I flipped out and punched the refrigerator in frustration. It creaked in response. My knuckles throbbed and I welcomed the pain. People around me were staring. Let them look, if they didn’t like it they could get the fuck out. There was only one person whose opinion I cared about and right now, she was upstairs with that backstabbing little shit.
I knew I had been a dick; showing up drunk at the hotel, but I had to talk to her. I should have spoken to her sooner, explained to her so she could understand why I couldn’t give her more. Told her the fucking truth about Rachel, but the fear of her reaction kept me away. She’d hate me if she knew the truth; if she knew what I had done. I should have said something though and not have let it go so long, but, goddammit I was torn. Rachel had me by the nut sac and Lee by another organ I didn’t know worked until she walked into my life.
Fuck, she was like a buffet placed in front of a starving man. I was starving for her. I’d figured she would be upset with me, but I didn’t expect her to react the way she did. I had seen the look in her eyes and it chilled me to the bone. The devastation, the disgust…
Lee hated me and I had no one to blame, but myself.
I bet that little shit loved this. He was probably filling her up with lies right now.
“Hey man you, all right? What did the fridge ever do to you?” Derek stood next to me. His voice was light, but his eyes were narrowed in concern.
Was I okay? Fuck no. I was ruined. I couldn’t talk to him; I needed to talk to Lee.
I made for the staircase and a hand pulled me back by the shoulder. “Don’t Kyle, leave her be man. She’s been through enough already,” Derek warned. “She’s not like us. She can’t handle your shit.”
I turned and squared up to him. I was a half-foot taller than he was so I had the upper hand. “What the fuck do you know about her?” I was shaking with anger. I knew my beef wasn’t with Derek, but right about now any one would do as a punching bag.
“A lot more than you do by the sounds of it asshole,” he answered calmly. What in the hell was he talking about?
“Do tell.” I was right in his face, my head bent down in his. I grabbed his shirt in my fist and I had to give it to him, Derek didn’t flinch.
He was used to my bullshit moods by now. I had taken enough of them out on him over the years.
“Kyle man, breathe.”
I couldn’t. My chest was close to exploding. The thought of Lee upstairs with that rat bastard Mike made my blood boil. Yeah, that jackass and me had some bad blood. The thought of him in her room made me go for the stairs again.
Derek dragged me back again. “Dude, I’m on your side,” he panted, as he tried to restrain me. “I know you hate him man, I hate him too, but now is not the time to air your dirty laundry, and you need to sober up.”
I was bucking against him, trying to break free of his bear hug, but the fucker had me pinned and he knew it. People were definitely staring at us now.
I stopped struggling and slumped, my voice cracked. “She’s up there with him Derek. She’s fucking up in her room with HIM.”
Derek nudged me, pointing towards the staircase. I felt like all my prayers were answered.
Mike was at the bottom of the staircase. Lee had sent him away. He smirked at Derek and me. I barged over to him.
“You gotta problem big brother?” Mike asked, smirking. Rat bastard.
“Keep walking asshole,” warned Derek, who had stepped in between the two of us. “Preferably into busy traffic.”
Mike smirked. “Tell Lee, I said goodnight, she should sleep well after…”
He turned to walk out and I lunged forward, but Derek pulled me back, “Kyle, he’s not worth it, come on man, he’s just trying to fuck with your head. Don’t let him win again.”
Derek held me back long enough for Mike to close the front door behind him.
“That mother fucker better not step one foot inside my house again,” I warned. “I mean it Derek, he comes in here again and I’ll finish what started two years ago.”
Lee
“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay here Lee? My offer still stands,” Mike said as he leaned against my bed. At first, I thought it was sweet that he walked me to my room, but now I was beginning to get creeped out. I did not want company, not tonight and Mike was lingering.
“I’ll be fine Mike,” I said opening my door. I was dropping major hints. “But thank you so much, you’re too good to me.”
Mike’s smile faltered for a second, then slipped back into place. He walked over to where I stood by the door. “I want to be more than good to you Lee; I like you, a lot.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. I froze. “I just want you to know you have other options, there’s better out there than Kyle Carter.”