Page 47 of Brutal Kingdom

“I asked you a question.”

“And my silence was library speak for fuck off.”

His eyes dart back and forth. “Who are you meeting here?”

“It’s funny how you ask that question like I owe you or plan to give you an answer.”

“I already know the answer. It’s Noel, Sterling or Dixon.” Titling his head to the side, he sizes me up, sneering as if he suddenly finds me lacking. “It’s Dixon.”

“If you say so.”

“I know so, since he’s from here.”

He steps in my way, preventing me from getting around him.

“Move Logan.”

“What is it you just said? It’s funny how you think I plan to obey you.”

“Fine. Stand there in the middle of the aisle looking like an idiot.” I spin on my heels and shoot towards the back of the stacks, towards the stairs, taking them to the top floor.

He pops up next to the telescope on the observatory, interrupting my plans to hang out, and drink a coffee up here while staring out over the city.

“Of all the things that you could be doing, why are you following me?”

“Because of all the things I could be doing, you’re the only one that’s up to no good.”

“In a library? Refresh my memory. Weren’t you the one on his knees in the stacks?”

“You didn’t have a problem when it was happening.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I give him a look that matches my bored tone. “Yeah. Well, you had a lot to prove since I was unsatisfied in bed.”

I drop my half drunk coffee in the trash and walk towards the other side of the observatory. He’s still following.

“What time is good old Dixon showing up?”

“The same time you fuck off.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Every time you think you have breathing room, I’ll be there to suck the oxygen out of the room.”

He’s spoiling this trip. I was feeling good about the interview and enjoying my day, and he had to come along and ruin it.

“Damn. I must occupy a lot of space in your head if you’re devoting this much energy to see what I’m up to. Question. Am I dressed or naked most of the day? Or is this you regretting not letting me finish you off on Hell Night? Because I was amazed at your restraint, and glad you held back. It was a chore having you in my mouth. The whole time I was swallowing back puke.”

I dry heave to show just how much he disgusts me.

“The way you were moaning like a porn star. You weren’t disgusted. You couldn’t wait for me to blow down your throat.”

“Porn star? So you admit you know I was faking it.” I shoulder past him, tossing out, “Plot twist. It wasn’t the first time.”

I step into the empty elevator, ready to be away from him. His hand slams through, keeping the doors from closing, and he steps on next to me. There’s no way I’m riding all the way to the bottom with him. I push for the doors to reopen, but they don’t, so I press the button for the next floor.

The lights flicker and the car jolts to a stop. We’re stuck between floors, bathed in red lights with an alarm sounding above us.

“What the hell did you do?”

“Me? I didn’t do anything. It’s you bringing all your fucked up negativity.” Smashing buttons, I say, “It wasn’t enough that you followed me. Now we’re stuck in this elevator. God, you have absolutely no concept of minding your own fucking business, do you?”

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