“Let me go,” I whispered while trying to free myself from his hold.
He laughed and let go, watching me fall to the floor in front of him. “You look better down there anyway.”
I stood up and kicked him in the shin. “What is wrong with you?”
He was rubbing his leg as he spoke, but I did sense that his look was conflicted and it bothered me. “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
“Is this about me and Branch?” I often wondered if he was mad about our relationship, even though he swore he wasn’t.
He laughed again. “Kat, why don’t you go back over there with your boyfriend and stay out of my shit? You want to ask me if I’m jealous, but you’re the one that got all hot and bothered at the table, wishing it was your pussy my fingers were touching. Stop acting like it’s not true. I know you, and I can tell it got to you.”
I stood there, shocked that he’d said something like that to me. I wanted to yell and scream, but it was late, and I’d wake the whole house up and upset Branch. My breathing was stressed and I could feel the pull of emotions overwhelming me. “I hate you!” I whispered under my breath.
I started to walk away and he grabbed my arm. “Kat, wait. I was kidding.”
I pulled away from him, shook Branch to wake him up, and we walked out of the room, leaving him there alone.
That night, after Branch kissed me goodnight and we retreated to our own rooms, I laid in my bed crying. Maybe I shouldn’t have been bothered so much by Brooks. We’d grown apart and I needed to accept it. After all, Branch and I were getting ready to leave him and start our adult life together. If he wanted to sleep with every girl at school, it was his business, not mine.
I heard my door creaking open and felt the bed move. Branch was there, holding me. “Please don’t cry,” he whispered and kissed me. “Don’t be upset because of that asshole.”
“I just want to forget about this whole day. Please, make me forget.”
The room was dark and everyone was asleep. Normally I wouldn’t have taken the risk, but I needed to feel close to him. All I wanted was for him to take away all of the pain that I’d experienced. Our kisses were slow and each touch was so endearing. He was more gentle than usual, caressing me in ways that he’d never done before. He took his time, making sure that I no longer cared what happened earlier in the day. Being in his arms made my pain dissipate, just like I’d hoped.
“I love you so much,” he whispered.
He held me briefly before leaving me alone in my room. I knew he’d have to be back in his room when his parents woke up, so it didn’t bother me that he’d gone. Him being there had calmed me down, and I was able to finally close my eyes and get some sleep.
I have to admit that my last thoughts were of Brooks. He’d hurt me, and even though I couldn’t admit that to either of them, I knew I wouldn’t forget it.
Chapter 3
I woke up the next morning feeling under the weather. My head was hurting from all of the crying the day before and I was so glad that we didn’t have school for an in-service day. Branch came into the room, wondering why I wasn’t up. “Hey sleepy head,” he said as he sat down on the edge of the bed, and leaned over to kiss me on my forehead.
“Hey. I don’t feel good.”
“Well, why don’t you go back to bed and get some rest? I’m going to go out and run a couple miles, and then when I get back I’ll check on you.”
I smiled and watched him walk out of the room. “Branch?” I called.
He turned around. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for being so great last night. You always know how to comfort me.”
He looked shocked that I was thanking him. “Anytime.” Then he smiled and left me to go back to sleep.
After about twenty minutes I got up to use the bathroom and take some medicine. Brooks was standing at the door when I came out. He had his arms blocking me so that I couldn’t get by. “Still mad at me?”
I tried to push him away, but he came at me again. “I’m not in the mood for you. My head hurts too bad.” I started to walk down the steps and he grabbed me by the waist from behind.
“Go get back in bed. I’ll get you some Tylenol and water.”
I felt like crap and shouldn’t have accepted his help, but I didn’t care. “Whatever.”
I got back into my warm bed and pulled the covers over my head. A couple minutes later he came into my room with a glass of water and two painkillers. “Thanks,” I said as I took the medication from his hand and shoved the pills into my mouth.
He sat down on the bed beside me. “So, are you still mad?”