Page 112 of Holding On

Chapter Twenty

Becca

"Are you going to say anything?" I ask Ethan.

He's just staring at the TV, ignoring me.

I yank the remote from his hand and turn the TV off.

"Hey!" he yells. "Turn it back on."

"Not until we talk." I toss the remote aside and put my hands on my hips. "What the hell is going on with you?"

"Nothing. Now turn the TV on."

"Nothing? Like I'm really going to believe that? You've been acting like an ass since I walked in the door."

"I wasn't expecting company. I'm not feeling up to it right now."

"First of all, I'm not company. I'm your girlfriend. Who you should be happy to see. Not yelling at and telling to go away."

"I didn't yell. Or tell you to go away."

"You raised your voice and you're ignoring me, which means you want me to go away."

"Stop trying to make shit up based on what you think my actions mean."

"See?" I sit beside him. "That just now? That was rude and you raised your voice again."

"Yeah, I'm not in the greatest mood so you probably shouldn't be around me right now."

"Why are you in a bad mood?"

"I just am, okay?"

"Is it about your leg?"

"No. Now why don't you go home and change for work? I'll call you on your break."

"Seriously? You really want me to leave?"

"I don't feel like talking right now so if that's what you want to do, then you might as well go."

He won't even look at me, his eyes straight ahead, staring at the wall. He's not going to budge. He won't tell me what's wrong no matter how many times I ask.

"Fine." I get up and walk to the door. "Talk to you later."

He doesn't even say goodbye. I leave, slamming the door behind me. I'm so damn mad. Once again, Ethan shows off his asshole side. Why can't he just be the sweet, caring guy I've fallen for, instead of switching back to the guy I can't stand?

Maybe he was just upset about something and needed to calm down. But then why wouldn't he tell me what he's upset about?

During my break at The Chicken Shack, I wait in the back room for his call but it never comes. He doesn't text either. And I refuse to be the one to make the first move.

Since he didn't call, I assume that means he's still in asshole mode. I'm just going to leave him alone until he switches back to the Ethan I want to be around.

"What's up?" Tina asks as she swings open the door to the break room. She walks over to the table where I'm sitting, staring at my phone.

"Nothing." I set my phone down.

---