Page 20

twenty

Blake

When I get home after dropping Cleo off, I immediately see a slumped over Charlie on the couch. He looks dead from this angle, and I sigh as I approach him.

"You’re never at your own house, y’know.” I muse, taking the small bag of Dill Pickle flavored chips from his lap as he chuckles lightly.

“You have better WI-FI.”

He's not wrong, Charlie and Braxton’s internet is the worst thing I’ve ever used. It took five whole minutes for Siri to process the fact that I asked it a question. That was when I knew I wouldn’t stay with those two dimwits ever again.

“Where were you? Date with Coach’s daughter?” he asks, eyes focused on the television ahead but, I can see the glint of mischief beneath them.

“It wasn’t a date . She needed some help with clothes, and we had to do our project.” I shrug, toying with the hem of my sweatpants as I plop down next to him on the couch.

The blonde scoffs at my words, giving me a look but before he can say anything, I cut him off.

“Sorry about Vee.”

Charlie tenses beside me before slowly relaxing, “It’s fine. She’s just a girl. My bad for snapping at practice.”

I nod at the apology but still turn to look at him, “What happened with her?”

“The baseball team happened.” He deadpans, jaw clenching and unclenching as he remains focused on the screen ahead .

“Oh.”

“Uh-huh”

I’m about to say something else when the door swings open. Derek hurries in with Delilah sleeping peacefully in his arms, he speed walks past us to what I assume is Jace’s room before coming back to the living room with three beer bottles in hand, replacing the toddler.

Charlie and I share a brief look just as he plops down in between us.

“How could she be such an asshole?” The dad frowns, taking a swig with a grimace. He hates beer. Derek once told me he’d rather drink cat pee than drink beer, yet here he is, gulping it down like a fish. “I apologize to her and then she acts like I’m some kind of monster!” he continues.

“Who—”

“And then she has the nerve to say she hopes I get fucked by a fish?!” he exclaims shooting to his feet, chest heaving as he looks down at our confused faces.

A fish? I mouth to Charlie; he sighs looking back up at our standing friend.

“She said and I quote ‘que te folle un pez espada 1 ’ like who the hell says that to a parent?! I should give her a piece of my mind.” Derek huffs, bawling his fists as he circles the living room.

Charlie is the first to stand, he pulls Derek back down to the couch as I make my way to the gaming console under the TV, turning it on.

“Would it be bad if I said it turned me on a little?” Derek asks sheepishly as I hand both him and Charlie a controller. I chuckle at the question, turning on a multiplayer game.

“Just means you’re human.” I smile.

“But just because you’re horny doesn’t mean you should go out fucking random fish. Stick to one fish and one fish only. Be a one fish man.” Charlie butts in, popping some chips into his mouth.

Derek gasps, “You want me to actually fuck a fish? ”

I roll my eyes at Derek and sigh, placing down the controller because there’s just one fish in my sea, and I can’t shake the fact that she might just be in trouble.

1. Que te folle un pez espada - fuck a swordfish (screw you) (Spanish