“We’re not together,” her voice was small. “It wasn’t cheating… at least I don’t think. It just… hurt to watch.”
That was a slap in the face. I didn’t know what she wanted. One minute she was all over me, and the next I was just a friend.
“You’re so unclear on what you want,” I snapped.
“My thoughts have been pretty clear, Max,” she deadpanned, looking me straight in the eye with a cold, callous glare.
We had always been able to read each other’s thoughts. But not this time. She was so hot and cold. I had no idea what she was thinking these days. I mean, I had to basically read her damn journal to see how she really felt about me.
The heat in my face grew as my anger started to boil over. I’ll admit, I was a hot head. I struggled with my anger issues. When I was drunk? All bets were off.
I snapped.
“I’m not a mind reader. Tell me you fucking want me. Use your words like a big girl.”
She blinked as if I’d crossed a line, and maybe I had. But I didn’t care. I saw the fire ignite in her eyes. Trouble was stubborn, fiercely independent, and hated being bossed around. Whenever she felt challenged, her fire emerged.
I saw it now: a quiet determination set her features, her jaw tightening, her eyes blazing as she took one step towards me.
“If you talk to me like that again, I’m going to grab your balls and squeeze them so hard you’re going to squeal like a pig,” she said with the bitchiest tone of voice I had heard from her this summer.
And I was fucking into it. This was the Trouble I wanted.
“Mmm. I’ll probably like that because I’ve been imagining your hands on my balls every goddamn minute of the day.”
Her mouth twisted. “Not happening. Whatever this was? Over.”
“You think so?” I let out a short laugh. “Good. I can finally be put out of my misery then.”
My voice was loud, really loud, and I was matching her drunken sway with my own. I looked around us. It was dark, themoonlight beaming down on us. I instinctively took one step towards her, trying to shield her.
She was quiet, not saying anything, but I could see her bottom lip trembling. I started to pace. I wanted to be more romantic in my words to her, but I was fucking pissed, actually.
“I know it’s not fair. But I can’t help it,” I looked over at her, watching her body tremble, shake, as she held back the tears. “I look at you and wonder what he got from you that you won’t give me. Why won’t you give it to me? I’ve loved you since I was twelve years old. What the fuck else do you want from me?”
“You love me? You love me so much; you hacked into my life and have been fucking Heather behind my back?” she snapped. “Because I still can’t get it out of my head. Her mouth on yours. Or the way you sat there and let the whole fucking circle think you got head at some party like you were proud of it. How many times has Heather sucked your dick?”
I gritted my teeth. First off, I couldn’t believe these words were coming out of her mouth. Secondly? I was so fucking done with her thinking I was interested in anyone else. And lastly? Her fighting with me was turning me the fuck on.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I growled, stepping so close our bodies nearly collided. “You think you’re some innocent angel? You bragged about cumming on someone’s face. You think I didn’t picture him when you said it? You think that didn’t gut me?”
Her jaw dropped. Her eyes flashed, wounded and furious.
“It wasn’t supposed to hurt you.”
“Well, it did. Itreallyfucking hurt. Why did you say it?”
“Because you hurt me first! You let Heather kiss YOU!”
“I didn’t want that! She ambushed me. I told her to fuck off earlier.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” she shot back. “You looked like you wanted to.”
I ran my hand through my hair.
“I cannot believe you are still fucking doing this! I sleep next to you every single night. I protect you. I fight for you. I would burn this whole fucking world to the ground if anyone touched you, hurt you. I got a tattoo with you. I let the entire camp believe we’re together because you asked me to. I’ve kept your secret safe. I’ve been killing myself, telling you that I’m in love with you, that you are the love of my life, and you stand here and act as if none of it matters.”
Her voice broke as she shouted, “You think I’m not hurting? You think this didn’t gut me, too? You’re my best friend, Max! The only person I trusted.”
