Sure, I hated those creamer cups. Hazelnut wasnota good flavor. But in a way, Hiro was right. They were a coping mechanism. My contingency when shit went to hell. A reminder of survival. Were they basically useless? Yes. Did they make me feel like I had my life together just in case? Also yes.
So actually,no, they weren’t a coping mechanism. They were liquid hugs.
And he’d just taken them away.
The sharp sound of snapping brought my eyes up. “Are you even listening to me?” Hiro said, thumb and finger strumming against each other right in front of my face.
“Say something useful if you want me to pay attention,” I barked, turning away to show him my back.
We were almost to my place, thankfully. I knew because the buildings were getting older and closer together. The sidewalks were somehow grungier, and the people walking on them looked like they were just trying to get through the day.
“Don’t be like that, Pip,” Hiro said, dropping a hand on my shoulder.
I shrugged it off.
“All right, you’re mad. You made your point.” He spoke quietly, but there was a frustrated edge to his voice. Like my ignoring him somehow bothered him.
Good.But if it was really good, why was my stomach in knots and my chest so tight it hurt?
“Turn around,” he said, but I ignored that too.
The driver turned onto my street. I thought the sight of home would make the pressure inside me ease, but it only made it worse.
I put my hand on the door handle, ready to eject myself the moment the car stopped.
“Rett,” Hiro snapped, clearly at the end of his patience.
I flinched when he caught my shoulder and pulled me around. He jerked like I’d burned him, holding up his hand, palm out. The look in his eyes was one of betrayal, as if I’d somehow hurt his feelings because I’d flinched.
I burst into tears.
Not the cutesy kind either. The embarrassing kind that caused a scrunched face and snot.
Hiro froze, panic transforming his face. I buried mine in my hands, trying to stop the sudden burst of emotion.
“Oh.Ohhhno. You’re crying. I don’t like crying.”
I cried harder, and the cab lurched to a stop. Sucking in a breath, I swiped my palms over my wet cheeks and reached for the door handle once more.
“Hey.” His voice was gentle this time, as was the hand that stopped me from yeeting myself out of the car in humiliation.
I was going to have to change my name. Assume a new identity.Never use creamer again.
That last one was the most unbearable.
“Pip,” Hiro cajoled, trying to draw me back.
Just the suggestion of comfort made me mad. Jolting, I spun to glare through squinty, wet eyes. “You just threw them away,” I accused. “Like they didn’t even matter. I offered you the only thing I had, and you pitched it out the window without even a backward glance.”
Realization and horror dawned over his face all at once. “Okay now,” he whispered, reaching for me.
I wrenched away, bolting out of the cab and nearly faceplanting on the sidewalk.
“Would you be careful?” he bellowed.
“I gave you a hug, and you threw it away!” I yelled and rushed toward my building. Okay, Itriedto rush, but my knee and ankles wanted to pretend they were turtles.
A bunch of muffled cursing erupted behind me, and I couldn’t help but glance back. Hiro was half out of the cab, phone in hand extended toward the driver.
