Page 17 of Off-Limits Bad Boy
His face twists with anger and he rakes a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. “Enjoy your cats and dying alone,” he says, his hands shaking with fury as he stands up. With that, he stomps out of my apartment, leaving me staring after him in shock. I don’t know what to say or do, and the feeling of his lips on mine clings to my thoughts in a really unpleasant way.
Inside, I ache from his ugly comment and the sudden realization that he was never my friend. He was just waiting for an opportunity to make a move on me. Why is he like this?
The door slams behind him and I flinch at the sudden loud noise, followed by an absolute silence where warm conversation and fun had been only moments ago.
Stunned, I make my way to the door, searching for his retreating figure, even though I have no idea what I’d do if I saw him. But he’s nowhere to be seen, and I make my way to the sidewalk, wrapping my arms around myself to ward off the cold.
I sink down and sit on the sidewalk, the concrete rough beneath me as I try to catch my breath.
My brain can’t quite process everything that just happened.
How did everything unravel so quickly? This friendship has seen us both through really tough times. I thought I could trust him, that our friendship could survive most things, if not everything.
But now, it feels like everything is busted beyond repair. How can I ever trust him again? If he’s even interested in trying to fix things.
The sharp pang of loss digs at my insides, leaving an ache that throbs with each heartbeat. What the heck just happened?
My thoughts are a tangled mess, knotted with confusion and hurt. Ryan and I have shared countless laughs, secrets, and slices of pizza. Never did I imagine one impulsive act could sever years of camaraderie.
“Get it together,” I whisper to myself, drawing my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. I likely look like a fool, sitting on the sidewalk in my comfortable sweats and tee shirt.
But there’s no comfort to be found as his stinging words echo through my thoughts. Alone except for cats. Is that really how he sees my future? “I don’t even like cats,” I say to the night as if the world cares.
Whether he was just mad or not, the damage is done - along with our friendship. I know where I stand with him, and I’m not interested.
Still, the emptiness where our friendship used to be is agonizing. I sit there, under the star-speckled sky, fighting back tears and the fear he’s right.
When I finally pull myself together - and can’t stand the cold any longer - I drag my sorry carcass back up to my apartment.
I feel so stupid. I should've seen it coming—Ryan's lingering looks, his off-timed jokes. But Kade's unexpected appearance at my door earlier seemed to be the push he needed to shoot his shot. I wish he’d kept his feelings to himself.
But I guess it’s better to know he was never a friend.
Inside my warm home, the silence is suffocating, and I slump against the door. Sliding down to my bottom, I bring my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around myself, feeling hot tears pricking my eyes.
“Get a grip, Em,” I mutter to myself, wiping away the rogue tears slipping down my cheeks. I’m a mess, but I’m not about to let Ryan ruin my day, or my night.
A sharp knock at my door makes me jump, and I stand and turn around. I’m ready to ask Ryan what he forgot and why he came back. To set firm boundaries and let him know our friendship is over - he made sure of that.
But when I swing the door open, Kade stands on my front step, just as brooding and infuriatingly attractive as ever. But I see worry in his eyes.
“What are you doing here again, Kade?” I ask, the words sharp and angry.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I lift both shoulders, not seeing any harm in letting him come in now. I mean, Ryan is likely going to tell Alex everything. Or some twisted version of things, anyway.
I take a step back, leaving the door open, before turning to make my way to my couch. Kade follows me and when I look over my shoulder at him, my heart skips a beat.
“Are you planning on kissing me, too?” I ask.
Emotions I can’t quite decipher dance behind his eyes, but a smile tweaks the corners of his lips. “Only if you want me to.”
How the heck does he manage to make me feel so at ease?
I should shut him down, remind him of the invisible lines we've drawn so many times before. But his dark eyes are steady on mine, and something about the way he says the words leaves me melting inside.
“Maybe I do.” The words slip out, my tone bolder than intended, and Kade arches a devilish eyebrow in response.