Page 17 of Don't Make Me Beg
It’s a small, thoughtful gesture, but old habits die hard, I guess.
She gingerly accepts the drink, and I hold out my glass. “To reconnecting with old friends,” I say, clinking my glass to hers before throwing back half its contents in one long gulp. In contrast, Scout takes a tiny sip, coughing in surprise as she swallows.
“I may have gone a bit heavy on the gin. I hope you’re not still a lightweight,” I tease, and then I notice the slightest tick of her jaw and even more intriguing, the flicker of challenge flashing behind those pretty hazel eyes.
Maybe there’s a little bit of the old Scout still in there after all…
Good. Get mad. Tell me how much you hate me. Tell me how you wish we had never met. How you regret everything we shared that night. Give me all your pent-up rage so I can finally let go of this grudge and move on with my life.
I wait, but her expression shifts, melting back into that pleasant, neutral mask she’s always been trained to wear.
“Why don’t we have a seat, and you can catch me up on what you’ve been up to?” I gesture to the living room, kicking away a dirty pair of jogging pants to clear our path. “You’ll have to forgive the mess. I wasn’t exactly expecting company,” I say as I take a seat in a leather armchair. Scout takes a seat in the other armchair across from me, rather than the sofa that’s in the middle.
She sits perched on the edge of the seat as she sips her cocktail, surveying the cozy living room for every new detail. “Wow, that’s a big TV. I didn’t realize they made them that big…” It’s a dig—a polite dig—but a dig, nonetheless. Judging by her stark change in appearance, I’d bet her love for horror movies is just another thing she’s abandoned along with the outdated version of herself.
I hate that that bothers me so much. What’s it to me if she’s changed in eight years? Lord knows I have, though I don’t thinkthe core of who I am has changed much, but I’ve hardened up a bit…grown up a hell of a lot.
“You know I love a good movie night, so when I was furnishing this place, I had to have the best setup I could get my hands on.” I kick my feet up on the coffee table and sink into my seat. “And let me tell you, the sound system on this baby is incredible. It really makes the experience.”
She shifts in her seat uncomfortably, and I take it as my cue to tease her a little more. I sit up, propping my elbows on my knees as my gaze zones in on the bare finger where her engagement ring should be. “So how’s wedding planning going? I hope you’ll send me an invite. I’ve always loved weddings.”
Her posture is rigid and forced, like sheer determination is the only thing holding her together—much like the pretty velvet bow in her hair, uselessly clinging to the wild, windblown strands.
I love seeing her so disoriented. It’s as if karma is finally on my side; all of the pieces that had been used against me are finally falling into place. All it would take to unravel her is one deliberate tug of the ribbon…
Her throat works as she takes a large gulp of her drink. “We…uh…we recently broke up, actually.”
I can’t deny the feeling of relief that washes over me at that confession. It’s not like it really matters, but at least that walking shit-stain doesn’t get to keep the girl, too. Scout may have lost all her sparkle, but I don’t have to know him to know she’s still too good for him. The version of her I used to know, anyway.
She pauses for a moment, then finally adds, “It’s sort of the reason why I’m here. It’s a long story, but I hope to get things sorted out soon.”
“Oh, man. I’m sorry to hear that,” I lie, biting my cheek to hold back my grin. “Well, at least you have your parents tofall back on.” I barely manage to get the last part out without laughing, and this time, Scout zones in on it.
Glaring daggers at me, she tosses back the last of her booze, slamming the now-empty glass down on the coffee table and shooting to her feet. “You know what? Screw you, Luka. I knew I shouldn’t trust you after the way you treated me back there. I get it, you hate me. But I guess you’re going to have to get in line behind everybody else.”
She sucks in a sob as she rushes back through the kitchen, depositing her empty glass in the sink before stepping back into her shoes.
“Hang on. Hang on. Don’t be so dramatic. It’s nearly ten o’clock at night, you have no money, and we’re ten miles outside of town. Unless you plan on spending the night in the woods tonight, I don’t know where you think you’re running off to.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to take my chances sleeping in the woods. It can’t be any worse than staying here with you.”
“I’m sorry, all right?”
“Sorry for what?”
“I’m sorry I provoked you about your failed engagement and then immediately pointed out how shitty your parents are. Okay? Just don’t…don’t go…”
“Why shouldn’t I? It’s not like you care about me. You’ve made that abundantly clear tonight.”
I drag my fingers through my hair in frustration. “Seeing you has brought up a lot of old feelings, that’s all. But that doesn’t mean I want to see you put yourself in danger. Just… stay here tonight and we’ll figure out a plan in the morning.”
“Fine. But I’m leaving as soon as I get my money and card situation sorted out.
I tense as a strange sense of disappointment sinks in my stomach at her threat. I guess that alcohol hit me faster than I realized; it has my body acting on its own accord. “Come on. I’llshow you to your room,” I lead her through the hallway, pausing as we pass the stairwell. “You can stay down here. Stay as long as you need, but just don’t go upstairs.”
“Why? What’s upstairs?”
“That’s where I keep all my shit. It’s none of your business,” I snap.
