Page 42 of Paradox
“You know I hate Gran Turismo,” I sigh, and flop onto my side of the sofa.
“And you know I don’t give a fuck.”
I roll my eyes and pick the same car I always do regardless of the track; the Alfa Romeo 1938 Touring Berlinetta. For no otherreason than it looks like a mobster died in it and it pisses Eden the hell off.
“Are you ever gonna try?”
“Are you ever gonna stop forcing me to do this crap?”
“And what else would you be doing?”
“I dunno. I was having a pretty decent time doing the dishes,” I smirk, and instantly feel Eden's eyes burn into the side of my head. “Just start the thing, already.”
Neither of us are surprised when Eden wins, but he still gloats about it. Calls me a loser, tells me I never stood a chance with my shit car. All while I bite my tongue and pretend to be just a little bit pissed.
I guess it feeds into both of our egos. He gets to feel like he’s better than me, and I get to know that I always let him win.
“You have to pick another car this time.”
“No thanks,” I shrug, and select the Berlinetta again.
A cushion flies against my head. “I thought I told you not to fuck with me.”
“You give me no other freedom of choice, so the least you can do is let me annoy the crap out of you by choosing this car.”
Eden’s feet flex, and he rubs the heels of his socked feet back and forth on the rug.
“Are you gonna make me sit outside again?”
“That’s not a valid punishment anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because you like it too much.”
Placing the controller beside me, I pull my legs up onto the couch and hug them. “You’re screwed up.”
“And you’re getting away with too much.”
“You’re not my father. And I don’t need your discipline.”
“That bratty pout tells me otherwise.”
“You’re punishing yourself, too. Forcing me to play your dumb games. Not giving me a moment to myself… How is thatrewarding for you? A person should spend time with someone because they want to, not because they risk another bruise if they say no.”
Eden throws the remote towards the TV cabinet. “Am I really that fucking bad to be around?”
“Do you want the truth, or the answer you want to hear?”
Leaning forward, Eden rings his hands together so hard I can see how white his knuckles are from here. “So you’d seriously rather be outside than in here with me?”
“Right now? Yes.”
Eden stands.
I tuck my head into my legs and brace for impact, but he walks straight past me to the door. A bitterly cleansing rush of coldness hits me when it opens, and seconds later there’s a thud in front of me.
“Go on then.”
