The Sophomore (College Years 2)

“You were blind,” Eli says, as if that’s explanation enough. “You didn’t see what was happening right in front of your eyes. Not like I did with Ava. I took one look at her, and I fucking knew. I had to have her.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t as sure as you were,” I say, thinking back on those days. When I would host parties out at my uncle’s abandoned cabin by the lake, playing my guitar around the fire and singing songs, with Ellie always by my side. Gazing up at me with those big eyes, looking at me as if I could change her entire life.

God, I was such a dick.

“Just don’t fuck it up,” Eli says, his tone turning serious. “Ellie is a sweet girl. I’d hate to see you hurt her.”

“I don’t plan on hurting her,” I say defensively.

“I know, but you probably could with little effort. You’re kind of an ass sometimes. A little selfish,” he says.

I start to laugh. “That’s pretty funny, coming from you.”

He frowns. “What do you mean?”

“You’re a selfish ass, Eli. You strut around wherever you’re at, thinking you’re king of the goddamn world. It’s the Eli Bennett show and we’re all just living in it,” I say, sounding bitter. Sometimes his cocky attitude makes me angry. Defensive.

It’s an emotion that’s been bubbling just beneath the surface for days.

Eli glares at me, not saying a word. His entire body seems tense.

In fact, he looks pretty fucking…mad.

Shit.

“You really think that?” He sounds offended.

I shrug, most likely needing to back pedal, but not necessarily in the mood for it. Maybe I want to hash it all out with my best friend. Get out my frustration. “Sometimes, yeah.”

“You’re just mad because it’s not always the Jackson Rivers show either. I think it pissed you off that all those girls weren’t just there for you Thursday night. They w

ere also screaming over that boy band. Is that what set you off? Made you act like such a grump? You’re finally getting Ellie’s pussy and look at you. You’re still not happy,” he throws at me.

Anger suffuses me over his comment about Ellie. “Don’t say that about my girl.”

“Why? Does it bother you? Sick of it being the Eli Bennett show? Wish it was the Jackson Rivers show instead?” He stands, his body vibrating from barely restrained anger.

I stand too, my hands clutched into fists.

As the silence continues, the tension mounts between us. I’m tall, but he’s taller. The glower on his face says he means business, and damn it, I mean it, too. He can’t just say those kinds of things about Ellie. And he sure as shit can’t try and get me all riled up over something so fucking stupid.

Yet here I am, all riled up over something really fucking stupid. Worse? I’m the cause of this in the first place.

“Hey!” Ava calls from where she’s sitting.

We both swivel our heads in her direction, matching shitty expressions on our faces.

Ava frowns. So does Ellie.

“Everything okay over there, boys?” Ava calls.

“Sure,” Eli says, cutting a glare in my direction before he returns his attention to his girlfriend. “We’re fucking great, babe. Oops, sorry, Coach.”

“Watch your mouth, Bennett,” Drew Callahan says from where he’s manning the barbecue, his wife Fable right beside him, carefully watching us both.

Great. We’re causing drama and that is the last thing I want.

“Bro,” I tell Eli, giving him a nudge. He glares, not giving an inch. “This is stupid. I don’t want to fight with you.”