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Clay - Wednesday

“Any news yet?” Dylan asked, sitting down on the bench next to me while we both took a break after completing our drills.

I glanced down at my phone and shook my head as we watched the rest of the guys on the team still going.

Peyton had been back in Vermont for a few days now, and I knew that today was the day she had her doctor’s appointment. In fact, she was probably in the office right now, I thought to myself, noticing the time.

“Not yet, but she told me she’d message me right away once the appointment was over.”

“How did the other night go?” Dylan questioned, squirting water into his mouth.

Dylan and I had talked in the car the other night when he’d driven me home after the game. He was going to come in, have some food, and talk a little more about how I should go about breaking the news to Knox. I firmly believed I should be the one to tell him. As I’d told Peyton, I’d take his hits, I’d take his words, and then I’d prove to him I was there for her. She shouldn’t be the one to shoulder the brunt of that. Dylan had apparently devised a plan, but then we’d found Peyton in the hall, so he’d left. I had mentioned nothing about how things had gone between the two of us.

“Went well. I made sure I let her know I wanted to be part of things. Then she spent the night at my place. I am worried though. I’m not sure what sort of guys she’s been with, but it bothered me she was more nervous just to lie in my arms than she was the first time we’d slept together. She admitted to me she wasn’t used to being with someone in that capacity, where they didn’t want sex. Makes me wonder if Knox even knows the type of guys she’s been with.”

“Probably not, or maybe he does. I can’t say. All I know is that he’s fought with her frequently to get her away from the ones she’d been dating. Which makes me think he knows the truth about how she’d been being treated. Although I’d have thought that these guys would be a little worse for wear.”

“No doubt.”

Dylan cleared his throat just as the guys came off the ice, all piling into the area. I glanced at my phone again, anticipation building inside of me.

“Harris, what the hell is so important?” Coach Thompkins questioned, as he stood in front of us, prepared to give us one of his usual lectures. “You haven’t stopped looking at that damn thing all morning, which is why they aren’t supposed to be at practice.”

The guys all turned and looked in my direction. They all waited as I shifted on the bench, the conversation I’d started the other night surely in the forefront of their minds.

“Just hypothetically speaking, of course,” Colton said, causing them all to chuckle.

“Sorry, coach, I’m just waiting for some news.”

“What sort of news?” Levi questioned. “Hypothetical news or actual news?”

Each one of them was now watching me, trying not to laugh as I glanced at them, then cleared my throat again before taking a drink of water.

“I’m waiting to find out if I’m going to be a father,” I muttered.

It was then I felt a pat on the shoulder and looked up to see Knox standing behind me.

“Congratulations, man. I did not know. I mean, after the conversation the other night, I’ll admit I was wondering, but seriously, that’s fantastic. Who’s the lucky lady?”

All the guys looked at me, waiting for me to answer. Instead, I just shrugged.

“I’m going to wait to announce that once I know for a fact that it’s happening.”

“Alright, fair enough,” Knox muttered.

“Okay, well, Harris, congrats. Now, men, let’s get down to business,” Coach Thompkins said, waiting while we all took a seat.

I’d just left the treatment room after having a massage and was on my way back to the locker room, where I planned to take a hot shower. I’d checked my phone before my appointment and again the moment the therapist had left the room, but there was still nothing from Peyton.

I was starting to worry as I entered the locker room; the place was quiet. I walked over to my locker and began pulling out my stuff for my shower when my phone finally went off. I grabbed it and relief flooded me when I saw Peyton’s name. Opening our chat, I read her message.

PEYTON: Sorry the Doctor was running behind. I wanted to let you know that the test results were correct. I’m approximately four weeks along. Call me tonight when you are home after the game. I have to run to school to see about getting a transfer and then get into work for a meeting with my boss, besides I know you are probably at the arena.

I was about to respond when the door to the locker room opened and in walked Knox and the rest of the guys. Immediately, I shut my phone down and dumped it into my locker.

“Well, big guy…any news?” Knox questioned, smiling.

I turned around and met Dylan’s gaze. The rest of the guys were already digging through their lockers, and he subtly shook his head. I could tell from the look on his face he was warning me that now probably wasn’t the best time to say anything, but for whatever reason, I didn’t heed his warning. I really needed to get this out in the open because it was literally killing me to be lying to one of my best friends.

“Knox, we need to talk.”

The rest of the guys froze and slowly turned around, looking in my direction as Knox stopped what he was searching for in his bag and glanced over his shoulder at me.

“What for?” he questioned, a smile on his face that slowly washing away the longer he looked at me.

The guys all froze to their spots as they stared at the pair of us.

“Why exactly should we talk, Clay?” he questioned, straightening up to his full height, turning his body to me.

I struggled to find my words as he stared at me. No one ever could grasp how Knox could be one of the scariest guys on the team until they were in my position. Then and only then would they understand.

“I asked you a question,” he said, crossing his arms.

I looked around the room, praying something would come to my mind to ease the tension in the room. I wanted to say something lighthearted and funny, but again, I came up with nothing.

“Knox, I…”

It was then his eyes grew wide, and he dropped his arms, his fists clenching at his sides. “So help you…” He yelled, “PEYTON?”

The guys all watched in horror as Knox crossed the room and grabbed hold of me by the shirt. I couldn’t deny it, and I wasn’t about to fight one of my best friends. I’d done the deed, and just like I’d told Peyton, I’d take the lumps that were to come with it if need be. Apparently, they need be.

“Oh hell, is he going to kill him?” I heard Levi mutter. “What do we do?”

The room was silent as Knox stared at me, his arm cocked back, ready to beat me.

“It’s Peyton.”

“God, you fucker,” Knox said through clenched teeth, his jaw tighter than I’d ever seen it. “How could you do this?”

“Knox, before you get angry—”

“Little too late for that, don’t you think?” he gritted.

“Look, I didn’t mean for it to happen. In fact, I was only trying to save her from making a huge mistake,” I said, looking him directly in the eyes.

I wasn’t lying. That was all I’d intended to do. To save her from getting with that guy, and I’d accomplished that, but I’d also accomplished the results that I now faced, and while I’d had no intention of doing that, it had somehow happened.

“You didn’t mean for it to happen?” he repeated, staring at me.

“Exactly. I didn’t mean for it to happen the first time, and I certainly didn’t expect for it to happen again.”

“Exactly how many times has it happened ?” he asked, emphasizing the word it.

I wasn’t sure I should answer that now that I knew he’d heard us in Vermont.

“Wait a minute…”

I could see that Knox had already figured it out. I didn’t need to say another word.

“Knox…” I mumbled.

“You mean to tell me it was her I listened to moan and cry that night in Vermont as you banged the hell out of her?” he yelled, frantic.

He gripped my shirt tighter, and I already knew there was no getting it out it, his fist was coming directly for my face. Then I felt the hit, and another.

“Grab him!” I heard someone shout as Knox let go of my shirt and I fell against the lockers.

A searing pain ripped through my ribs as Knox kicked me in the side, taking my breath away.

I was expecting another hit but heard a scuffle and Knox swearing to let him go. I opened my eyes and saw Dylan and Colton holding Knox up against the lockers. Levi and Lucas came over to me and helped me up off the floor.

“Knox, calm down. Don’t do something you’re going to regret,” Dylan said, holding his arm.

“Yeah, man, it’s not worth it. Let’s just get out of here and calm you down,” Colton added.

“Dylan, Colton, let go of me and stay the hell out of it! He’s getting what he deserves—”

“I won’t stay out of it. Clay seriously didn’t mean for this to happen. He’s taking it seriously…and he’s trying to do what is right.”

“Oh right, the playboy, the manwhore of the group, is taking this seriously. Right!” Knox yelled. It was then he realized what Dylan was saying and stopped, looking over at him. “How do you know he’s taking it seriously?” he questioned, thinking it through. “Wait, you knew?” he questioned.

Dylan looked at Colton but said nothing. He just stood there, staring back at Knox.

“You fucking knew, and you didn’t come to me? What about you, Colton, did you know too?”

“I know shit,” Colton said, holding his hands up.

Knox turned back to Dylan, shoving him in the chest, throwing him right into the bank of lockers behind him, turning his sights on him instead of me.

“I did, but Clay asked me to keep it under wraps,” Dylan argued, trying not to be confrontational.

“What kind of fucking friend are you?” Knox yelled, glaring at Dylan. Then he turned and looked at me. “You…you’re dead to me, and don’t you even dare think about coming near me, or my family, especially Peyton, ever again? Do so and you’ll find the fuck out. I should have your ass kicked right off this fucking team for what you’ve done…”

He whipped around, slamming his locker door shut and took off out of the room. The entire room was quiet as we all stood there looking at one another, the tension still thick in the air.