Hold Me Tight(13)

I make it back out to the empty gym and slide down against the bleachers. I hold my head in my hands, trying to reconcile what’s going on in there, but I can’t. It’s obvious this isn’t the first time that Ryan’s taken advantage of Ben. I definitely wouldn’t classify what they have as a healthy relationship. Ryan is just taking his conflicted feelings about his sexuality out on Ben, making him the perfect whipping boy, a pliable target to direct his anger. He hates himself for being attracted to Ben. So instead of loving Ben, he takes all of his self-loathing out on him, punishing Ben for the sexual urges he brings out in him.

I shouldn’t have gotten Ben involved in this. I don’t know what kind of mixed-up feelings he still has for Ryan, but I can’t stomach what’s going on in there. Ben convinced me to go along with abducting Ryan and forcing the truth out of him, but I never imagined things taking this kind of turn. Sadly, Ben didn’t seem all that surprised.

I didn’t realize the kind of hold Ryan still has over Ben, how he’s able to manipulate him. It doesn’t bode well if Ryan seeks revenge for this hazing stunt somewhere down the road. Yeah, Ryan has Ben all to himself now, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to keep him satisfied for long.

The doors swing open, and Ben strides out, disheveled, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve. The arm of the t-shirt underneath his jersey is already soaked through with blood. He’s shaking as he tries to steady himself and hold it together in front of me.

I don’t know what to think. This big macho guy, the stud of the football team, undone by a wiseass runt like Ryan Price. It offends the rules of nature.

“You all right, man?” I ask, getting to my feet.

But Ben backs away like he doesn’t want me to touch him. He just shakes his head.

“Listen, if he didn’t tell you where Ivy is, we’ll find some other way.” I grimace, shoving my hands in my pockets, not knowing what else to say.

“He told me,” Ben whispers gruffly, that eerie faraway quality still evident in his tone.

“He did? Where is she?” I ask, advancing toward him, trying not to get too worked up over the news considering what he just went through to get it.

“You’re gonna hate me, Eric,” Ben states blankly, looking down at his shoelaces.

“C’mon, man. What are you talking about? Where have they got Ivy?” I urge as I move to stand directly in front of him.

His busted lip quivers, and blood dribbles from the corner of his mouth. “She’s with Tim,” he says, running the back of his hand across his face. “She’s with my brother.”

I blink uncomprehendingly for a minute before I lose it.

I grab a fistful of his jersey as I rear back to hit him. Ben winces and closes his eyes. My fist is in midair, but somehow I manage to curb my aggression as I roughly shove him away from me. What the hell am I doing? The dude’s already been through enough. I lower my fist and turn away, furious with myself over my reaction. I have to get out of here.

“Wait!” Ben calls after me, sprinting to catch up. “We’ll take my truck. They’re at my uncle’s old homestead outside of town. Tim will never suspect that you’re with me. I’ll hide you in the back.”

I stop and look up at the various championship banners hanging from the rafters, the one from Tim’s record-setting year with the swim team staring me in the face.

“I swear, I didn’t know she was with him, Eric,” Ben insists, trying to talk over his swollen lip. “I swear.”

My shoulders rise and fall, but I don’t say anything.

“C’mon, man. We can have Ivy home by dinnertime if we hurry.” Ben starts walking ahead of me, but I don’t follow and he stops. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I’m not going anywhere near that farmhouse. If that’s where Ivy is, she can stay there as far as I’m concerned.” I storm out the door. I don’t want Ben following me or giving me any more lame excuses. I’m not going to change my mind. I’m dead serious.

If Ivy knowingly went with Tim, then it really is over between us.





Chapter Seven

Ivy

I don’t know what to think.

Tim claims he told Lauren about today’s appointment with Dr. Patel, but Eric never showed up. It’s been a week since our fight, and I can’t believe he wouldn’t jump at the chance to see me. For the first time since he left me sitting in his truck outside the Valu-Mart, he knew where I was going to be and when. I thought for sure he’d be there, waiting to envelop me a hug and whisper in my ear that he was sorry.

But there was no sign of him.