dangerously so, stupid for fighting for something he’ll never have. “Are you afraid of the competition?”
The gauntlet has been thrown down, and knowing Evan can’t resist a challenge, I instantly pipe up hoping to put an end to this ridiculous fight. “Ryan, there is no competition and there never will be. I’ve told you repeatedly how I feel about Evan. So despite what you seem to think, I’m with Evan because I want to be, because I love him.”
Evan kisses the side of my head then straightens back up, and says, “I think you’ve gotten your answer. If you really care about her, you’ll respect her decision.”
Ryan glances between the two of us several times before he shifts, looking down at his feet. “I am her friend.” His gaze returns to me, and he says, “I’ll see you around, Mallory.”
The pain I’ve caused him is written on his face, which makes me feel awful. I try to step forward, but Evan holds me firmly in place. Glancing at Evan, I see the plea in his eyes to stay. I do, but I say, “I’m sorry, Ryan,” while he’s still within earshot.
He stops, looking over his shoulder, a small smile crossing his face when his eyes connect with mine. “I understand.” He turns and leaves the bar.
“Go to the bathroom and I’ll check out that cut,” Evan says, breathing into my hair while directing me toward the small hall where the restrooms are located. Inside, I lean forward over the sink and look at the scrape in the mirror. Evan gets a paper towel and wets it then dabs my skin. He hands me the towels, but continues rubbing his finger close to the cut. He rests against the counter, not bothered at all that he’s in the women’s restroom. “That’s the same place you hurt your head in Oahu. Are you okay?” His concern is evident. “I don’t think you’ll need stitches.”
“I’ll be fine.” My heart hurts just looking at him. He shouldn’t be dealing with my past and here it is hitting him square in the face with insults everywhere he turns.
There’s no humor in his tone when he asks, “Is your life always this exciting?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing,” I reply, taking a long look at him. “You’re upset. You have every right to be. I’m sorry.” The atmosphere feels thick with tension, an argument of what we both want to say brewing beneath the surface.
“I don’t want you to apologize. I want to understand what’s going on with those assholes out there. Are you close to them?”
“No, not like you’re thinking. I’m working on a project for one of my classes with them. Sarah does too. I’ve hung out with Ryan but you knew every time. He knows we’re together.”
There’s silence as he watches me continue to pat the small cut, but then he says, “Guys only wanna fuck you. If Noah didn’t prove that point back in Hawaii, tonight should.”
The door opens and a girl walks in, but when we turn to look at her, she backs out and says, “I’ll use the men’s.”
The interruption gives a much needed reprieve from the tension.
I try to temper the fight I feel looming between us. “Evan, because a guy flirts with me doesn’t mean I’ll fall for it. You don’t have to fight the world to protect me.”
“That asshole had his hands all over you and you what? Expect me to let him get away with it? Did you hear the shit he was saying?”
When I reach over and touch his chest, his body is hard, heavy with the burdens of our long-distance relationship before he slips away from me. “You can’t be friends with every guy you meet, Mallory. You think you’re being nice, but it’s gonna fuck us up.” Pacing, his agitation is obvious in his every movement.
My hands grip the counter behind my back as I lean against it watching him. “Are you telling me I can’t be friends with men?”
“No.” He stops in front of me. “I’m not threatening you. You can be friends with who you choose to be, but the reality is this whole night could’ve
The gauntlet has been thrown down, and knowing Evan can’t resist a challenge, I instantly pipe up hoping to put an end to this ridiculous fight. “Ryan, there is no competition and there never will be. I’ve told you repeatedly how I feel about Evan. So despite what you seem to think, I’m with Evan because I want to be, because I love him.”
Evan kisses the side of my head then straightens back up, and says, “I think you’ve gotten your answer. If you really care about her, you’ll respect her decision.”
Ryan glances between the two of us several times before he shifts, looking down at his feet. “I am her friend.” His gaze returns to me, and he says, “I’ll see you around, Mallory.”
The pain I’ve caused him is written on his face, which makes me feel awful. I try to step forward, but Evan holds me firmly in place. Glancing at Evan, I see the plea in his eyes to stay. I do, but I say, “I’m sorry, Ryan,” while he’s still within earshot.
He stops, looking over his shoulder, a small smile crossing his face when his eyes connect with mine. “I understand.” He turns and leaves the bar.
“Go to the bathroom and I’ll check out that cut,” Evan says, breathing into my hair while directing me toward the small hall where the restrooms are located. Inside, I lean forward over the sink and look at the scrape in the mirror. Evan gets a paper towel and wets it then dabs my skin. He hands me the towels, but continues rubbing his finger close to the cut. He rests against the counter, not bothered at all that he’s in the women’s restroom. “That’s the same place you hurt your head in Oahu. Are you okay?” His concern is evident. “I don’t think you’ll need stitches.”
“I’ll be fine.” My heart hurts just looking at him. He shouldn’t be dealing with my past and here it is hitting him square in the face with insults everywhere he turns.
There’s no humor in his tone when he asks, “Is your life always this exciting?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing,” I reply, taking a long look at him. “You’re upset. You have every right to be. I’m sorry.” The atmosphere feels thick with tension, an argument of what we both want to say brewing beneath the surface.
“I don’t want you to apologize. I want to understand what’s going on with those assholes out there. Are you close to them?”
“No, not like you’re thinking. I’m working on a project for one of my classes with them. Sarah does too. I’ve hung out with Ryan but you knew every time. He knows we’re together.”
There’s silence as he watches me continue to pat the small cut, but then he says, “Guys only wanna fuck you. If Noah didn’t prove that point back in Hawaii, tonight should.”
The door opens and a girl walks in, but when we turn to look at her, she backs out and says, “I’ll use the men’s.”
The interruption gives a much needed reprieve from the tension.
I try to temper the fight I feel looming between us. “Evan, because a guy flirts with me doesn’t mean I’ll fall for it. You don’t have to fight the world to protect me.”
“That asshole had his hands all over you and you what? Expect me to let him get away with it? Did you hear the shit he was saying?”
When I reach over and touch his chest, his body is hard, heavy with the burdens of our long-distance relationship before he slips away from me. “You can’t be friends with every guy you meet, Mallory. You think you’re being nice, but it’s gonna fuck us up.” Pacing, his agitation is obvious in his every movement.
My hands grip the counter behind my back as I lean against it watching him. “Are you telling me I can’t be friends with men?”
“No.” He stops in front of me. “I’m not threatening you. You can be friends with who you choose to be, but the reality is this whole night could’ve
Similar Books
