“How could I not?” I say before letting out a hysterical laugh. “Of course, I hate you. You’ve brought me nothing but misery since the night we met, and now you’ve done something to one of my best friends. To someone I care about. Do you have no morals? No way to think rationally? Do you really think I’d be okay with this?” I wave between us. “I hate you, and I wish you hadn’t approached me that night.”
“You’re lying.”
I shake my head and automatically take a step backwards, but he follows me, pushing me further and further away from the trail and towards the forest.
“Deep down, you know you feel this thing between us. You feel a pull to me that you can’t keep denying, and I will keep going with this until you admit it. I don’t care if I have to break you, I’ll do it if it means I get to put the pieces back together to fit with mine.”
“You’re insane,” I whisper hoarsely, glancing around for help that I know won’t come.
I got myself into this mess, and it’s up to me to get myself out of it.
“You’re like a broken record, babe. You know I’m fucking certifiable when it comes to you.”
“How long until you take it a step too far? How long until you ruin the relationships I have because you don’t like me around other people? How long until you really hurt someone I care about? How long until you hurtme?”
He scoffs. “I’d never hurt you, love.”
“How the hell am I supposed to believe you?” I exclaim, my temper rising. “This entire time, all you’ve done is taunt me, trying to fuck with me and get a rise out of me. You enjoy these games. You enjoy messing with my head, and I can’t trust a word you say.”
There’s a terse silence between us before he murmurs, “You really want rid of me that much?”
I don’t know.
“Yes,” I answer automatically, and he nods slowly.
“Okay.”
Surely, he’s not agreeing to just drop this thing as easily as that, right? I figured he’d?—
“If you can get away unscathed, I’ll leave you alone.”
My brain screeches to a halt.
If I can get away unscathed…
“What does that mean?”
“It means you need to run, love. Because if I catch you, you’re mine.”
“R-run?” I ask, my voice wobbling and my brain struggles to catch up.
“Run.”
THIRTY
NOAH
Well tonight took an unexpected turn.
My girl is fiery as hell tonight, and now I get to play out one of my darkest fantasies.
I watch as Gracie’s eyes widen, fear and indecision written all over her face before determination quickly takes over and she makes a break for it.
Some part of her really must want this as much as I do, because instead of running in the direction of campus, she instead makes a beeline into the forest, making arousal curl in my gut.
Oh, this is going to befun.
I give her a few seconds head start before taking after her. Gracie might be in shape, but I’m a lot faster than her, which is I why I steady my pace into a leisurely jog, not wanting to catch her so soon.
