Page 165 of Something So Strong

There’s a splutter, maybe even an attempt at an insult, but it just sounds like dogshit.

He tries to push himself up with his good arm, but I stomp him back down.

“You’ve got ten seconds before I start telling her how much more experience you have fucking guys than I do.”

She’s more pale than a ghost, and I almost feel sorry for the girl.

I feel Josh squirm beneath my foot. His head turns to the side and I lean down to hear him mutter, “Faggot.”

With a laugh, I stand and twist my heel. “So, Millie. Do you have thoughts about why he’s so infatuated with calling me a faggot?”

“He’s not gay. If that’s what you’re trying to say.”

“And yet.” I hold my hand out to my side in feigned contemplation. “He does fuck guys.”

“I do not!”

“Oh? Oops, sorry.” I grin like a maniac and raise my foot from between his shoulders to crack it against his ribs. “That could be my mistake. It may not be plural. But I know of one for sure.”

Millie seeks out Kai’s arm to cling to. “Make him stop, please.”

“No.” Kai doesn’t even look at her. He hasn’t looked at anyone but me since I arrived.

“What?”

“I said no.” He pushes her away.

Hysterical, with no one willing to calm her down, Millie’s arms start flying with exaggerated motion. “Will someone please just tell me what the fuck is going on?! Josh, why did you have Kai against the wall? And you—” Both her hands point directly at me. “Josh has never slept with another man.”

“You’re right again there.” I nod. “At the time, he wasn’t a man. And it wasn’t a fair fight, either.”

“Enough of this cryptic bullshit!”

I look back at Kai. His eyes are still on mine, his back flat against the back of the building. He doesn’t say ‘no’. He doesn’t even shake his head. He’s terrified. But even behind the terror, I can see what he needs me to do.

Pivoting on my back leg, I twist and drive my heel against Josh’s hand.

He cries out, but that only makes me do it again, harder.

Millie’s screaming at my side, but every new cry just propels me to stomp down harder into Josh’s hand.

She screams.

I stomp.

Again.

And again.

I feel bones crack through the soles of my shoes.

“You’re gonna break it!”

“Really?” I roll my eyes at Millie. “What could he ever have done to deserve that?”

Her jaw drops, and she looks at Kai’s hands and his broken bone tattoos. “Y-your hands were in casts for weeks.”

“The penny finally dropping for ya, Millie? But you always knew Josh had broken his hands, didn’t you?”

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