“Sluts exist. Your friend Samantha’s a slut. You want to know what she told me? How she begged me to fuck her from behind?”
“Did you?”
“I did.” He licks gravy from his spoon. “She came like they all do. Like you did. You wanted more, didn’t you, Rain?”
“Yes, I wanted more. I wanted everything you had to give me. I wanted you inside of me.” I place my palms flat against the table.
“Oh shit,” he mumbles, caught off guard. He licks his lips and runs a hand through his hair, giving James a huge naughty smile. “Great dinner, huh?”
“Hmm,” James mutters, eyes narrowed at Kent. “If Raina moves out, so do I.”
Kent’s smile falls. “Rain’s not going anywhere. Are you?” His expression is slightly worried, yet he’s still very much an a-hole. “She won’t leave.”
“We can get an apartment together,” James suggests, looking at me.
I smile at him. “That would be great.”
“No!” Kent slams his fist on the table as if shouting isn’t enough. “Rain’s staying and so are you, you prick. Tell him, Rain. You’re not moving out. You’re not leaving me too.”
I open my mouth to deny him but his eyes are hectic. “I’m not moving out,” I assure them.
“We’re throwing her a party tonight. Call all your friends.” He grins. “Oh wait, I already live here.”
James gives him an evil look.
“I don’t want a party. I don’t need to drink again.”
“I like you better drunk. You’re fun.” He winks at me. “That tightness gave you away. I’ve never been with a girl that tight before. I bet it’d be mind-blowing to be inside of you.”
What a disgusting pig. “Can I invite whoever I want?”
His mouth thins. “Sure. Whoever you want. It’s your party.”
My brain screams at me. Another night of drinking? What’s wrong with you? Telling my brain to shove it, I employ James’s help with the dishes. Kent disappears to prepare for the party. A party I know is going to blow up in both our faces.
“Will you hang out tonight?” I ask James, tapping on his shoulder so he can see my mouth. “I think you owe me a dance for dinner.”
“I don’t know how to dance.”
“I’ll teach you.”
“Are you staying?” he asks, appearing sad.
I cross my heart. “I promise—if you dance with me.”
He grumbles.
I take it as a yes. When the dishes are done I head toward my room, noticing that Kent’s door is open and his deep voice carries into the hall.
“I can’t come home, Mom. I have school. Don’t worry about it. School’s fine. Yeah, no more drinking. Mhm, no more partying. No, I’m not dating anyone.” His voice changes. It becomes dark and hoarse. “I used to be, you remember her? How is Willow? Oh, that’s great to hear. Tell her I dream about wringing her neck when I sleep. Those are daydreams. You should hear about my nightmares. Why do you have to bring her up? You always bring her up. Do you have any idea what he took from me? Everything!” he erupts. “I can’t even fall for other girls because of her. I want to fall and then I remember the second I do they’re going to do the same thing to me. You’re so happy for him. I’m not coming home as long as those two are there. Yup. Love you too.”
I quickly duck into my bedroom before he finds me eavesdropping. What does his mother want him home for, and why would she want to put him anywhere near Willow? If a woman broke my son’s heart she’d better run, not come to dinner. Something bothers me about it, but we’re not in a talking kind of mood.
I sit on my bed and grab my phone, scrolling through my text messages for Trevor’s number. After hearing Kent talk about Willow I feel slightly evil for doing this, but not so evil I change my mind. How dare he talk to me that way after I spent the entire night taking care of him? He’s the one who said he wasn’t the right guy for me, and then he gets mad when I agree? What kind of logic was that? Probably the male kind.
I ignore a text from Becca.
Becca: Have you exploded yet?
She had no idea.
I find Trevor’s text, take a deep breath, and then do it.
Me: What are you doing tonight?
Trevor: Hopefully hanging out with you.
I quickly text back before I lose my cool. As I do my stomach turns and my hands tremble. This isn’t me.