Never Been Kissed(120)

I can’t do anything but shrug. My throat hurts too much to speak right now, anyway.

“I really thought he didn’t cheat on you, and by talking it out, you’d guys be back together and all would be right in the world. You know I just had your best interests at heart, right? Fuck, I didn’t mean to do this...”

I clear my throat and croak, “He says he didn’t.” I sniff, move a hand out of her grip to wipe my face. “He says he loves me.”

Katie is quiet for some time, and the warmth in her eyes dissolves into a hard glare.

“And why don’t you believe him?”

“About which part?”

“About fucking all of it! Why are you sitting here crying your eyes out for no bloody reason!?”

I rear back from the anger in her voice. I didn’t do anything wrong.

“When people say I love you, they generally mean it. When I tell you I love you, you believe it, right?” She’s so agitated, she stands up and starts pacing back and forth in front of my stall.

I nod.

She throws her arms out palms up. “Well, what then? How come you don’t believe Hunter loves you? I swear to God, if you even attempt to throw the fat card right now, this stiletto is going so far up your ass, you’ll be admiring them from a much closer vantage point!” She growls, panting as she looks at me with fire in her eyes.

I clench my teeth together. I don’t fraking deserve this attitude. I stand, walking towards her with an index finger pointed out like a weapon.

“Watch yourself. I didn’t do anything wrong! He cheated on me!” I’m just trying to make a point. “Besides, he stayed with her after the fact! He didn’t come after me!”

“He said he didn’t on you.” She clutches her head like she can’t believe what’s coming out of my mouth. “I believe him. He knows what he has with you, why would he go and ruin that?”

“Maybe ‘cause I didn’t spread my legs fast enough!”

Her mouth firms up and her nostrils flare as she breathes in deep through her nose. She looks like a bull about to skewer me for kicks and giggles.

“Even better! Goddamn it, Sera, he cares about you, don’t you see? For being so smart, you don’t do good with deductive reasoning, huh?”

“Now is not the time to compare me to Sherlock Holmes.”

Katie shakes her head and the way her mouth twitches, she’s so fighting a grin.

“Do you really want to risk the chance of ruining what you guys have because some bitch drove him to the hospital?”

My breath hitches. I will not cry. No, not me. “How can I trust him ever again?” That’s not the real question, Delos, and you know it. Stop making excuses.

Katie shakes her head. “Did you forgive that shit-head Russia?”

“That’s different and you know it!”

She looks up the ceiling for guidance. “We both know he’s going to be a dick in the near future, and open his stupid ass mouth and spout shit. We know this, and yet, we all still love him. And you forgave him, even when he lies about telling you he’d never do it again.”

I yoga deep-breathe.

“Now, you have this guy who begged me to set this up, knowing full well that our friends would maul his ass if he fucked up. Hunter could be fighting to the death right now for all I know.” She flashes me a bloodthirsty grin. “All so he could apologize for his behavior and explain to you how he didn’t fucking touch that slore for anything. And then, he tells you he loves you. I mean, how thick are you?”

“People say shit they don’t mean all the time,” I say through clenched teeth.

“Am I lying to you?”

I frown, and stare at her. “No,” I say, not sure where she’s going with this.

“Have any of the guys ever lied to you? Forget your family for a second, we know they’re assholes.”

“No?”

“Say it like you mean it. Jesus.”

I clear my throat, ignoring the way the beat of my heart has sped up. “No.”

“Sherlock it out, sweetie.” She says softly. “I’ve never seen you so happy, Sera. Ever. That man and his son put that smile on your face. Don’t you think you should try and keep that, no matter what?”

I put my face in my hands, shaking my head. “I don’t know. I just don’t know anymore. I’m scared, I’m so so scared. I… I don’t want to feel like this anymore. I want to feel good.”

Katie pulls my hands away from my face. “How can you appreciate the good if you’ve never had the bad? You know what your life is like without him, and you prefer it with him and Matty, right? Then my vote is you believe him and try to work it out.”