Page 26 of Prey Tell
He sits up. “Jules, come to bed.”
I shake my head, digging my heels in. “No. I—we—I want you tofuck me,Dylan. Maybe choke me a little bit. God, something,” I tell him as I close my eyes.
I hear him get out of bed and walk over to me.
He places his hands on my face. “Jules, what’s wrong?”
Does he treat you like a seven-course meal, Parker?
“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly.
“Do you want to give me a blowjob?” he asks, his lips quirking up.
Now, you’re going to go back out there to your doting fiancé. You’re going to plan the wedding of your dreams. And you’re going to live happily fucking ever after, yeah?
Yeah.
Happilyfuckingever after.
I drop to my knees, withholding the tears that threaten to spill out of my eyes. A few minutes later, after Dylan comes, I leave the room and run out of the front door as tears stream down my face. Three blocks in, I have to stop. I’m crying too hard and I can barely breathe. Resting my hands on my knees, I take several steadying breaths as I look around the suburban neighborhood. It’s dark, but the streetlights provide enough light for me to feel safe. The sky is a navy blue, teetering on sunrise. I place a hand on my throat as I cry, wondering what’s wrong with me.
Where did I go wrong?
Why am I not bursting with happiness?
The list makes sense. Itallmakes sense.
I slowly jog back to my house, leaving the front door open as I climb the stairs two at a time. Dylan is walking out of the bathroom when I get to the bedroom.
“Where’d you go, babe? I was just—”
“Are you happy?” I ask, panting.
He shrugs. “Yeah. Why?” He studies my face, taking in the swollen eyes, the tear-stained cheeks. “Fuck, Jules. Is this about the blowjob?”
I huff a laugh. “No, Dylan. I’m trying to figure out if we ever had that electric chemistry everyone always talks about.”
Dylan opens and closes his mouth. “I don’t think that’s real. Is this about your dissertation?” he asks hopefully.
I shake my head.
He takes a step toward me. “I’m guessing by the way you phrased that question, that you never felt that electric chemistry everyone always talks about?” he asks, his voice low.
I cross my arms. “I—don’t know.”
His brows slant down into a frown. “What are you saying, Jules?”
I throw my hands out. “I don’t know. I was supposed to be happy.”
“Supposed to be,” he says glumly.
“Are youin lovewith me?” I ask him. “The kind of love that makes your heart skip a beat? The kind of love that makes you fall asleep with a smile on your face?”
He scoffs. “You’re acting weird. Of course I love you.”
“I didn’t ask if you loved me. I asked if you wereinlove with me.”
“Jules, I don’t know why you—”
