Page 46 of Play It Off

She doesn’t say much at first, but I can tell by the way her face nearly crumples that she’s upset and on the verge of crying. Something I don’t think I’ve ever seen Destiny do, and we’ve lived together going on three years. “She told me I’m too stubborn.”

Oh, that is 100 percent accurate.

When Destiny doesn’t say anything else, I realize I’m going to need to pull the issues out of her. She’s not going to offer them voluntarily. “And what else did she say?”

Destiny shakes her head, a single tear streaking down her cheek, and I leap from my chair, go to her, and wrap my arms around her. It hurts my heart to see her cry because she’s so,sotough all the time.

“She said I don’t ever share my feelings with her. That I’m always throwing up walls, and she wants me to be real with her for once.” Destiny is full-on crying now, little sobs sounding in her throat as she shakes in my arms. “I don’t think she realizes that I’m always trying to be strong because she’s the emotional one in the relationship.”

“Aw.” I press my hand against the side of her head so she has no choice but to rest her cheek against my shoulder. The girl is rigid in my arms, and I wish she could relax. “Maybe you should be crying to Lizzie right now, not me.”

“No,” she spits out, pressing her face into my shoulder and soaking my T-shirt with her tears. “I can’t look weak in front of her.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not supposed to. I’m the tough one. I’ve been the tough one my entire life. I’m the oldest of three, and we all had different dads who bailed on us. My mom was constantly scrambling between a variety of jobs, trying to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads. Right before I turned sixteen, she was asking me to get a job to help out, and I did. I didn’t even hesitate, because I wanted to help. I was always there for her, no matter what. Working endless odd jobs to help pay our bills or leaving class early so I could pick up my brother and sister from school and watch them while she was working,” Destiny explains, hiccuping.

I wish she would’ve told me her backstory before. “I had no idea.”

“I don’t tell anyone, that’s why. I don’t need any sympathy. I can handle myself.” Her voice quakes when she speaks, and I don’t sayanything. There’s no point. She believes she’s strong, and she won’t let down that wall. Not even to her girlfriend.

But then my thoughts get the best of me, and I have to say something.

“Have you ever thought of just ... explaining yourself to her? You don’t have to tell her every detail about your past, but it might show Lizzie that you’re willing to be vulnerable with her, and that’s ... huge.” I think of my own issues. Gavin Maddox and how vulnerable he was with me last Saturday night, how vulnerable we were with each other, only to ruin everything the next morning with his glib attitude after fucking me deliciously—and without a condom.

Then he ruined it further when we both were at Everleigh’s yoga session a few days ago. Yes, I can admit I was flaunting myself in the cute pink outfit I found on Amazon for a steal. Yes, I was trying to get his attention, and I probably made a fool of myself. But when he called Ever wifey material right in front of me? That burned my ass like nothing else, and I had to leave. Not that he got it.

A deep sigh escapes me, and Destiny lifts her head, her tearstained face breaking my heart—which is a weird feeling for me because most of the time all Destiny does is annoy me.

Huh. Am I the problem here?

“I’m scared to tell her about my past,” Destiny whispers. “What if I do, and she doesn’t love me anymore?”

“Aw, D.” I smile at her, brushing the stray strands of hair away from her face. “I think Lizzie loves you, and you’re being so stubborn that you can’t even see it.”

“She was really upset when she kicked me out of her apartment.” Destiny sucks on her lower lip.

“She kicked you out?”

“Well. More like she said, ‘There’s the door. If you want to go, do it,’ and so I did.”

That’s a big difference. “Go back to her place and tell her you were wrong. Apologize to her.”

Destiny makes a face. “I hate saying sorry.”

“Right. Because you’re so stubborn,” I remind her.

She pulls away from me completely, wiping at her face and getting rid of her tears. “Fine. You’re proving your point. Lizzie wasn’t wrong.”

“She really wasn’t.”

“And I’m a stubborn ass who won’t ever give in.”

“No, you really don’t.”

“You don’t even like me much, huh?” Before I can answer her—and God, I really don’t want to answer her—she keeps talking. “I know I’m an asshole sometimes. I’m not as warm and fuzzy as you, Sienna.”

“Warm and fuzzy?” I laugh. “I am not that way.”

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