Page 63 of Tell Me When It's Over

“Sure, but it’s others I don’t trust.”

“Like Chase?”

Silence.

“I thought you said he was nice.”

“Nice boys have hands too,” he grumbles.

I blink. “Are you serious?” Laughing when he looks like this isn’t a good idea, so I refrain.

Evading my inquiry, he moves on. “Is there going to be a second date?” There’s a funny tone to his voice that I can’t figure out.

“We’re hanging out again,” I answer carefully.

“On a date?”

My shoulders drop. “Why?”

“Because…” The tip of his tongue darts out and wets his bottom lip. “Because if there is, I think we need ground rules for the house.”

Ground rules? “You already gave me a curfew, Ky. What else is there to…” Stopping myself, I gape at him in understanding. Mom didn’t even give me rules about guys being over when it was just me, not that she would have cared. In fact, she’d applaud it.

“I’m being smart,” is what he thinks to reply, ignoring my expression.

“Smart,” I repeat slowly.

A head nod. “I’m not comfortable with him being here with you if I’m not. So, if this is something you’re going to pursue, we need to talk about it.”

“Would you rather I hang out at his—”

“No,” he cuts me off. “Remember the ‘I know how nineteen-year-olds think’ talk we had before you left? I don’t want you alone with him anywhere. That’ll give him ideas. You’re too young.”

He really said that. Young? “Kyler, I’m going to be nineteen soon. Isn’t that a little unfair? I haven’t asked you not to bring girls here.” Though, saying that out loud and thinking about him bringing dates makes me queasy.

“I wouldn’t bring girls here,” he informs me. His tone is too rough for the conversation at hand and it makes me irritated.

“You don’t even date anyway!”

He stands, putting distance between us before throwing out, “Just because I don’t date, doesn’t mean there aren’t girls, Leighton.”

I have to think about that way too hard, not wanting to analyze the way my stomach drops. “What? When?” Immediately, I want to take back the question because I don’t want to know. I mean, I’m still curious even though I shouldn’t be because he never talks about anybody other than me, Mia, and Gordy.

“I’m not discussing that with you.”

“Then discuss with me how you’re being hypocritical right now,” I fire at him, crossing my arms over my chest. If he can go out to wherever and with whomever, then shouldn’t I be able to, too? “You’re acting like I’m going out and hooking up with random people or something. It’s just Chase and we’re not even doing anything. It was one date. One date that you basically told me to go on.”

His eyes pierce mine, and something shifts in the air, making it thicker. “I’m being reasonable here. Just because Katherine would have patted you on the fucking hand and told you to do whatever you want doesn’t mean I’m going to. You’re not living with her anymore.”

“Of course I’m not!” I all but shout, halfway to seething in hurt and anger. “In case you’ve forgotten, she’s dead.” My

voice cracks and I fight off the tears. How did we get here? “You know what. Whatever. I had a good time tonight and you’re ruining it. Again. I don’t get why you’ve been such a jerk to me. If I’m getting on your nerves, tell me. I know being roommates isn’t what you wanted for yourself, but I can give you space if you need it. I can make it easier for you.” I hiccup and stand, ready to go upstairs.

He sighs and tries catching my arm. “I’m sorry, Lenny. I don’t know what to do here. It feels like I need to throw down some rules, especially since we share this house. Me not bringing girls here is out of respect for you.”

I wish he’d stop telling me about these supposed girls because it makes the nausea worse. How many girls are we even talking about? The question is front and center in my mind and no amount of pushing gets it to go away. I shouldn’t care about who he hooks up with, but I do. And I hate that I do. “I understand that, Ky, but I didn’t ask you to. Telling me I need to be supervised just feels like you don’t trust me.”

Trust shouldn’t even be a problem here because I’m not some hopeless teenager. I’ve handled myself over the years perfectly fine. If this is his way of making up for lost time, he’s going about it the wrong way.

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