Page 29 of Losing Control
“Did Tyler tell you that?”
“It doesn’t matter who told me, it matters that you did it.”
“Why? Because you don’t want to upset lover-boy?” Michael’s tone is sarcastic, and I don’t care for it one little bit.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, Michael, how many times do I have to tell you that I don’t see Tyler in that way?” I shout, frustration rolling off of me in waves.
“Liar.”
“I’m not fucking lying.”
“You swore to me. You promised me.” He moves towards me, but this time I don’t step back. I stay routed to the spot, prepared to fight this one out just to make him see how ridiculous he is being. “You said that you loved me, that you didn’t want to hurt me.” Another step, a clenched jaw.
“And I meant it!”
“Then why the fuck do you continue to flirt with him? It’s embarrassing.” Another step.
“I do no such thing.”
“People have started noticing. People have started talking. You think that I don’t hear them saying that our relationship must be on its last legs if you’re flirting with Tyler? You think I don’t see the looks that they give me; pitying and sorrowful? I don’t like being looked at in that way.”
“Seriously, Michael, you are way off of the mark.”
“Am I? AM I?” he shouts in my face, coming to a stop in front of me.
“YES!” I shout back, feeling good that I am standing up for myself.
“Did you just shout at me?” he says, his tone quiet, his eyes glaring.
“I sure did.” He will not make me feel bad, I have done nothing wrong. I lift my head up high. I will not back down.
“So now you have grown a backbone?”
“I’ve always had a backbone, I just choose not to use it unless I have to.”
“Well, shall I show you what happens when you defy me?”
“Go on then,” I goad him, the anger burning through me.
I have no idea what is going on in that mind of his, but I don’t have long before I find out. A few tense seconds tick by and then, from out of nowhere, his hand comes across my face, slapping me hard.
My head snaps to the side from the force of it, and from the fact that I was unprepared for something like that to happen. My hand flies up to my cheek as it starts to sting. Tears well in my eyes from the pain.
I look back to Michael expecting to see remorse, but he still just looks mad. Beyond mad. Fucking furious, in fact.
He moves his face towards mine and I bite my bottom lip to stop it from trembling.
“If you didn’t act like such a fucking flirt, then I wouldn’t have had to do that,” he sneers.
He hit me.
He fucking hit me.
Oh my God, breathe.
Calm down.
It’s going to be okay.
