uses it for that. It’s mostly so students can spar and throw down without having to take it outside. “Come on, you know you want to. Isn’t it better to hit something real, rather than that ratty bag?”
He’s taunting me, playing on my anger. I’m always fucking angry these days, and knowing what this conversation is about does little to lessen that. Like a bull to a rag, I drop my hands and stalk over to him.
“We aren’t talking about it,” I tell him, eyeing him as he bounces on his feet. “I’ll spar, but that’s it.”
He laughs, dropping into stance.
“Sure. But first, do you want to tell me why you tied my baby cousin to her bed?”
I don’t get the chance to answer before his hand strikes out, smashing against my temple. The fucker smiles at me, going for a second hit. I spin, lashing out at his back as he passes.
“That shit is between her and me.”
“Hmm.” Another hit, this time to my chest, as he shoves me backwards. “She thinks you hate her.”
“I know,” I tell him, not bothering to block his fists as they rain hell on my body. At least he’s avoiding my face now, and I know it’s intentional. Just as he knows I’m letting him take his ounce of flesh. I’m not sure who would win if we went toe to toe for real.
While Bennett has years of experience on me, I have a shit tonne of pent-up anger and darkness dying to be let free.
“It’s better that way.”
“Better for who?” he asks, getting me to the ground. He doesn’t bother keeping me down, instead he hops back up, pulling me with him before attacking again.
“For her.”
We stay in the ring for the next half hour, neither of us speaking. I’m sure he wants explanations, but I have none to give. I toss a few more hits out, but nothing extreme.
Bennett loves Fallon, and if I had to guess, she’s hurting right now. Which means he’s hurting for her, so I’ll take the punishment he wants to give me.
She might like the things I’ve done to her, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t confused.
I’m fucking confused too.
