Page 25 of The Boy I Hate

She narrowed her eyes. “You wouldn’ttrustme?”

“Not as far as I couldthrowyou.”

“Why?” She’d never had anyone say that before, so blatantly and matter-of-factly. She would have screamed had no one else been aroundtohear.

He opened the menu, dismissing her, then changed his mind and looked up again. “You’re only one bad decision away from climbing into my bed. You, andeveryoneelse.”

She choked. “You’re full ofyourself.”

“I’mhonest.”

She grabbed his glass of water and downed it by half, even though what she really wanted to do was throw it in his face. “Maybe that’s what you’re used to,” she said, around large gulps of water. “But that’snotme.”

He leaned back in his seat and smiled. The one that wrinkled his eyes at the corners, and made her stomach twist with nervousness. “It only takes one moment, Samantha. One twinge of doubt. One single disagreement for someone to cheat.” He leaned forward again, bracing his forearms on the table. “He shouldn’t trust you. You, or anyone. That’s what I’m saying. It’s nothingpersonal.”

She leaned in, not intimidated. “You say my boyfriend shouldn’t trust me, yet in the same breath say it’s nothing personal? Who does that? Who says things like that, expecting someone to not take offense? Itispersonal Tristan. Very personal, and I take great offensetoit.”

He leaned back in his seat. “Sorry. I didn’t mean tooffendyou.”

But he didn’t look sincere. Not sincere in the slightest, and she began to shake her head. She picked up the menu to cover her face, needing to get away from him in any way she could. Her blood was heating throughout her entire body. She was so angry she couldn’t see straight—and that was something she didn’t want him to see. For him to know how much his words hadaffectedher.

This conversation was completely ironic, too. Because not so long ago, this man had taken her first kiss. Not only taken it, but ripped it out from under her like a magic trick. Then not even twenty-four hours later was shoving another girl in her face. Yes, he had made no promises, no verbal commitment that anything would come from it, but no words were needed after a kiss like that. No promise could replace what their bodies hadtoldher.

“I feel bad for you,” she said quietly, unable toresist.

“Why?” he answered,amused.

“Because you have nofaith.”

“It makes thingseasier.”

“How so?” She lowered her menu, having expected him to disagree. But he didn’t. He answered in such a nonchalant way that she needed toseehim.

He was leaning back in his seat, his arms braced on either side booth. “Because—when you don’t care, they can’t hurt you.” He set his napkin on the table, then stood and looked down to the hall. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to make aphonecall.”

She watched him walk away, unable to form a response because bile had begun to climb up her throat. The way he said the words was so heartbreaking. As if he knew all too well what hurt felt like. As if he’d experienced it morethanonce.

He pulled open the back door, took his cell from his back pocket, and began talking. He was still in her line of vision, and she couldn’t look away. His expression became angry and intense as he walked around the corner, and then she couldn’t see him anylonger.

She remembered what Renee said about him having a hard couple of years, and for the first time, she wondered what happened. What could have been so terrible to cause such a jaded view on life? Wondered if the person he was talking to now was the causeofit?

The server came back at that moment, pulling Samantha’s attention as she set two plates on the table. Both the same order. A cheese burger and frenchfries.

“What’s this?” Samantha asked, withoutlookingup.

“A burger,” the woman replied. “Is that not what you wanted?Hesaid—”

“He ordered me food?” She looked up, slightly out of breath fromshock.

“Yes,” the server answered,confused.

“Why?” Samantha searched the server’s stressed face, then took pity on her and shook her head. “You know what—” She placed her napkin on her lap and decided not to over think it. “It doesn’t matter. Thank you, it looksdelicious.”

The woman nodded, still flustered, then turned to the nearby table and beganclearingit.

Samantha had barely touched her fries when Tristan came back inside and immediately started eating. She glanced up at him, a weird feeling tightening in the bottom of her stomach. “Why did you order me food?” she couldn’t stop herself fromasking.

His eyes met hers, bright blue but distant. “Do you always ask so manyquestions?”

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