Page 65 of Between Hate and Desire

“What’re you trying to say? Don’t like my muscles and tats? That’s like every girl’s wet dream,” I taunt, backing away into the hallway toward my room.

“Trust me, I know. I’ve met your parade of women.” She rolls her eyes but playfully smirks, so I know she’s notthatannoyed.

Ten minutes later, we’re on the couch watching the episode where Rachel and Ross get into a fight and take a break. During the whole episode, Lennon grins, and it’s hard not to smile right along with her. It’s so damn contagious.

“Seriously,” she begins. “Who gets into a fight with their girlfriend and then jumps into bed with the first girl he finds? Ugh. He’s my most disliked character on this show.” She grumbles about it, which is freaking adorable. She’s getting all worked up over a TV show that’s almost as old as we are.

“But they were on a break?” I say smugly.

She shoves me and hisses. “So? He couldn’t goonenight without getting a woman’s attention? Oh wait, look who I’m asking?” she teases, rewarding me with a playful smile.

“Really?” I smirk at her dig and put a hand over my heart. “I almost got into a fight for you.”

“I can tell it was a real hardship.” She chuckles, her eyes trailing down my body, knowing I don’t have any battle wounds.

“Well, now I can see why Ross went crazy. Girls.” I shake my head, that nagging feeling hitting me hard in the gut just like when Liam and Mason looked at me as if they knew my secret. The one I’ve tried so damn hard to hide.

“Uh, no. He could’ve kept it in his pants,” she states matter-of-factly.

“Hey, he was trying to be sweet and romantic for their anniversary, and she basically told him her job was more important,” I try to defend the guy, but it’s a lost cause. I already know he’s an idiot for cheating on a woman like Rachel.

Oh my God. Now she has me thinking these characters are real people.

“We need something else to watch,” I deadpan. “I’m too invested.”

Lennon snorts. “There’s a series I’ve been meaning to start. It’s based on a book and is about a hot stalker or something.”

I face her with both brows perked up. “What’s wrong with you?”

“What?”

I laugh. “He’s hot, so it’s okay he’s a stalker?”

She pinches her lips and rolls them from side to side, bobbing her head. Then she shrugs. “It’s calledYou.”

“Never heard of it.”

“Let’s watch the first episode and see what we think,” she suggests.

“The last time you said that, we ended up ten episodes deep intoFriends.”

“And look how into it you are now.” Lennon smirks proudly, then laughs. “Okay, maybe you’re right. I should go to bed anyway.” When she raises her arms over her head and stretches, the fabric of her shirt rises up slightly.

She doesn’t move to get up, so neither do I. Lennon glances at me but doesn’t say anything. She fidgets with the hem of her shirt and stays silent.

“What is it?” I ask, grabbing her attention. “I can see something’s on your mind.”

Lennon nods, then turns to face me. “Earlier, you said you should’ve controlled your temper.”

I nod.

“Has that always been an issue for you, or is it recent?”

Fuck. I hadn’t expected her to ask something like that. It’s a part of my past I don’t talk about much to anyone. Not even Mason and Liam know much about my family. Only Brandon knew the ugly truth.

“I guess, around middle school.” I shrug, ashamed to admit it.

“Why’s that? Does something trigger it?” she asks, genuinely curious.

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