“Yes, I know exactly what you mean. You think you’re the only one who likes to have a good time, no strings attached? Hellion? You’re the only one who likes to party? Well, sorry to disappoint you, but you’re not. And you might be cute, but you’re not marriage material, okay? That’s why I said yes when you asked me out. All I wanted was a fucking good time and now you’re turning it into something stupid.”
My face is on fire again. There’s no smoke this time, but I guess that’s because Jersey isn’t in here with the lighter anymore. If it’s possible to die from humiliation, it will happen to me right … now.
Riiight … now.
Now.
Now would be good.
Aaaany time.
Death?
Grim reaper?
Are you there?
Nope. I’m still here. Still embarrassed as hell.
Dammit.
“You don’t mean that,” he says. “You’re not a party girl.”
Embarrassment is slowly morphing back into anger, and I’m not going to fight it. I’m way better with angry than I am with that other icky emotion. “Screw you, you don’t know me. You think no girl can resist your charms, is that it? Colin’s not the only lady killer in the family, is that what you’re trying to say? What? Is this some kind of fucked-up competition between you two? How many girls you can sleep with in a week?”
“No, don’t be stupid.”
“Oh, so I’m stupid now too. Excellent. Go ahead. Don’t stop now. Why don’t you talk about my hair too while we’re at it. Frizzy, right? Fine.” I turn on my side away from him.
“What …? No. No. I didn’t say anything about your hair.” He mutters and then starts talking normal again. “What …? Wait … how did that just happen?”
“What?” I say, pouting. Angry. Sad. Hurt. Offended as hell. God, I’m so stupid! When will I ever learn?
“You’re doing this on purpose,” he accuses.
“I’m doing what on purpose?” I refuse to turn and look at him.
“You’re trying to make me think I’m crazy. Putting words in my mouth and meaning into my words that isn’t there.”
“Whatever. Go to sleep. You’re tired, remember?”
“No, I’m not going to sleep right now. I want to finish this.”
I flip over all of a sudden. “Well, by all means, then, finish it! Don’t let me stand in your way. What was that you were saying? That I’m naive? Stupid? Thought the wrong things about our little so-called date?”
“What?”
He looks honestly confused, but I’m on a roll.
“Let’s get something straight, okay? Whatever your intentions were, it doesn’t matter now. The fates have spoken. You wanted to have a good time with me, I wanted to have a good time with you, but it didn’t work out. It’s not meant to be. And even if it was, I’d reject it. I would say no, okay? I don’t have the time or the room in my life for any guy. Not you and definitely not Colin.” I hit the bed with my fist. “Game over. Game over before it even started.” I throw back the covers and stand next to the bed.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
I grab the curtain and yank it hard. It flies towards the middle of the space between us, blocking the view I have of him and the whole front half of the room.
“Go to sleep,” I say, disgusted with the whole conversation.
“I can’t. I need to talk to you. You don’t understand.”
“Oh, I understand. I understand completely.” I roll over and put my pillow over my head to block out his voice.
Muffled sounds make it through, so I respond. “I can’t hear you. I have my pillow over my head, so just go to sleep and leave me alone.”
The sounds stop and I relax just a fraction. I’m almost to the point of dozing when I feel someone touch my arm.
I go ballistic, throwing the pillow back and sitting up. “Don’t touch me, asshole!” I yell.
Teagan is standing there with her face frozen in a mask of complete and utter shock.
“Oh. You’re not Mick.”
“No, I am not.” Her eyebrows are up in her hair again. “Ready to go?”
“God, yes,” I say, flinging my sheets back and getting out of bed. “Where are my clothes?”
“They’re in my car. I wanted to check if you were ready before I brought them up.”
“Where are my parents?”