Page 17 of Dissolving Prejudice

“It’s ’cause you’re dead to me, Diesel.”

Diesel.

Who knew hearing him call me that way would be this fucking painful?

The same gut-wrenching feeling of blunt rejection struck me again, and my body turned cold. Yet, it wasn’t enough to make me withdraw because deep down, I knew he was feeling something toward me. I just needed a sign.

“I find that hard to believe, Llorón.”

The emotion might have appeared on his face for no more than a split second, but just then, Shay-Lee’s eyes widened as his whole expression turned soft before his features hardened and he frowned at me, and what I saw made me smile like a jackass. What Shay-Lee’s eyes held wasn’t love but hate. Pure, worthful hate of someone who’d been betrayed.

And while I’d much rather be greeted back with his love, I was fine with his hate, too. After all, we’d already hated one another once and had managed to fall in love, so why not do it again?

“Then you’re delusional,” he hissed, only proving me right.

I knew he wouldn’t be able to put on this detached, aloof boyfriend act for long.

He loves me too much for that.

“You know how they say that love and hate are just two sides of the same coin?”

“What?” He scowled.

Satisfied with his adorable confusion, I leaned closer. With two fingers, I slowly shut his computer while holding his stare. “What I’m trying to say is that you’re claiming I’m dead to you, and yet look how angry you are.” I pointed at his heart and watched the fury grow on his face. “I bet you hold lots of hate in there.”

Shay-Lee was never one to handle his anger properly. With his explosive personality, he was the type to burn the world to the ground, not ignore it.

“You’re damn right I hate you.”

Yeah, kitten, that’s right. Give me all those emotions.

“Good,” I smirked. “So hate me a little bit more, bueno?”

We were in each other’s faces, close enough for me to see every shade of his baby blues. They were by far the most glorious eyes I’d ever seen.

“You’re crazy.”

“You’re damn right I am.”

Shay-Lee seemed to only then realize how close our faces were because he quickly pulled back, creating enough space between us to ease this undeniable tension. He could put on that cold mask all he wanted, but as always, I saw right through him.

Shay-Lee then went back to his laptop, clearly trying to ignore me.

“Your hair is so sexy pulled up,” I said with a half smirk, not deterred when he rolled his eyes.

“Whatever.”

Rubbing my jaw, I pointed at his laptop. “What you working on?”

“None of your business.”

“Come on.”

“Fuck off.”

I pretended to pout. “That’s not very friendly of you.”

He glared at me, death in his eyes, and my heart missed a fucking beat.