The Friends We Keep(12)
The rugby players were faltering, the ringleader not knowing how much of what Topher had just said was true. One thing was certain, Topher wasn’t scared, and they weren’t used to people not being scared.
“Not the left side? I understand. It’s actually not my best side anyway. Give me a good blow on the right side. I’m very delicate. I’ll almost certainly have a huge black eye within minutes, and the police will definitely want it to look as bad as possible. I have high cheekbones, so if you can break one, that would be great. It makes for a much better story in the press.” Topher craned his neck as the rugby player stood, seemingly trying to figure out what to do next without screwing himself over one way or the other.
“You fucking pansy,” he said eventually, putting his fists down. “You’re not worth my time. I might catch something nasty.”
“He’s probably got AIDS,” called one of his mates as both Evvie and Maggie took a sharp intake of breath.
“You know you can catch AIDS by having someone infected breathe on you,” said Topher. “You didn’t know that? Oh my God, how close were you standing to me?”
“What the fuck is going on in here?”
The crowd parted as Evil Ben walked into the room from next door, going straight up to the ringleader. “Pete Jesperson, isn’t it? What are you up to?”
Suddenly the ringleader glanced away, embarrassed, as Evil Ben looked around at them. “Damien Scanlon. Oliver Franklin. Ryan McDonald.” The rugby players seemed to shrink in front of their eyes, mumbling and looking at the ground.
“You know who I am, and you know that your coach is one of my best mates. I’m going to phone him tonight and tell him exactly what I’ve seen here. First of all, I want an apology to these freshers. Secondly, I want you to pony up some money so I can pay back my regular who you stole a drink from. I don’t ever want to see or hear of any of this kind of behavior again. You’re all leaving right now and going back home. Is that understood?”
The boys mumbled, and nodded.
Pete didn’t meet any of them in the eye, but he handed Ben a fiver and then glanced at Topher with a mumble under his breath. “Really sorry I was rude.”
“You weren’t just rude,” said Ben. “You need to apologize for being a real asshole.”
“Really sorry I was an asshole,” muttered Pete.
“And to Evvie.” Maggie stepped forward. “They were all sexually and racially offensive to her.”
“I’m really sorry I was sexually and racially offensive,” the big one said, not meeting Evvie’s eye.
“And to me,” said Maggie.
“Really sorry we called you a minger.”
Evil Ben shook his head in disgust. “Go on. Get out of here.”
The boys left, and the entire pub exhaled in relief, the whole place having been holding its breath since the moment they walked in.
“Are you all okay?” Evil Ben looked at Evvie, then at Maggie and Topher.
“Oh my God, thank you so much,” said Maggie. “My heart’s still beating like a lunatic. I got really scared for a minute there. I don’t know if they would have backed down, although, Topher, you were amazing.”
“I need a drink,” said Topher, not looking quite so brave now that it was all over. He held out his hand, which was shaking like a leaf, his face as white as a sheet.
“Are you okay?” Maggie asked.
“I just . . . That was frightening. When he pushed me I was . . .” He blinked back tears, and Maggie shot a look at Evvie, unsure what to do.
“Do you need a hug?” asked Evvie.
Topher shook his head, taking a deep breath that seemed to help him recover not only his composure, but his humor. “I swear to God.” His voice was a little less shaky. “I would have fucking killed them if they’d broken my cheekbone. Thank God I’m studying theater, is all I can say. I think I deserve an Oscar for that particular performance.”
“What about you?” Evil Ben looked at Evvie. “You all right? You should have come to get me as soon as they came in.”
I should have, thought Evvie, even though Evil Ben was the absolute last person she would ever turn to for help.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “And thank you.”
“It’s my job,” he said, turning to leave, without so much as a smile. Evvie looked at Maggie, who seemed sad as they watched him go back into the other room.
“He hates me,” said Evvie. “And you know what? We didn’t even need him. Topher, you were amazing and they were already backing off. I’m not giving that asshole Evil Ben a second of the glory here. This was you, Topher. All you.”
“Mostly me,” Topher said. “Although I have to be really honest. I didn’t get what Maggie was talking about before, but . . .” He shrugged regretfully. “That Ben is sexy. He’s not very friendly, but he’s got that whole taking-care-of-you thing going on.”
“He did not take care of us. You took care of us.”
“I don’t know. I felt safe as soon as he appeared,” Topher said.
“I know, right?” Maggie’s eyes were alight. “I think I may love him. He’s our knight in shining armor. And I think he may be my perfect man.”