Page 118 of Diem

“What?”

“This isn’t over.”

“Hm,” I murmur sitting on the bed.

I’m dizzy, I barely slept last night, and my head fucking hurts anyway.

“Mae, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. You should go. Hailey’s probably waiting on you.”

Wrapping his hands around his neck, he says with a quiet intensity that raises the hair on my nape, “I didn’t sleep with her.”

“Fine,” I say, looking away. “But you still apparently, fucked me for a bet.”

Is it true? The notion has been boiling below the surface since Hailey implied it in the parking lot the other day.

His sigh fills the silence before he runs his finger over my lip, and rasps, “I fucked you because I couldn’t resist these lips any longer.”

My skin tingles and I almost part them on a sigh before moving out of his grip. “What? This? You want another go? Fine.”

Laying back, I spread my legs wide and stare at the wall.

After a moment, he says, “If I fuck you, you sure as shit won’t be laying there like a fucking board. Is that how it was with that fucker?”

With disbelief I stare at him for a moment before a laugh escapes me. It’s raw and ugly but it’s fucking real. Once again, his eyes drop away from me before returning with an unexpected intensity.

“Diem,” I say breathless from my hysterical laughter, “are you really commenting on something that’s none of your business?”

“It is my business, and do you know why?” he asks gutturally.

Shaking my head, I try to push him away, but he grabs my head and says, “You’re mine.”

“No, I’m not. I’m Matt’s,” I lie and silently sigh. Way to fuck this up before it even started.

“Matt’s? What happened to Bone?” he drawls, and I scowl at his fucking amusement before shrugging. “Bone was nice, but Matt’s my best friend.”

He must see some sort of truth behind my eyes, or maybe it’s the faint flush painting my cheeks. I still can’t believe I slept with Matt, and I will regret it for an eternity, but I can’t go back and Matt is having a really hard time moving forward.

“Fuck!” he swears, slamming his fist against the wall. Absently I note the dent he’s now created where my poems once resided. It’s strangely apropos for the end of our friendship, a symbol of all that’s been lost. I think I’ll keep it.

“Matt?” he asks through a strangled throat, still staring at the wall.

“Yes,” I whisper.

“I’ll kill him,” he says so matter of factly a chill races down my spine.

“Don’t be stupid. Move on with Hailey or whatever.”

“Did you get hit on the head?” he barks. “Stay the fuck away from that dick or I’ll kill him.”

I don’t even know how to respond. Instead, I stare at him dumbly until he sighs and throws out his arms. I admire the sleek muscle once more while he stares into nothing.

“Fuck,” he mumbles before sitting beside me. Instant tingles break out in my core, and I resist the urge to lean against him, feel his warmth even if it’s just against my cold damn shoulder.

Instead, I move away. The constant seesaw of emotion around Diem has me spinning and I don’t much like the sensation.

“Did you fuck him?” he asks.

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