Page 43 of Can't Fight It

And my spidey senses could be right.

Peering through the peephole, a familiar head of floppy brown hair fills my vision, my stomach sinking. It’s not like I can pretend I’m not home, though. My car’s right outside.

I open the door, a bouquet of flowers greeting me. Well, that’s a surprise.

I take the arrangement of carnations, daisies, and baby’s breath from him, unsure what to say. I’m guessing this is his way of apologizing?

“Can I come in?” he asks.

“Uh, sure.”

I hold the door open wider and Joel walks in, his head swiveling as he searches the apartment. He could at least be a little more circumspect.

“Austin’s not here,” I tell him, getting it out of the way.

He spins around, guilt flashing over his face. “I wasn’t… I came here to make sure we’re good. I don’t like fighting with you.”

I let out a sigh. “You basically said today you don’t trust my judgment. That obviously upset me.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

I mull over his response for a moment. “You’re sorry you said it out loud? Or you’re sorry and don’t really mean it?”

“The second one,” he stutters. “And you can hang out with anyone you want. You’re right that I don’t know this guy.”

I nod. “Thanks for saying that.”

“So I’m forgiven?”

God, I hate being put on the spot like this. If I say no, I’m a bitch, aren’t I?

“Sure.” I move past him to grab a vase from beneath the kitchen sink and fill it with water before sticking the flowers in.

“I was thinking I should get to know him, too. I could join you for your self-defense lesson.”

My lips part, but no sound escapes. He wants to join us? Is it wrong that I don’t want him to? “I, um, I haven’t cleared it with Austin. If he’d be comfortable with that.”

He takes a seat on my couch, propping his feet on the coffee table. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. What’s one more person? I mean, all you’re doing is self-defense, right? Not anything else?”

Irritation flares within me before I tamp it down. Why does he keep implying I’m guilty of something? “No, just self-defense.”

“Great. Can’t wait to learn some moves.”

I stare at him, my fingers flexing at my sides. Joel’s my friend. I shouldn’t be this annoyed. But that doesn’t change that I am.

There’s a knock at the door and I whirl around and open it, stepping outside before Austin sees Joel. “Hi.”

He steps back to give me room and hitches a thumb over his shoulder, glancing at my closed door. “Hey. Did you want to go to my place instead or something?”

“No, my friend stopped by unexpectedly.”

“Oh.” He sticks his hands in his pockets. “Did you need to cancel?”

“He was actually hoping to join us.” I cross my arms, unprepared for the cold out here. “It’s my study partner, Joel. You might have seen him at the Stress Lab?”

He scratches at the back of his neck, forehead wrinkled. “Uh…”

“I understand if you say no. It’s super last minute.”

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