Page 16 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“You didn’t say thank you.”

I stop and turn back around. I place my hands on my hips and raise my eyebrows.

“I’m sorry. What exactly am I thanking you for?”

“For moving my sandwich and for complimenting your accent.”

“Thank you?”

“You’re welcome.”

“Okay. Great.”

I head towards the bathroom. What the fuck was that? Complete rocket. I hear Hayley follow me. Suddenly, she grabs my hand and pulls me all the way down the hall.

“Can you be nice to him please, Peter?” she asks as we reach my bedroom door. I turn around and put my back against the wall.

“What did I do? He’s such a fucking rocket.”

“Rocket?”

“Like a crazy person. Who is this guy?”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

My heart falls. “Boyfriend?”

“I told you about him at Melissa’s, remember? He knows Ryan. Remember Ryan?”

I do remember that...

“Well, that didn’t stop you from fucking me a few weeks ago. I assumed it was over then.”

“We were taking a break.”

“Well, take another one. A nice long one. I don’t like him.”

“Of course you don’t.” She laughs.

“No, not just because... It’s not just because of how I feel. It’s...”

“Then why? You didn’t even give him a chance.”

“He’s eating straight off the table. He’s made a mess in my living room,” I say as I tally the offenses on my fingers. “Are there plans to clean the mess?”

“Yourliving room? And it’s not a mess. It’s a few crumbs.”

“Also, he’s really weird. Did you hear that conversation? Am I the one being weird?”

“He’s not weird. He’s chill.”

“Yeah, because he’s so fucking high. Hayley, this guy is no good for you. You need someone who will help you get clean, not someone who is...who’s—”

“Who’s what?”

“Also an addict,” I say, resigned.

She releases one laugh, an “I can’t believe you’d have the audacity to say that” kind of laugh. She folds her arms and looks up at the ceiling.

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