Page 55 of The Chemistry of Us

Could she at least wear something that didn’t show off her perfect body? Her hair was so glossy I swore I could see my reflection in it. Her dress was white. It was classy, simple, yet so sexy. Parts of the middle of it were see-through but only right below her breasts. The bottom of the dress kissed her knees, andthe top was strapless with a bit of a dip between her breasts. Simple and stunning.

Mine.

“Back off!” I roared, or maybe I slurred. I couldn’t really tell.

The guy in the blue—or was it green—shirt held up his hands and walked off while Tru just looked up at me and sighed. “You’re wasted.”

“You’re wasted!” I snapped.

Her eyebrows rose. “Oh? Then what’s the periodic table element for silver.”

I blinked. “We have chemistry.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Stop dressing like that.” I pointed my cup at her. “You look like a snack, which makes guys think they might have a chance at the whole meal.”

Tru let out a slow exhale. “No snacks. No appetizers. No meals. Not even a drink. I’m dry.”

“Nah, you’ve always been wet for me!” I didn’t mean to shout it, but we suddenly had everyone’s attention. “I mean, you know…”

Tru’s face fell. “Vaughan, stop talking.”

“Well, they should know, right? I mean, the history, our sordid past, how you left me, and the sex, oh yeah, the sex, so good. Tell them Tru, remember? Your name is Tru. Always tell the truth, good little…orphan girl.” That last part just slipped out. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like, I mean, I’m drunk, Tru?—”

“Hey.” Brady grabbed my arm. “Let’s call it a night, man.”

I shoved him away. “Nah, it’s fine. Tru knows I didn’t mean it. Plus, I know what she looks like naked. We have no secrets, right True?” She did.

I didn’t.

The pain from the inside kept pouring out of my mouth like vomit. “Right?”

Tru started walking toward the stairs. I grabbed her by the arm.

“Let go.” Tears welled in her clear blue eyes. “Please, Vaughan. Please. I’m begging you. Please sober up. Please don’t say anything else. People are watching.”

“Let them watch.” I joked. “You never cared before, right? On the beach?”

I didn’t see it coming. The slap across the face, and what was worse, the tears streaming down her cheeks as she sniffed and slowly climbed the stairs.

Brady cursed next to me. “Fuck man, did you have to do it today of all days?”

I waved him off. “On a Saturday?”

Brady's face fell. “Nah, dude, on her fucking birthday, you ass.”

Her birthday.

Tru hated her birthday.

She never got anything on her birthday and shit.

Shit.

I tripped up the stairs, but the minute I got to her door, it was slammed in my face and locked. The loudest lock, actually, that I’d ever heard in my entire life.

So I sat in front of her door, and after the lights went out, I whispered under my breath, “Happy birthday.”

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