“Yeah, I respect your wishes. If you would’ve told me to stop at any point, I would have.”
We’re driving down the road now, completely ignoring one another. The ride is silent the whole way home. When we get back to the apartment, it’s empty. Brad left a note on the kitchen: Got a hot date. Be back late. Don’t wait up.
I roll my eyes when I see that, immediately pissed because I was hoping to use him as a buffer.
But I think I’ve angered Deven enough for her to leave me alone for a little while. She hasn’t spoken to me since the truck.
She walks into the kitchen, dressed in a skintight, black minidress and sky-high heels.
“Where are you going dressed like that?” I ask, suddenly amused.
“I’m going out. If you don’t want to be with me, I’ll find someone who does. Maybe he’ll fuck me in a dark parking lot too,” she shoots back, grabbing her purse off the table.
I reach down and catch her arm, holding it tight so she can’t pull it away. Using my other hand, I take the purse from her hand and drop it onto the top of the table. She looks at me with curious eyes, but she doesn’t open her mouth to protest.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I tell her, stepping closer and causing her to step back. “You’re acting like a spoiled fucking brat right now. You’re not going to go out and do something you’ll regret later. Haven’t you learned your lesson already?”
I have her backed against the counter, her eyes locked on mine. I have a newsflash for her. I don’t do this give-me-attention bullshit. What we had, it was amazing and great, but things change. We have to be better. Doesn’t she see that? Can’t she see that I’m trying to be better, do right by her?
6
Deven
I know he’s right. This has been my thing for entirely way too long now. Don’t get your way, just act out. That’ll teach them. But it never does. It only ever teaches me. But I can’t say how much I learn from it. I keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. This time, I’m not fighting to go to a party or to drink or do drugs. This time, I’m fighting for a man, a good man, the best man. He’s not like the useless thugs I’ve dated in the past. When you find something good, do you roll over and let it go, or do you fight for it?
I jerk my arm out of his grasp, but I can’t go anywhere. He has me backed up into the corner of the counter. I take a deep, calming breath.
“I’m not acting like a spoiled brat because I’m not getting my way,” I tell him. “I’m pissed because for once in my life, I made the right decision. Can’t you see that? I fell for a guy who’s good, who works hard, and would never treat me badly. For once, I’m not chasing after a loser who will cheat on me or hit me or verbally abuse me. The one time in my life I make the right decision, I’m still stuck with disappointment because the right choice is too afraid to take things further with me. You don’t want me. If you did, nothing would be able to stop you.” I take a step forward, my anger propelling me. He steps back but keeps his eyes on mine. “You’ll never understand how it feels to finally, for once in your whole existence, make the best choice possible, only to be pushed aside like every other guy has done.”
“I’m not pushing you aside. I didn’t use you and throw you away. I’m respecting your brother’s wishes.”
I shrug. “We’re in different seats, but the view is still the same.”
He clamps his mouth shut, grinding his teeth together, making his angular jaw flex. “Goddamn it,” he breathes out, hanging his head and pinching his nose between his eyes. When he looks back up at me, I see a fire raging in his eyes that I haven’t ever seen. Without warning, he pulls me against him, his lips crushing mine. My heart begins to pound loudly in my ears. The sound of blood rushing through my body is the only sound I can hear.
My arms move up, wrapping around his neck as I double the speed of our kiss. I kiss him hard, full of passion and