Page 129 of You Kissed Me First

When he came back with breakfast, I swooned hard.

I never told him, but my love language is affection, but as a secondary, acts of service. So between the kisses and touches, him being willing to go out of his way to bring me pads, coffee, and food, my soul is feeling fulfilled for the first time ever.

I’ve never felt this way with another man.

Nessa did stop by at some point, but I was half-asleep. I heard Dominic tell her I started my period and was resting.

She left after he promised to take good care of me.

We watched a couple movies on the television, but after a while, I was feeling restless.

That’s how I ended up convincing him to go for a walk.

So now I’m sitting at the adults-only deck, watching the water while he ran off to find me a smoothie.

I guess he talked to some older lady at the bar who told him that smoothies help with cramps.

“Is this seat taken?”

Looking over, I find Barrett standing next to me.

I give him a small smile. “Nope. You can sit.”

When I started this trip, I wanted to avoid him at all costs. As time went on, it started not to matter.

They say the opposite of love is indifference, not hate.

I started this trip hating him, but now, I don’t really care about him at all.

Sure, I don’t want him to fall overboard or get sick, but I also don’t really care what he does.

“How are you doing? Nessa said you weren’t feeling well.”

“It’s lady time.”

I shouldn’t, but I find a little joy in the way he cringes.

Dominic didn’t even bat an eye, and I bled on him, yet Barrett can’t even handle me mentioning it.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he murmurs.

I laugh. “It’s fine. What did you need, Barrett? We both know you didn’t come sit next to me for idle chitchat.”

He frowns. “I miss you, Katie. I think I fucked up. I should have never cheated on you.”

I nod. “That’s big of you to admit.”

He reaches over, grabbing my hand. “Please tell me it’s not too late. You haven’t been dating Dominic long. You can break up with him and get back with me. We can move you into my room tonight. The way it should have been all along.”

I shake my head. “Barrett, I don’t love you. I don’t want to be with you.”

“Is it because of him? You know he only went after you because of me. He’s always been that way.”

I pull away from him. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah. Back in high school, he would find out I liked a girl, and he would go after her. Even after that, he would always sleep with the girls I liked. Then he would cast them aside. You shouldn’t be with a man like that. I mean, other than a couple girls in high school, he has never actually had a girlfriend.”

His words are like a cheese grater on my nerves. I can feel myself growing angrier.

---