Page 592 of Rock Me All Night
"Why are you miserable?" I ask.
"I'm not."
"You look like you got punched in the gut." I go to grab his wrist but he's too fast about pulling it to his lap. "I know you aren't jealous. You don't look at Willow like that."
"Don't look at anyone but you like that."
"You are upset. It's written all over your face."
His eyes go to the steering wheel.
"Because you're losing your best friend?" I ask. "That has to be hard, him moving on so quickly. He moved out a month ago, right?"
"Just about."
"How long did you live together?"
"Since I was twelve." He turns back to me. "You gonna talk to me?"
"I'm trying to do what you want, to play your sweet, demure girlfriend." My stomach clenches. "But I don't like lying to your family. They're honest and open and they clearly love you. Why won't you let them in, let them help you?"
"This is what I want."
"But—"
"Are you backing out?"
I take a deep breath. Words find my lips without passing through my brain. "Do you care about me?"
"What? That's not relevant."
"But do you?"
His brow furrows as he gets out of the car. I can't stay here. I get out and follow him to the sidewalk.
It's hard to make out the details of his expression in the dark, but his posture gives enough away.
"Do you?" I ask. "Tell me the truth. It won't break me if you say no." In theory.
"Are you backing out or not, Jess?"
"I'm not."
"Then let's go."
"But—"
"I'm not discussing this any more." He takes three steps forward then he turns back to me. "Are you coming or not?"
