Page 90 of Dysfunctional

I grin and my heart sings. “It’s me and you,” I tell him. “Until the end.”

ChapterThirty-Seven

We didn’t get to leave as soon as we had planned, but not everything goes according to plan, does it? Once we left our little cottage, we traveled to another nearby town to get stitched up, and it’s already looking a lot better. Plus, I can move with ease now.

Our homes have already been packed up with everything we’re willing to bring with us, and the loose ends of our jobs are tightened up. Quin thought it would be best to stop by his job to talk to his boss and appearnormal. He wanted to thank him for understanding, and take some time to explain his made-up family problems so it would seem more genuine if anyone ever asks.

I could’ve and would’ve left my job without a word, but he insisted that would come across strange, so I listened. I told them my boyfriend had to leave town because of a death in the family, and the hopeless romantic that I am couldn’t let him be alone in this dark time. They looked at me funny, unaware of a boyfriend, but it’s not like I tell people my business.

Boyfriend. It’s a label we’ll need for some situations, but it doesn’t feel right to me. He’s hardly a boy and much more than a friend. There isn’t a word for what we are to each other. He’s everything to me. How do you encompass so much into a single word? I’d cease to live without him. I wouldn’t want to walk this earth if it wasn’t with him by my side. He’s become much more than a desire. I want him, sure, but more than that, Ineedhim. I need the acceptance he gives me. The cool detachment he often has feeds my obsessive side, forcing me to find a way to get him to show me something, even if it’s necessary to make him jealous. He’ll fuck me and claim me and whisper threats in my ear if I ever do it again. It breathes life into both of us. He needs to expel that energy just as I need to ingest it.

We’re not normal by any means, and never claim to be. We need the toxicity. We need to feel the sting of pain from each other while also inflicting it. There’s not another person in the world for either of us. How ironic to find solace in a man who initially brought you distress. He took from me what I had wanted for years—the death of my father. I hungered for revenge before eventually realizing I was just hungry for him.

Now, we’re showing our faces at Thai Me Down one last time so Shevon can see us, hear our story, and eventually spread it to everyone in town.

“Hey, guys,” she greets, putting her hands on her hips as she peers down at us with a wide smile. “How you been? You haven’t been in this week, which is weird for you,” she says with a chuckle aimed at Quin.

“We’ve been good,” I answer with a grin.

“We’ve been spending a lot of time at my place lately,” Quin adds, gazing at me with a love-struck expression to sell our relationship.

“Oh. Umm.” She shifts on her feet, her finger gesturing between us. “Are you two a thing?”

I laugh. “Yeah.”

She crosses her arms in front of her chest, staring at Quin. “Well, dang, you could've told me. It would’ve helped my ego and explained why you never asked me out.” She winks at him, letting us know she’s teasing.

People see men in a relationship and assume gay, never bi. In this case, their assumptions will help us. Why would we ever want a woman when we had each other?

Quin chuckles, but quickly changes his face so he looks a little forlorn. “Unfortunately, my dad has taken a turn for the worse. My mom really needs my help, since it doesn’t look like he has much time. We’re not gonna be in town much longer.”

Shevon’s face falls. “Oh no. I’m so sorry. I’ll pray for him and your family. Will you ever come back?”

He shrugs. “Not sure.” After a sigh and a swipe at his brow, he says, “So, we’re gonna try to get there before the holidays and maybe get one more Christmas in.”

She touches his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “At least you have someone by your side,” she says, glancing over at me with a small smile.

“I’ll take care of him.”

When she disappears to get our food, Quin exhales. “Well, the whole town should know in two to three days.”

I laugh. “Definitely. Good acting.”

He rolls his eyes.

Once we’re done eating, we leave the restaurant and run directly into Jason.

“Hey! I was gonna text you.”

“What’s going on?” Quin asks, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jacket.

“Not much. We’re gonna be at The Hideout here in a little bit. There’s this ugly Christmas sweater party happening.”

Quin makes a face. “I don’t—”

Jason cuts him off. “You don’t have to have an ugly sweater,” he says with a laugh. “If Willow was here, she might force you to, though. Speaking of which, have you heard from her lately?”

“She mentioned a girls’ trip to some cabin. Sugarbush, I think. After that she said she was going to be with her family for New Year’s Eve.”

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