Page 50 of Inevitable

Bash had done his best to make it appear as if nothing had happened between us by the time I walked out of his room. He didn't make as much eye contact with me while he finished up with dinner and I set the small table in his dining area, but I didn't push him. I could tell he was thrown by the shower incident, and I only wanted us to have a good night together without messy hormones and history ruining it for us.

By the time we sat down ten minutes later, things were settled between us and it started to be fun again. We talked for almost an hour about our classes, the upcoming Christmas break, funny things we had seen around campus, and even the stupid shit we used to get up to in high school. It was an effortless comfort, a feeling of home that I couldn't shake from my heart. Bash felt like home.

The conversation flowed between us as we laughed and joked with each other up until I asked Bash the reason for his early return home.

“So what exactly happened back home, BB? You said things weren't working out…was it your dad?

A flash of anger darkened Bash's features, but it was gone so fast I thought I imagined it. “He was just…putting pressure on me about Ainsley. He's hellbent on pushing us forward so fast and it just pissed me off,” Bash groused, eyebrows knitted together in frustration.

“What…what did he pressure you about?” I gulped, scared of his answer.Why the hell did I bring this up? Why am I such a stupid glutton for punishment? I've gotta see a therapist about these self-destructive tendencies, I swear…

“He just…” Bash trailed off, his eyes firmly on his plate.

“What, Bash?”

Bash looked up, anger and regret etched onto his face. “He told me he expects us to be engaged by the summer, if not by Christmas. He even…made some threats to ensure it happens.”

Motherfucking shitballs…Yep. Shouldn't have asked.

“Bash…what the…are you shitting me right now?” I felt the panic and disgust rising in me, thinking there was no way that could be true. Bash had to have been exaggerating…right?

“No, M…I'm not,” Bash eyed me with a bone-deep sorrow that wrenched my insides into a knot that almost made me double over. “He was very clear and very serious. I'm supposed to propose to Ainsley by the end of the school year.”

“NO!” I shouted, fury and distress making me shoot out of my chair involuntarily. “Bash, you…you can't just let him force you into that! That's absolute bullshit!”

“M, don't you think I know that? I don't have a choice! You don't get what he threatened, what he will do if I don't go through with it!” Bash looked anguished and agitated, running his hands through his hair and pulling.

“Who cares what he says he'll do? You can't give in to this!” I raved, starting to pace around as the adrenaline pumped through me.

“M, I don't have achoice!” Bash pleaded with me to understand, but how could I? It was fucking ridiculous!

“You always have a choice, Bash! Forget what he threatened you with—“

“I can't!”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because he threatened YOU!” Bash roared and shot out of his seat, my frantic arguing finally pushing him over the edge.

My brain sputtered and glitched, trying to make sense of what he had just said. My mouth gaped open as I fought to understand.

“How…how did he threaten me?” I asked in a small voice.

Bash tugged at his hair some more and faced away from me, taking a couple of deep breaths before turning back to answer. “He said that he would call the dean of your department and cause problemsfor you…he also warned that he would stop paying for my degree if I didn't get on board with the plan.”

“Bash…you can't let him win. This is fucking insane! Forget about what he said he'd do. I can take care of myself, but you can't marry her! At first, I thought you loved her. I thought you wanted to be with her, but clearly you were pushed into it, so why are you just giving in?”

“It's not that simple, M,” Bash growled, his hands planted on his hips as he grimaced at me.

“Then make it simple! This shit is so…” I paused, a realization hitting me in the face. “Wait…why did he threaten me, Bash? Why me specifically?”

Bash's face fell and he looked away, shaking his head.

“Bash, why me? You already said he threatened to cut off the money, so why bring me into it? Why does he think that would force you into doing something so batshit crazy?” I walked over slowly to him, determined to not let him out of this conversation until I had answers.

“I don't know, M…” he started, still avoiding looking at me.

“No, don't give me that shit, Bash. Why does he believe that you'll go through with it just to protect me?” I grabbed his chin and forced his head toward me until our eyes locked.

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