Page 81 of Blitz

“It matters,” I tell him lowly. “It fucking matters to me.”

“I’m sorry, okay,” he yells. “I’m sorry I stood by my sister when she needed me.”

“I needed you, too!”

My pulse pounds dully in my ears.

“I needed you, too,” I repeat, more quietly now. “Everything was new and scary, and I needed my best friend just as much as I needed my girlfriend. And instead, both of you were gone in the blink of an eye. You left me hanging. You couldn’t shoot me a text to say you didn’t want to talk to me anymore?”

“Jesus,” he says, wrapping his arms around his chest. “It’s fucking cold out here.”

My blood is boiling. I have peanut butter on my favorite black gloves. The guy I thought was my best friend hates me now. It’s all cool. Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s fine.

“There you guys are,” Mason says. She jogs over to us. “Fuck, it’s cold.” She slips her hand into mine and I automatically squeeze, lacing our fingers together. “You okay, baby?”

“I’m fine.”

“Glad you were able to find him,” she says to Micah. “Sorry I took so long, Fred wanted to chat about tonight.”

What’s her end game here, make me fall back in love with her and then destroy me all over again? She can. She has a power over me I’ve never been able to deny. I’d do anything for her—and she knows it.

Once upon a time, I never would have thought that the girl I loved could do something so sinister. Now? I’m wondering if I ever really knew her at all. I certainly don’t now.

Chapter thirty-three

Tucker

The house is already packed by the time we arrive. I’m still processing. I don’t know what to think. Mason hangs up our coats and hugs Mark. I will probably never like him, but I can pretend with the best of ‘em.

Micah offers me a cup of beer.

“No, thanks.”

“Come on, man. It’s an apology.” He pushes the cup towards me again.

I push his hand away. “I don’t drink.”

He gapes at me. “What?”

“I don’t drink. No thanks.”

“Like, you only have one or two?”

“Like, at all. I’m not interested.”

He shakes his head. “Damn. You have changed.”

“I really haven’t.” I grab a bottle of water from the cooler. That’s the good thing about student athletes, there are always bottles of water around. I didn’t drink in high school, either, but that was more due to lack of opportunities than a lack of desire. “I’m still me. I don’t need to drink to have a good time.”

He pours a second beer and takes a sip.

I’m not an addict. I don’t feel an urge to drink when I’m around alcohol. Mostly I just feel bored. Drunk people aren’t exactly the most fun to be around. They’re not funny. I have no desire to hook up with someone I’m not involved with. I’m even less inclined to get with someone that’s been drinking.

It’s easy enough to abstain: I have no interest.

Mason joins us, and he hands one of the cups to her. She takes it with a smile and frowns at me. “You don’t want one?”

“I’m good, thanks.”