Текст книги "Becoming His"
Автор книги: Mariah Dietz
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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 24 страниц)
“You’re one big dude,” Max comments, affectionately ruffling his fur. Zeus lives for attention and praise and happily accepts Max’s, pushing his head closer to him.
I’m contemplating my options of what to do next as Max stands up and all of my coherent thoughts slip away as I come face to face with shirtless Max. Holy mother of muscles.
My mind wraps another thread of confusion around my tangle of thoughts and emotions, and I take a step back, turning my focus to Zeus.
“I’m glad I ran into you.”
My eyes travel up to his face, not certain how to decipher his words. His tone is warmer than I’d received all afternoon. His face doesn’t clarify anything for me as he peers at me with a look of hesitation.
He takes a deep breath and looks down at Zeus, then returns his eyes to mine. “I want to apologize for what I said about Nathan. He’s a dick, and I shouldn’t have said what I did.”
“You already said you were sorry. And I wasn’t exactly polite in return. Really, it’s no big deal.”
“Because we don’t really know each other,” He nods as he says the familiar words. “I know, but that was a sorry excuse for an apology. You should have kicked my ass.” I watch the edges of his lips climb into the slightest smile and feel my own curve in response, shaking my head.
“Do you forgive me for being a douchebag?”
“You’re forgiven.” His smile spreads across his face, and I feel the slightest pang in my chest.
Max sticks out his hand and I stare at it a moment before glancing up at his face. “Nice to meet you, Ace, my name’s Max. I’ve been your neighbor for the past ten years and thought maybe we could be friends.”
I can’t help but let out a laugh that sounds too high from my nerves about the idea of being Max’s friend. I doubt I’ll ever be able to look at him as a friend.
“What you don’t want to be my friend?” he asks, cocking his left eyebrow up and looking at me questionably. I realize this trademark look is definitely the single most beautiful expression I’ve ever seen.
I try to remember to breathe and act unfazed by Max’s proximity as I allow his large hand to swallow mine in a handshake. His is rough with calluses, reminding me slightly of Jameson’s, but I also notice the heat and strength behind his grip as he gently squeezes my hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Max,” I joke, smiling as we shake for too long before he loosens his grip and my hand is released to fall back to my side. The night air suddenly seems cold and completely unfamiliar against my skin.
The next morning I wake to find Max shirtless in his driveway washing his motorcycle and Jeep and feel the desperate need to get out of the house. I head out with a few friends from school to see a movie and spend the afternoon trying to divert my ever growing thoughts of Max. I learn nothing works as a distraction.
The moment I pull into the driveway my blood turns to ice and my muscles tense at the sight of Jenny rushing to my car. Her face is stark white and tears stream from her eyes as she wrings her hands in front of her.
“I can’t find her. I can’t find Lilly,” she cries, covering her mouth with both of her trembling hands as a loud shriek escapes her. Her eyes, bright with fear and torture, close as her entire body curls into itself with her cry.
“What do you mean?” I ask, shaking my head as goose bumps prickle my skin in the eighty degree heat. Each cell of my body is being invaded by fear, leading my heart to hammer so fast and hard it feels like it’s preparing to break free.
“She disappeared.” Jenny’s hands frantically wave in the air as she explains how she was fighting with her boyfriend, Paul, on the phone, and then realized when she hung up Lilly was missing.
“It’s okay, we’ll find her. Where did you see her last?” My mind races as I work to remain focused and calm.
“She was in the kitchen with Zeus.” I nod and run past her. As soon as I enter the house I begin calling for Zeus, whistling, and repeating his name to no avail. I race back outside with my tennis shoes in hand and find Kendall and Jameson in the driveway, listening to Jenny’s panicked recount of events.
I slide my shoes on and feel Kendall’s eyes on me. I know her expression before I turn to see the horrified look upon her face.
“Zeus is with her,” I interject before another question can be asked. “Kendall, stay here with Jenny. Call Caulder, then dad. Jameson, can you knock on the neighbors doors? See if anyone has seen Lilly or Zeus, everyone knows them.” I hardly register Jameson nodding as I take off running.
“Where are you going?” Jameson yells after me.
“The park!” I yell over my shoulder as I race down the street, not feeling the exertion from my muscles working without the slightest effort or thought. Panic fills my chest as fears of child abductions and horrifying stories from the news and movies begin playing through my mind, fueling my muscles to push harder as I run in a dead sprint.
Before reaching the intersection that bridges our neighborhood to the park, I see several cars stopped, and hear horns blaring. Fear burrows further inside of me as I dig deeper, feeling the sharp burn in my lungs from the force I expel. As I hear another car horn blare into the evening air, I spot Lilly standing in the middle of the four lane road. Her long blond curls are wrapped around shoulders bowed over Zeus, lying on the ground in front of her in a big black heap.
My chest constricts and my vision blurs with tears as I extend my hand to stop a car that comes dangerously close. I snatch Lilly into my arms, pressing her small frame against me in a tight hug as she sobs into my shoulder, and incoherently shrieks about Zeus. I nod absently, feeling relieved that she’s alright and turn my attention to Zeus who has yet to move, and feel the torrent of tears spilling from my eyes.
I face the oncoming traffic as a woman in a minivan stops in front of us and stretches her neck out her open window looking at us with concern.
“Do you guys need some help?” she asks.
I nod, trying to gather my breath so I can speak. “Can you just stay parked here? Turn your hazard lights on. I need to move him.”
“Is he alive?” Her words echo, rattling around in my brain. The same thought has already crossed my mind, and I’ve been terrified to allow it to sink in.
Still holding Lilly in my arms, I fall to my knees between the van and Zeus as my eyes graze over him. I know that he sacrificed himself for Lilly, and though I’m grateful, it doesn’t dull the pain.
I tentatively reach out and rest my hand on Zeus’s stomach and feel him take a small, labored breath. The surge of relief causes a new wave of tears. “It’s okay, boy, I’ve got you. I’m here,” I promise.
Zeus whines as he tries to lift his head, but his body protests, and he drops it back to the ground.
Kendall answers after the first ring, her voice anxious. “I found them,” I say through tears. “Lilly’s safe, I’ve got her, but Zeus…” my voice hitches as I close my eyes, feeling the hot tears coursing down my cheeks “…he’s hurt.” I try to steady my voice, “He’s hurt really bad.” My voice breaks again as my chest heaves, and I grip Lilly tighter.
“Where are you? Can he walk?”
“No.” I cry again. “We’re at the intersection by the park,” I explain as I choke back a sob and blink repeatedly to try and see through my tears as I hear Kendall relay our whereabouts. I try to speak through the commotion on her end, “I can’t lift him.” I sniff, wiping my nose with the back of my hand.
“We’re on our way.”
I hang up as the woman from the minivan approaches where I’m still kneeling. “What happened?” Her voice is calm and inquisitive.
I know she’s trying to help, and yet my mind is so consumed with fear for Zeus, and recovering from finding Lilly, that I want to scream in response to her simple inquiry. To prevent myself from losing it, I clench my jaw and focus my eyes on Zeus as I softly stroke a small trail on his chest that doesn’t seem to cause him any pain.
It only takes a moment for police sirens to pierce the air, followed by Caulder’s authoritative tone instructing someone to stop traffic until we’re out of the road. It’s another moment more before Jenny runs over to us and takes Lilly, holding her at arm’s length. Her eyes scrutinize every inch of her before clutching her tightly, both of them crying.
I move so I’m kneeling beside Zeus’s head and softly continue to stroke his thick fur, dipping my head so I’m only a few inches from him as I speak reassuring words.
“Hey, boy.” I hear Max’s voice. His leg brushes against mine as he squats next to me. “We’re going to take you to the hospital and get you checked out, alright?” I watch Max’s hands reach forward and gently touch Zeus.
“Ace, why don’t you hold his head, just keep talking to him. Caulder and I can get him in the truck, okay?”
I sniff and nod my head. I’m terrified of them moving him, even though I know he needs to see a vet. I slowly stand up, wiping my damp cheeks with the back of my hand as Caulder and Max plan how to maneuver Zeus and support him as best as possible. I continue to stand by his head as he whines without even moving.
“Alright, one, two, three,” Max counts aloud and both he and Caulder slide their hands under Zeus. As Caulder begins to lift Zeus’s back he releases a heart wrenching whimper, and I take a deep breath so my own anxiety doesn’t heighten his stress.
“It’s alright, Zeus. You’re okay, buddy. We have a really short way to go,” Max says as they continue moving to where my mom’s SUV is parked with the back open awaiting Zeus. The two work swiftly and so gently I want to hug them both in appreciation. But knowing we need to go, I climb in next to Zeus, folding myself in a tight ball beside his head where I can continue to soothe him.
“Ace, you can’t—” Caulder starts to protest. I glance at him, tears still spilling from my eyes. He stops and reaches forward, dusting some loose gravel from my leg. “I’ll escort you guys there.” He turns to Max. “Don’t slam on the brakes or take turns too sharp with her back here.”
When we arrive at the clinic they’re already waiting for us, Kendall or maybe Caulder must have called. The vet comes out to assess the situation and the best way to get Zeus inside. He, Caulder, and Max all work together to get him inside with as much support as possible before shutting us out so they can ascertain what all is wrong.
Caulder and Max go back outside as I wander the small, empty lobby. They’re getting ready to close for the evening, and the vacancy is both welcoming and unnerving. I collapse on a padded bench and cover my face with both hands and cry.
It feels like both seconds and hours have passed when an arm wraps around my shoulders and I’m pulled against a chest that I instantly know just by the warmth and newly familiar scent. Max gently runs his hand over my back, so soft that at times I have to focus to make sure he’s still touching me. The action is insurmountably comforting.
Normally I’d be mortified to cry in front of someone, especially when that someone is Max. Crying is right up there with throwing up—you really can’t do it in any way that’s attractive. I’m certain my cheeks are blotchy and tear stained, and there are streaks of mascara and eyeliner on my face, and yet even knowing that I look awful, I can’t stop.
The door chimes and a sea of voices alerts us my family has arrived. We sit huddled together, not discussing the fact that Lilly had run away, or that Zeus was hit by a car. Kendall and Kyle work to distract us by chiding one another and discussing surface topics to ensure the mood is kept light until the vet comes out to inform us Zeus had to undergo surgery for some internal bleeding where they repaired his hind quarters. He has two broken legs and won’t be able to walk for at least four weeks. He’ll stay a couple of days for observation and will possibly need an additional surgery.
As we stand to leave, I feel Max’s hand leave me for the first time since he came to comfort me, and I turn and wrap both of my arms around his chest, crushing my body against him. “Thank you.”
His arms encircle me and gently squeeze as the rest of my family deals well-deserved accolades to Max for his help.
I hadn’t been intending to get up and run this morning, but as I lie in bed my thoughts wander from Max for the first time in weeks and I think about Zeus. The worrying makes me restless. I head downstairs where I find another note from my dad telling me that he again was called in early. Summers have a tendency for this to occur due to other doctors being away on vacation.
I slide my shoes on and make my way outside, stretching an arm across my chest as I close my eyes and listen to the new playlist Kendall loaded to my iPod.
My attention breaks from the music as a hand brushes my arm and causes me to nearly jump out of my skin. I turn and see Max’s blue eyes alight and a small smirk across his full lips. My eyes travel on their own accord to see he’s wearing a pair of dark, navy blue mesh shorts and tennis shoes … that’s it. He’s shirtless. Again. And his sculpted bare chest shakes a bit as he laughs, making his muscles ripple. I have the familiar urge to reach out and touch him before my eyes snap back to his face and realize he’s laughing at my startled reaction. At least I think that’s why he’s laughing. Hopefully he didn’t notice me checking him out. I pull out an ear bud and glare at him.
“Sorry, I was talking to you, but apparently you couldn’t hear,” Max says, pointing a finger to his ear. “What are you listening to?” He smiles at me, and it’s a genuine grin that makes my heart swell a bit and my annoyance to instantly ebb.
“I don’t know. It’s a playlist from Kendall.” I tilt the screen so he can see the name of the band and song that I’m unfamiliar with.
He nods and then turns his attention to me. “So I thought while Zeus heals, you might like some company.”
I look at Max, feeling a myriad of emotions from appreciation to nervousness to bewilderment, and all I can manage to do is nod in response.
Max lets out a small chuckle and begins to stretch beside me. My heart races even faster. It’s not as though I haven’t run with guys before, and since I run every day, I know I’m not going to be panting and stumbling. This is different though. Max is different.
We run to the track and the sight of the intersection where Zeus was hit causes a heavy weight on my heart as I realize just how fast I had been running yesterday.
“He’s a tough dude. He’s going to be back taking my place before you know it.” I glance over at him and try to smile to show my appreciation.
I had been right. Max is fast and he has the endurance of someone that obviously works out a lot, which is both enjoyable and a bit intimidating.
Running with Max becomes a quick routine, and after a couple of days of getting over my nerves, I even look forward to it. We run well together, matching one another’s pace, occasionally adding some competition as one of us tries to race the other. On these instances Max generally cheats by grabbing my waist and hauling me back a few steps or gently pushes me to knock me off balance before he sprints ahead. But after our morning workout we, fall into our own individual routines.
Saturday night arrives with some tension. I’d originally agreed to attend a bonfire with Kendall. Jameson’s supposed to be going, and she’s still trying to decipher where things stand between them, so she was livid when Eric called and asked that I attend a party with him, proposing that we go to the bonfire afterward. Feeling guilty that I haven’t spent much time with him, and still uncertain about the situation that Jenny had texted me about, I agreed.
I turn to Eric as we pull up to the party, excitement emanating from his anxious grin. “You’re friends with Tim Evans?” I ask, trying to hide the surprise I so rarely feel around Eric.
“Tim who?” he asks, his enthusiasm slightly waning as he turns to look at me.
I nod my head toward the house. “Tim Evans, the guy who lives here.”
“Oh, I don’t know the guy that lives here, I just know some people here. They say the parties are insane.” It’s not common that I see this much excitement on Eric’s face, and I want to share in it and see this side of him that I haven’t before. However, I feel the tentativeness in me rising, being semi-familiar with stories about parties here.
Eric pushes open his car door and heads up to the house. I follow behind him, reaching for his hand that I quickly lose as a man falls into Eric. I wait to see his response and watch as the quick flash of anger that initially overcomes him quickly dissipates into laughter as he clutches the guy’s shoulders in an unfamiliar act and then drops his hold and takes a couple of steps forward into the throng of people.
The house is packed with unfamiliar faces that all show signs of this being a party that is fueled by something more potent than beer or the screeching heavy metal music jarring my nerves. I immediately feel out of place. Even when I used to drink too much at parties, I never participated in drugs, recreational or otherwise, and have intentionally avoided this kind of party.
“Kendall?”
“Ace?”
“Hey, where are you?”
“I’m at the bonfire where you’re supposed to be. Where are you? What’s all that noise?”
“I’m … at Tim Evans’s.” I cringe. Kendall knows these parties are all about drinking and drugs.
“Tell Eric it’s time to go.”
I take a deep breath, sidestepping a group of people as they begin cheering on a couple of guys doing some sort of drinking competition. “I can’t find him.”
“What do you mean you can’t find him?”
“I mean …” I take a deep breath, preparing myself for her reaction. “I think he left.”
“You think he left?” Her voice rises and I know this is going to be ugly.
“Yeah, we somehow got separated, and I think he left.” I’m half expecting her to tell me I should call him, something I’ve already done a dozen times after realizing his car was no longer where we’d parked it.
“What a bastard! I can’t believe him!”
“Trust me, I know,” I say, making my way through a crowd of drunk guys trying to talk some girls into strip poker. “I just want to get the hell out of here. Can you or Jameson drive at this point?”
“No, we’ve both been drinking. You can try Max. He hasn’t shown up yet. Or Jenny, I think she mentioned being over on that side of town.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know.”
“Ace wait!” Kendall says, and I hear her dip her phone to her shoulder and can make out a few of her words as she explains to someone, likely Jameson, what has happened. I inwardly groan at the shame, knowing the looks of pity and confusion I’ll be receiving.
“Ace, Max is coming to get you. He hasn’t had anything to drink tonight and he just got here.”
“No, tell him to have fun. I’ll try Jenny, or call a taxi.” She’s ignoring me; I know this because I can hear her reciting my whereabouts over my protests.
“Kendall. Kendall. Kendall!”
“Hey, baby, I bet I can get you to scream my name.”
I jerk my head to see a tall, skinny guy with dirty blond hair. His face is round for how thin he is, but his jaw and chin are strong, and by the way he’s approaching me I can tell he’s used to women fawning over him. His eyes fall to my chest, missing my look of disgust.
“He’s on his way, Ace. Slap that guy and walk away. He’s going to call you.”
My phone begins ringing almost instantaneously, and I glance at the screen to see an unfamiliar number.
“That’s him. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay, be safe.” Loud squeals slightly obscure Kendall’s parting words before she hangs up.
I plug my right ear pressing the phone hard to my left and try to move away from the noises surrounding me.
“Hello?”
“Ace, are you okay?” I hear Max’s deep voice.
“Yeah, I’m fine! I’m really sorry you—”
“Yeah, you’re fine!” The same skinny, dirty blond appears and I glare at him to indicate I’m not interested.
“Sorry,” I grumble, pushing through more people “This place is crazy.”
“It sounds crazy.”
I lower my shoulder and brush by a group of guys.
“Find a bathroom or a room with a lock,” Max instructs.
“I’m looking.” I watch a couple stumble backwards as they work to rip each other’s clothes off while engaging in a kiss that looks nearly painful, it’s so intense.
“What? I can’t hear you?”
I’ve reached a congested area where three tables are set up surrounded by a large congregation of people playing beer pong, all extremely vocal. Beside them is an even louder group of mostly men, crowded around a girl doing a keg stand, wearing such minimal clothing I feel certain that if she can recall any of this by tomorrow she’ll be mortified.
I slip through a few more groups, trying to go undetected as I avoid eye and any physical contact.
“Ace, is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m trying to look for a room,” I answer, gripping my phone tighter.
I reach out to try another door handle and discover that it, like all of the ones I’ve already tried, is locked.
“There aren’t any rooms, I’ll just meet you out front?”
“I’ll find us a room. You ready to go for the ride of your life?” I don’t even turn toward the slurred voice to give a reaction. I just want to get the hell out of here.
“Max—”
“I’m almost there, Ace, just stay on the line and keep looking.”
I slide along the edge of the room and through a hallway to where I spot another door that’s slightly ajar. I sigh in relief as I approach it, slowly pressing it open with my fingertips to reveal a small laundry room.
“You still with me?”
“Yeah, I found a room.”
“Where’s that?”
“The laundry room.”
“Alright, tell me how to get there.”
“No, when you get here I’ll meet you out front.”
“Ace, it will make it a lot faster for me if you tell me where I’m going.” I hear a loud thunder of yelling coming from Max’s end.
“Are you here?”
“Yeah.” I stand up from where I’m leaning against the washer and place a hand on the door. “Just tell me how to get to you. If you leave, we’re going to have a really hard time finding each other. This place is insane.”
Even though I want to rebuke, I know he has a valid point. Begrudgingly, I give in, trying to recall the turns I took to get here, hearing the party sounds echo from behind the door and through the phone.
When the door slowly opens, I sigh with relief as Max fills the doorway. His face really is so beautifully handsome.
It seems wrong to use the word beautiful when I think of how to describe Max, because the term is so often used to describe feminine attributes, and there is nothing even remotely feminine about Max, but I’ll be damned if the word doesn’t join the mass amount of expletives that always seem to float through my mind when I see him.
“Hey.” His deep voice fills the small room, and a wave of self consciousness washes over me as I watch his eyes travel the length of my body. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just ready to be out of here.”
Max nods, extending a hand to me. “Why don’t you lead, I don’t want my back to you in this crowd.”
“They won’t bother me,” I say, pushing off of the washer.
“Humor me.”
I take a step closer and reach my hand forward, placing it within his. I feel the heat of his hand sear through me.
“Ready?” he asks, applying a gentle squeeze of pressure to my hand.
I nod and brace myself for the crowds of crazy.
I attempt the path of least resistance, avoiding groups that look rowdy as I lead us through the house holding Max’s left hand in my right. Periodically, he lifts his right hand as a shield, even though the few times he’s done so, no one has come close to running into me.
We’re nearly out. I can finally see the front door when a guy comes barreling toward us with another man quickly chasing after him, looking enraged. Before I can come to a complete stop, Max is half pulling, half lifting me so I’m behind him as he raises one arm and keeps his other securely wrapped around my waist in a protective stance.
“Let’s see if there’s a back door.” I plead as several more guys begin running toward the commotion, throwing punches and yelling.
Max looks at the chaos ensuing and nods. As he turns, his hand readjusts to my hip, and his long calloused fingers wrap around me. The feeling shoots a foreign surge of energy through me, distracting me from the task at hand.
“Lead the way, Captain.” Over all of the chaos, Max’s deep voice becomes a singular sound for me as I feel his lips graze the shell of my ear.
I focus on working our way against the crowd of people that have now come to either observe or participate in the growing fight.
“This way.” Max tightens his grip on my hip and steers me to the right. I look over and see a set of glass French doors leading outside and take Max’s hand in mine as I head toward them.
We make our way out into the dark night. Most of the blinds in the house are closed and the darkness seems utterly endless as my eyes work to adjust to the contrast, my ears ringing as they do the same.
Max’s hand loosens around mine, and I automatically release my grip and turn to face him. He’s right behind me, closer than I’d expected, and I’m surprised to see the distinct look of ire across his face forcing me to take a step back. His scent that I’ve become so drawn to over the past several weeks is more distinct now that we aren’t surrounded by so many people. It causes a contrasting emotion to his visible anger that I’m scrambling to prepare for.
“What in the hell was he thinking bringing you to a place like this? And he left?” he yells. “Why in the hell did you agree to come here? Do you know what goes on at these parties? Did you drink anything?”
I shake my head, feeling slightly offended by his accusation. “I’m not an idiot, Max. We were here like fifteen minutes and then I lost him.” Or he lost me … I silently wonder why in the hell he would ask me to come here with him and then leave me.
“I’m going to kill him!”
“Why waste your time?” I mutter, nervously gliding my fingers up and down my outer thighs, following the seams of my jeans.
“Why in the hell are you wasting your time with him? The sex can’t be worth all the other shit.”
“Let’s just go.”
“I’m serious, Ace, if I see his face around, I’m going to break his fucking jaw,” Max promises.
“Fighting’s barbaric,” I reply, annoyed that he’s suddenly turning his macho side on.
“What?”
“Barbaric. Ruthless, savage, wicked, cruel. Fighting. Is. Barbaric.” Max looks down at me and the storm that has been stirring in his eyes slowly recedes.
“Would it be barbaric if I run him over with my Jeep?” he asks, raising that single eyebrow again.
“We can discuss it on the way to the bonfire.” Max falls into step beside me, placing a hand to the small of my back as I hear a quiet chuckle escape him. I try with an exhausting level of effort to not look over at him and lose to the crushing desire to see his face while he’s laughing.
When we reach the bonfire it’s inescapable that Kendall’s had too much to drink, and I instantly feel guilty. I look over to see how Jameson’s fairing with it and am interrupted with Kendall’s angry spew.
“You’re dumping him!” she cries, spotting me. She’d been distracted when we first arrived, loudly talking to a couple of people still standing beside her.
I cringe, hoping some sensibility of not discussing my personal life in this forum dawns on her. Quickly.
“I know, I told her even if he’s great in bed, it’s not worth this shit.” That’s not going to help deter Kendall.
She turns to Max. “Like Ace would know!”
“No way, he’s not your first!” Max doesn’t pose this as a question, but rather a fact, and Kendall stares at him for a long moment, filling me with unease.
“Who are you to judge? You’ve slept with how many girls?” I watch the girls beside her turn their attention to us, obviously intrigued. Although I’m relieved to have the attention diverted from me and my sexual encounters, or lack thereof, I really don’t want to discuss Max’s either.
“If he’s your first, I’m really going to kill him, barbaric or not.”
“He’s not her first!” Kendall shouts, making me cringe.
“Shhh!” I hiss, grabbing Kendall’s arm and looking over to Jameson pleadingly. He’s staring at me as if lost in a trance, and I roll my eyes at him, realizing he’s probably drank too much as well.
I’m not sure why the idea of my virginity being known to Max, or anyone else for that matter, embarrasses me exactly. It’s something I’m proud of in many ways, but I suddenly feel very young and inexperienced, and the combination makes me feel a strange sense of inferiority.
This almost instantly makes the logical side of my brain irate. I know without thinking this is in no way true, and I feel annoyed with both Kendall and Max for so publicly discussing this.
“This is none of your business. Either one of you.” I glare between Max and Kendall.
“Did you at least ask him about the other girl?” Kendall’s voice is hesitant and filled with pain as she looks at me waiting for my reaction. I can’t believe Jenny mentioned seeing Eric with another girl to Kendall and didn’t warn me about it! I look back at her impassively.
“He’s cheating on you?” Max’s eyes widen and his voice rises. “Why are you still dating him?”
“Because she doesn’t care about him. She never has,” Kendall answers, ignoring my look of contempt. “But seriously, Ace, you’re going to let him embarrass you? I don’t get it!”
“Kendall, this isn’t the place to discuss any of this. You’re drunk, and—”
“It’s because of me, isn’t it?” she whispers, grabbing my arm. “I teased you for being a serial dater. That’s why you haven’t pulled the trigger!”
“It has nothing to do with you,” I snap, pulling my arm away from her. “Neither of you need to worry about it. I’m fine.”
“But—” Kendall begins to object with a look of fury on her face.
“Kendall, you’re drunk and yelling about my personal life in front of everyone. No. I’m not discussing this here or now.”
“Ace—” Max starts, which only elevates my frustration.
I take a couple of steps back. “I appreciate you coming to get me, but I’m done. You guys have fun.” I turn around and head back to the house with the intention of calling a cab home.
