One of the Boys

Chapter 16

Christopher

I wasn't lying to her when I said I knew how scared she was about stuff like that happening, I knew because she told me that. And I also wasn't lying when I said I had enough of it and did my part as her teammate and stepped in after he went after her. I guess adjusting to this change is working out for me, maybe a little more than I bargained for because now I think I'm really starting to fall for this girl.

"Santiago! You coming or what?" Jack asked standing on the stairs that lead to outside of the bus. "Yeah, yeah I'm coming!" I say getting up out of my seat and walking down the empty aisles of the bus.

"You fall asleep in there man or what?" Jack asked clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Nah, just caught up in my mind." I reply as the team walked in front of me. "You weren't caught up about Delaney now were you?" Riley whispered looking at me with raised eyebrows.

I shook my head letting out a nervous chuckle. "Haha, no." I reply. "You liar, I knew it!" He replied as we approached the door to the roadhouse restaurant for dinner. I roll my eyes walking inside before he asks. "You like her, don't you?" I stay silent and look around the restaurant before answering.

"I mean I ... I think I do but." I say as Riley stops me in place. "Chris, I know you and I can see it just by how you've talked to me about her, stuck up for her and care for her. Actions speak louder than words man and I know you're still trying to get used to having her on the team. So keep holding up your end of the promise you made me. I'm rooting for you bro, always." Riley says as I look down at my feet.

"Is it that obvious?" I ask letting out a sigh. "Only to me because I'm you're best friend and maybe to Morgan too but that's because she's your sister, she catches onto things like that pretty fast." Riley replies with a smile.

******
When Riley and I get to the table in the party room, the guys are already having a beer and ordering their food. "Hey, there you guys are! We thought you got lost on your way in!" Casey exclaims as we took the two empty seats in front of him.

"Nah, we were just getting some air before coming in." I lie. "Well, we ordered you a drink and we got some nachos to split for this end of the table." Casey replies. "Thanks man." Riley smiled before bringing the glass to his lips. "Lane, what you drinking?" I hear Riley ask. "Just an iced tea." She replies.

"Hey, you think you could teach us how to do that spin-o-Rama trick one time? Cause that's was a pretty dirty goal you scored tonight!" Casey asks. Delaney nods before taking a sip from her glass. "I can try but I'm not sure if you guys could keep up with me." She says.

Ouch! She just chirped us and doesn't even give a damn. But I guess that's part of being on a team full of guys for so many years. You've got to find ways to joke around and fit in to show them that you're meant to see where you are.

"Oh we'll see about that!" Jason exclaims just as our food arrives. The waiter places the plate of nachos in the middle of the table as we take the small plates and pass them around.

Once the waiter moves along the table, the five of us begin to dig in. "Oh my god, this looks so good." Delaney says putting some on her plate.

******

"Oh my god I'm so full!" Riley exclaimed once we had finished eating. " I don't think I can even look at another plate of food right now I'm so full, I might explode!" Delaney replies. We sit around at the table talking about hockey and some other things before we hear a phone start to ring. Delaney looks down to her small bag that was sitting next to her and pulls her phone out. "Sorry guys, I'll be right back. Just going to step outside and take this call. It's my mom." She says slipping out of the booth and making her way out of the restaurant.

"Dude, I still can't believe that guy wouldn't stop going after you all game." Casey says breaking the silence at our end of the table. "Yeah then he goes out there and goes after Delaney in the third, chirping at her and shoving her almost head first into the boards." Jason said as I lean both elbows on the table. "Yeah and if you wouldn't have stepped in to hold me back when you did, who knows what would have happened!" I reply.

The conversation continues and I look around the restaurant to see if Delaney was heading back to the table. When I don't see her I turn back and look at the guys. "Hey, you think someone should check on Delaney? She's been gone for a while." I say gaining their attention. "Yeah, she's been gone for almost 10'minutes now." Casey says as Jason begins to slide out from the booth.

"I'll go see if she's okay. I'll be back." He says and suddenly out of nowhere, I find myself standing up from my seat. The feeling in my stomach turning for calm and relaxed to worried, feeling that something might be wrong. "Here I'll come with you. You know, just in case." I say as he nods and we're both zig zagging through the restaurant to get out.

When we get outside, Jason and I don't see her anywhere. "Delaney?" "Dels where are you?" Jason shouts as we frantically search the sidewalk. "Wait Jace, do you hear that?" I ask freezing in place when I hear a female voice shouting a plea for help.

"Yeah, Yeah it sounds like it's coming from over here!" Jason replies before he begins to run down the side of the building as I trail not to far behind him.

"Hey!" Jason shouts out when he sees a tall tattooed guy with long hair gripping onto Delaney with all his strength. The guy turns his head in our direction as does Delaney. I keep my eyes locked on Delaney's fearful ones as Jason and I pick up our pace to intervene.

"What do you think you're doing pal? Get your filthy hands off of her!" Jason spits out in anger, pushing the guy away from Delaney. "I just wanted to have a little fun man. No big deal!" The guy slurs.

Oh for fuck sakes! Is this asshole for real right now? There's no way in hell he's getting away with this! He's drunk and can barely walk a straight line! Does he even know who he's messing with? Jason's Delaney's best friend and our teammate, I've gotta step in here and help them out.

"That's it!" I exclaim in rage as I'm tackling the guy to the ground, throwing punches left, right and centre. I look back for a quick second to see Jason holding Delaney close to comfort her as she cries into his chest before I'm back to throwing a few more punches.

"You're lucky I didn't do even more damage!" I say through gritted teeth as the guy lays there on the ground. I stare at him as he begins to crawl back and gets up, running his drunken ass down the dark alley way.

"Did he hurt you or do anything to you at all?" Jason asks running his hand up and down her back. "No-No he just used a lot of force on my wrists when he had me pinned to the wall." Delaney sobs. "Shh it's okay, you're safe now Dels. Chris scared him off and we aren't gonna leave you." He says to her softly.