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I turned around and faced the wall, my shirt still clutched in one hand. Behind me, the cabin creaked as Dee crept closer. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to fight the tears. “Go the fuck away.”

“No.”

I laughed into the pillow. “Wonderful. Glad we’re respecting boundaries tonight.”

“You’re one to talk.”

That made me roll over. Darius stood beside my bunk. Arms crossed. Jaw tight. Looking pissed. At me. Fucking unbelievable.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“Oh, I heard you. I just wanted to make sure you actually had the fucking audacity.”

“You got naked, got in my face, and...” Darius made a jerking motion with his hand. Because even angry, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. “You know!”

“I was making a point.” I shrugged.

“You were trying to provoke me.”

“And?”

“And it was fucking immature.”

My mouth fell open. Then I smiled. Slowly. Dangerously. “You kissed Cindy.”

“Yes.” The answer came so easily that it knocked some of the fight out of me. Just for a second.

I swallowed. “So yes, ass-fuck, I’m allowed to be a little immature.” His jaw dropped like he was gonna say something. Probably make another bullshit excuse. I raised a hand to stop him. “No, it’s fine.”

“Clearly it isn’t.”

“It will be.” I turned away again. He reached over the top of the bunk and grabbed my shoulder. I shrugged him off. “Don’t fucking touch me, DeeDee.”

He let go. Fast. His voice dropping when he asked, “Let me see your hand, Alvin.”

“No. Fuck off.”

“Let me see it.”

I twisted around. “What part of fuck off was confusing?”

“The part where you think I’m gonna just ignore what you did.”

My stomach tightened. “You’ve ignored plenty,” I reminded him.

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“Because this is you hurting yourself.”

“What? Instead of you doing it for me?” I stared at him, and then I laughed. “You really want to have this conversation now? When we have each other’s precum on our pants?”

“Yes...”

“Okay then.” I sat up. “Where was all this concern when you spent half our childhood making me feel like you were afraid you might somehow catch my disease?”