Page 65 of Messy Strokes (Wrecked Roommates)

“Says the guy who asked me if I wanted to have a threesome with him and his friend, no strings attached,” I point out. “Fun fact, Milo. I did get attached, and you threw it back in my face.”

Jabbing at the air conditioner button, I try to turn it on, but the damn thing won’t work. It’s too hot in here. Too stifling. I need air. I feel like I can’t freaking breathe. Flustered, I squeeze my hands into fists and scramble for the window, rolling it down a few inches until my hair is whipping around my face. But at least I can breathe—kind of.

This is ridiculous. I want to slap him. I want to scream in his face. I want to make him understand where I’m coming from. There hasn't been a single day where I wasn’t thinking about him, wondering what could’ve been if it hadn’t exploded in my face.

“I guess the joke was on me, huh?” he mutters a few seconds later, leaning forward to push the correct buttons on the dashboard until a cold blast of air touches my face. “‘Cause I got attached too. Doesn’t mean I’m stupid enough to ignore the truth, though.”

“The truth?” I seethe, glaring at the side of his face since he refuses to look at me as he rolls my window back up from the control panel on the driver’s side door.

Coward.

“And what’s the truth, Milo? I’m not forever material? I’m not worthy of a real relationship because I’ll get bored? Nope. I’m simply an easy lay.”

“Easy?” He laughs and turns to me, his eyes cold and hard. “Hardly. You’re one of the most difficult people I’ve ever met.”

His words hit like a slap to the face as memories of growing up rise to the surface.

“Why are you always so difficult, Madelyn?”

“Why do you always challenge us, Madelyn?”

“Why do you have to be so stubborn? So hard-headed? Sodifficult?”

My lips pull into a thin line. I don't know what to say or how I can fix this. I don’t know how to make him understand my point of view or how to make him see he’ll always be the only one for me. And knowing he actually cared about me––felt something for me the way I did for him? It only adds pressure to the ache in my chest.

We drive the rest of the way home in silence. Both of us fuming. Both of us unsure of what to say or how to fix the shitty circumstances we’re in.

Because I’m still right. He doesn’t trust me enough to take the leap. He doesn’t trust I won’t let him down.

But he’s right too.

Because even though he has no idea, Ididlet him down. I lied to him. I’ve convinced him Penny’s his and have warped his future beyond repair. And if he ever finds out, he’ll never forgive me.

16

Milo

Ring.

Ring.

“Hello?”

“Screw you, Jos,” I growl into my cell, searching my pockets for my damn car keys.

After pulling up to the house with Mads and Penny, I’d rushed upstairs to take a cold shower, hoping it would calm me down, but it did shit. If anything, I’m more amped up than ever, and I can’t handle being at home. Not right now. Not when she’s in the room next to mine.

Not when her words have been cycling through my head over and over again.

Not when they hit so damn close to home.

Jos sighs. “So, you heard about my condition, did ya?”

“You should talk to me about that shit, not her.” When the warm metal touches my fingers, I grab my keys and press the unlock button. I don’t even know where I’m going. I just need to get out of here.

“Who is she, Milo?” Jos asks.

“She’s my kid’s mom.”

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