Page 69 of Teacher's Pet

"I don’t know what the hell is going on between you two," he mutters, shaking his head. "But you better fuck or fight. Either way, whatever this is? It ends tonight."

With that, he turns, sulking away into the night.

His words cut deep.

"Why would he say that?" Ana exhales, rubbing her temples.

I ignore the question, my voice sharp with demand.

"Answer mine first. Does he live here?"

She hesitates, then slowly nods.

Something burns in my chest.

"Great," I scoff, anger boiling over. "So you left to go fuck-"

"Meg, he’s not home," she snaps, her own frustration surfacing. "And I don’t think we should talk out here-"

"That’s not why I’m upset, Ana!" my voice cracks, my chest tightening. "I lied to you."

Tears burn at the corners of my eyes, but I keep going, voice thick with emotion.

"And then I had to stand there and face your two cock-sucking exes, knowing damn well that every single word they threw at me was just more fucking torture." My throat tightens, and the words tumble out before I can stop them.

"Ana, I love you."

She flinches, but I push through.

"But I need to know if what I’m feeling for you is more than that. That kiss earlier? It didn’t help. And now, after dealing with Cole and Walker, and this mystery man, I just can’t-"

My voice breaks.

Ana’s lips part, something pained and unsure flickering across her face.

"I can’t give you what you need, Meg," she whispers. "When I barely understand what’s happening myself."

A breath shudders through her.

"You don’t deserve to feel like this. And the last thing I need is to lose you."

The words slam into me like a punch to the gut.

Silence stretches between us.

I swallow hard, my voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean?"

"I need to figure out what it is I want, Meg."

The words hit like a hammer to the chest, knocking the air from my lungs.

Reality settles in, sharp and unforgiving.

Pain swallows me whole.

A choked sob pushes past my throat. "Well then, next time," my voice wavers, but the anger burns through, "don’t use me to experiment on."

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