Page 90 of Offside Attraction
“Fuck you,” Tripp says, and I chuckle, knowing I’ve successfully gotten under his skin. But then he smirks, leaningin slightly. ”Who was the guy you were talking with by your locker?”
“Zach? We play hockey together. What about him?”
“You wanna talk about your love triangle then? You know, Hayes andZach.” His grin widens, and he arches an eyebrow, giving me a look that’s way too smug for my liking.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I reply flatly, my tone clipped, leaving no room for argument. But Tripp, being Tripp, doesn’t back down.
“Oh, come on, Dakota,” he says, his grin turning downright mischievous. “You’ve got Hayes all broody and territorial, and Zach practically drooling over you just a few minutes ago. It’s like watching a drama unfold in real-time. Honestly, I’m kind of impressed.”
“There’s no drama,” I say, grabbing my pen and focusing intently on my notebook, pretending like his words aren’t getting under my skin. “You’re imagining things.”
“Am I?” Tripp leans back in his chair, crossing his arms as if settling in for the long haul. “Because from where I was standing, Hayes looked ready to murder Zach. And don’t even get me started on the way Zach acted around you. If that’s not a love triangle, I don’t know what is.”
I roll my eyes, determined not to let him get to me. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You do know there’s nothing wrong with being gay, right?” Tripp says, his tone casual but pointed. The words hit me harder than I expect, and I pause, my pen still in my hand, before slowly looking up at him.
We may not have known each other for a long time, but Tripp is great and he’s my friend, but not once have I come out to Tripp. It’s not that I’m ashamed of who I am. I’ve made my peace with that part of myself. I just… didn’t think he cared enough to talk about my sexuality. Tripp has always been the laid-back type, the guy who’s more interested in joking around than getting deep. More like a defense mechanism to him. I didn’t expect this from him, and now I’m not sure what to say.
“I know that, Tripp,”
He shrugs, his gaze steady and without judgment. “Great. Just putting it out there. I mean I see the way you look at Hayes. And maybe the way Zach looks at you. I just figured it was worth saying, you know, in case you needed to hear it. You’re my friend, Dakota. I don’t care who you like or don’t like.”
“Can we not talk about this stuff right now? Maybe later?” I say, risking a glance at the topic of this conversation sitting on the other side of the classroom, his gaze fixed on his phone. I don’t want someone over hearing I may have a thing for Hayes.
Hayes may use it against me. He’s good at it. Also, he already knows I may still have a thing for him after all these years. The last thing I want to do right now is feed his ego.
“Cool,” he says with an easy smile, like we just talked about the weather. “But if you ever want to talk about stuff like that, I’m here.”
“Sure. But for what it’s worth, I’m bi.”
“Cool,” he grins at me and I shake my head and roll my eyes. “So, what’s the deal? Are you leaning toward the broody ex-bully who can’t seem to figure out his feelings, or the charming teammate who flirts with you like it’s his job?”
“Neither,” I snap, a little too quickly, and Tripp’s smirk grows even wider.
“Sure, keep telling yourself that,” he says, clearly enjoying this way too much. “But for the record, my money’s on Hayes. Guy looks like he’d set the world on fire just to keep you warm.”
“Classy metaphor,” I mutter, trying not to let his words get to me.
“What can I say? I’m a poet at heart,” Tripp says with a mock bow. “But seriously, Dakota, maybe it’s time you figured out what you want. Just saying.”
I don’t respond, turning my attention back to my notebook and pretending like I’m not replaying his words in my head. Because as much as I hate to admit it, Tripp might actually have a point.
Ms. Aldridge walks in, clutching her ever-present coffee cup and a stack of papers. She sets them down on her desk with a sigh and pushes her glasses up her nose. “Alright, settle down, everyone. Today we’re continuing our discussion of The Count of Monte Cristo. I hope you all came prepared.”
She paces to the front of the room, glancing around before her gaze lands on me. “Dakota, why don’t you start us off? What do you think motivates Edmond Dantès throughout the novel?”
Is she kidding me? Why do I have to be the one to go first?
I can feel Hayes’s gaze on me, like a heat I can’t escape. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch him leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. He’s waiting for me to stumble, I just know it.
Clearing my throat, I shift in my seat and glance at Ms. Aldridge. “Uh… I think Dantès is motivated by revenge, mostly,” I start, my voice more hesitant than I’d like. “You know, getting back at the people who betrayed him. He’s so consumed by it that it becomes his entire purpose. It drives everything he does, but it also isolates him from the person he used to be.”
Ms. Aldridge nods, looking pleased. “Good. Well done, Dakota. And do you think that’s a strength or a flaw?”
“A flaw,” I answer quickly. “It makes him lose sight of what’s really important.”
Before Ms. Aldridge can respond, another voice cuts in from across the room. “A flaw? Really?” Hayes turns in his chair,smirking. “So you think he should’ve just forgiven the people who ruined his life and moved on?”