Page 104 of Always You

“Because I came here to spend time with you! Not to watch you hooking up with some girl!”

“What do you want from me,Charlotte?” He slams his palms against the wall beside my head, caging me in, getting into my space like he has many times before when he didn’t get his way. But this time, it’s different. This time, it’s filled with frustration, fueled by an angry energy that’s overwhelming. “You said friends. And now, here you are, pissed because I’m getting attention from some girl? Are you jealous? Is that it?”

My hands ball to fists, refraining myself from slapping his face to the other side of the city.The audacity of this fucking guy.

“You clearly drink more,” I tell him as calmly as possible.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means as soon as you start drinking, you change into a righteous ass,” I shout at his face, my fury taking over, not willing to be treated like some insignificant girl.

I’m a good girl, I know that. I might not be bold and seductive like those chicks inside that club. But I’m a good person, and there is no chance in hell I will ever let any guy treat me like shit. Not even Hunter fucking Hansen.

“Oh, you’re so full of shit. Just tell me you’re jealous, and I’ll ditch that girl to fuck you tonight.”

No.

No.

Justfuckingno.

My jaw drops to the floor, and my ears are turning red hearing the shit he’s actually saying to me right now. “Fuck you tonight?” I repeat his words with a tone that’s deep, growling, and ominous. “Because that’s what I am to you? Just afuck?” I hustle him off me, strutting past him, trying to create space between us and not kick him between the knees. How dare this son of a bitch talk to me like that.

I can’t take more than three steps until he grabs my arm, but I can only be a good girl for so long, and I spin on my feet, connecting my palm with his cheek. “Stay the fuck away fromme! Don’t you dare talk to me like that! Like I’m one of your skanks. I’m not. And you better damn remember that,asshole!”

“Then tell me what the deal is! We were having a good night until you stormed out of the club!” he shouts in my face, throwing his snapback over his head as if it’s keeping him from punching something.

“Wewere having a good time untilyoudecided it was a good idea to invite some girls to the party.”

“They were already there,” he pipes up, trying to be a smartass.

I pull my hair with a huff, my emotions getting the best of me. Shaking my head, I bite my lip to prevent the waterworks from exploding.

“What is wrong with you? I fly across the country to see you, and here you are, trying to hook up with some girl? When have I ever been okay with being present for that? When?” I shout, my voice cracking more with every syllable, while the hurt inside of me grows like an evil tumor.

His gaze stays trained with mine, his rage slowly getting replaced by something that looks like regret.

“Never,” he finally mutters, taking a step closer to erase the distance between us.

I take a step back, and his face falls at my move, pain washing his features. My eyes peer up into his, softly shaking my head as I give him a disappointed look. This was a mistake. We can’t keep doing this any longer. I can’t do this any longer. I know I said friends, but I owe it to him to tell him the truth, and to see if we could work, no matter how bad it might end.

I can’t be scared to lose and love him at the same time.

I need to choose.

We keep staring at each other; the tension forming a thick wall between us.

I’m dying to break it down, to let it all out, knowing I have to, but it seems to grow higher and higher, and before it’s growing above my head, I suck in a deep breath.

Before I chicken out, I open my mouth, giving him the words I’ve been scared to share for so long.

“I love you, Hunter.” His eyebrows move up in shock, and a glint of hope shines in his eyes before they narrow, pushing it out as quickly as it appears. My heart falls, but there’s no way back. I scrape out every ounce of bravery I can find in my body, finishing what I started, even though I already know I’ll fly back home tonight with only half a heart. “I think I’ve loved you for a long time now. So yeah, you’re right. I am jealous. I’m jealous because I have to go home again tomorrow, when all I want to do is stay here with you. I love you, and I think you love me too. I need you as my best friend.But I want more.”

His chest slowly moves up and down as he takes deep breaths, staying quiet as he processes my words. Jason keeps eying us, giving me a proud look that makes a tear escape from the corner of my eye.

Moments pass, feeling like forever, when finally I know he will not give it to me. He will not push back his fear for me. My lips part while it feels like my heart is crashing to the pavement in a thousand pieces, leaving nothing more inside my body than an empty feeling.

“C-Charls, f-fuck,” he stammers with a terrified look on his face.

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