Page 16 of Mine To Hunt

“Jesus, drop it.” He exhales. “She’s nobody. Just a coworker. Flirting, that’s all. You overreact like always.”

“Overreact?” My voice cracks.

I step toward him, anger finally breaking through the hurt.

“I always did whatever you wanted. Dinner ready when you got home. No questions about your‘late shoots,’even when you yelled.”

He scoffs.

“I did everything, Ryan.” I continue. “I laughed at your jokes. I kept the peace.” My throat tightens. “So why her?” I whisper. “What did I do wrong?”

Ryan lets out a short, bitter laugh. “Wrong?” He says. “That’s the problem, Iris.”

He shakes his head. “You’re too good.”

I blink at him.

“Always there. Always perfect.” His mouth twists. “It’s boring as hell.”

The word lands like a punch to the stomach.

“No fire.” He continues. “No chase. With her? It’s fun. She pushes back. Makes me want it.”

Boring. The word echoes in my head. All those nights I swallowed my doubts. Smiled through his moods. Told myself love meant patience.

Tears spill down my cheeks before I can stop them.

“Boring?” I whisper. “I gave you everything.” My voice grows louder. “My space. My time. After Mom and Dad… you were my stability.” My chest aches. “And you call that boring?”

Ryan’s eyes narrow. “Gave me?” He scoffs. “Please. You needed me. Scholarship girl with no one else. I put up with your moods, your writing bullshit taking over the couch.”

His voice hardens. “But yeah. It got stale. You nag. You cling.” He tilts his head slightly. “Maybe that’s why your folks checked out. Couldn’t handle the drama.”

My blood runs cold. “Don’t.”

The word comes out sharp. I step forward, shaking but standing my ground.

“Don’t you dare bring them up again. They loved me.” I say, my voice trembling with fury. “It was an accident. The rain. The road. It wasn’t my fault.” My hands clench into fists. “But you?” I continue. “You’re choosing to hurt me. For what?” I demand. “A quick thrill? You’re pathetic, Ryan. A coward hiding behind excuses.”

The room goes very still. Something snaps in his expression. His face darkens, rage flooding his eyes.

“Pathetic?” He snarls. “You little…”

His hand flies out, palm cracking across my cheek hard enough that stars burst behind my eyes. Pain explodes, sharp and stunning, my head snapping to the side. I stagger, hand flying to my face, the sting blooming hot.

"You think you can talk to me like that?"

"Ryan…" Shock chokes me, tears blurring. He's shouted, grabbed my arm, but never this. Never a hit. "Stop. Please."

He doesn't. His fingers tangle in my hair, yanking hard. Scalp screaming as he pulls me close, face inches from mine.

"You ungrateful bitch. After everything? I should've left you in the halls, whining alone."

He shoves then, releasing my hair with a twist that sends me sprawling. I hit the floor hard, elbow cracking on the hardwood, breath whooshing out.

Pain radiates, but fear floods colder, deep, paralyzing. This isn't him. Or is it? The mask's off, and underneath? Monster.

"Get up!" He looms over me, voice booming. "You think you're better? Some writer princess? You're nothing but a clingy mess who can't even keep it interesting!"