Page 38 of All Along

“Oh yeah? It felt as if it had something to do with me when they kicked me out of the house on my eighteenth birthday and told me never to come back.”

“They kicked you out? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“You were off at basic training. What were you supposed to do?”

“You could have told me afterwards.”

Admit I’m unlovable to the man I’ve wanted since second grade? I don’t think so. I wave a hand in dismissal. “Forget about it. It’s over and done with.”

“Doesn’t seem to be over and done with. You’re obviously upset.”

As much as I wish I could claim I’m not upset, I can’t. I still long for my parents to love me. They’re my parents. They’re supposed to love me. But they don’t. They consider me a traitor. Because sticking up for what you believe in makes you a traitor.

“Can we move on? I don’t want to talk about my parents.”

“Admit you’re upset and I’ll drop it.”

I fist my hands on my hips. “Are you serious? You’ll drop it if I say what you want me to say? What kind of bullshit is this? I don’t push you on your issues.”

“You showed up here three times and demanded entrance despite me telling you I wanted to be left alone.”

“And you didn’t let me in, so I dropped it.”

He snorts. “You didn’t drop it. My parents showed up and thought we were a couple.”

I shrug. “We can stop pretending to date whenever you want. I’m helping you out.”

“Help me out now and admit you’re upset.”

I huff. “You’re worse than a dog with a bone.”

He chuckles. “You have no idea how much worse I can get. Say what I want to hear.”

“No. I’m not saying shit. I’m out of here.”

I stomp toward the door but Caleb shackles my wrist and whirls me around to face him. “I’m serious, Maya. If you don’t admit how your parents upset you, they’ll continue to have power over you.”

“What are you? Some psychiatrist now?”

“Nope. I’m a man who watched his girlfriend become devastated by whatever her mom said to her.”

“Fake girlfriend,” I remind him.

“Whatever. You’re my friend. I hate to see you hurt.”

“Then, let me go and you won’t see it anymore.”

“I’ll still be aware of how upset you are.”

I stomp my foot. “I’m warning you, Caleb. Let this go.”

He leans close until he’s right in my face. “Or what, Maya? What are you going to do?”

“I’ll… I’ll…”

I do the only thing I can think of. I push up on my toes and mold my lips to his. Blackbeard’s tale. This was a bad idea. I didn’t need to know how Caleb tastes. His flavor is as complex as a storm – salty, electric, and utterly consuming.

He licks my bottom lip and I moan.

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