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“I’rit out

“I never said you were an alcoholic,” she assuresthat was important I don’t know you, Alex, but what I’ve seen so far…I’m worried ”

Son of a bitch

Her words cause anger to suffuse through uilt filters in It’s an emotion that I’ve felt plenty inme feel terrible about myself Rather than make me take stock of the fact that okay, over, it causesa little too close to hoo apeshit, it’s est that we have anything in common, a tiny similarity, and I will tear you a new one

“It is none of your fking business what I do inour work together I went out with a teammate and I tied one on I don’t do it often, but I won’t apologize for it and I won’t sit here and listen to you berate me for it ”

“I wasn’t berating you,” she says quietly…apologetically “I’m sorry if you felt that way ”

Fucking great

Her syh e of e My chest constricts painfully and I feel the sudden need to get soin my wallet, I pull a fifty-dollar bill out and throw it on the table “I have to get going ”

“Alex, wait,” she says, but I’ away

“Please,” she calls out one more time and I almost stop…almost

Then I’h the crowd and out the door

By the tione but I’ in ize, but it’s late so I don’t bother Besides, I’m not sure exactly what I’d say It’s not in o convinced s in my world are not ainst the s on his doorstep

I sloalk up the steps toover my shoulder When I reach the top, the hair rises on the back ofimmediately that soer flushes through ain

“I told you not to co the confident way she stands leaning up against my door

She pushes away and saunters up to me “You don’tIt won’t help your self-esteem ”

I watch, alusted by the long, red nails she sports Sutton’s, I noticed, were short and clear, her hands looking as soft as satin

Just before Cassie makes contact with my belt buckle, I snap out of it and push her hands away, taking a step back froood measure “Get out of here, Cass I’m not interested ”

She laughs hoarsely, taking another step towardevery word I’ve said I’m sure that’s because every other tiaso inside, baby I’ll ood You knoill ”

Stepping past her, I walk up to my apartment door and unlock it I push the door open and step inside, turning abruptly to stop her stride because I know she’s walking right behind me

“We’re done,” I tell her si just for the briefest of o wide and uncertain But that’s all I see because I close the door in her face and lock it

Pressing ainst the cool wood, I stand there for a second but then she’s kicking at the door, yelling from the other side “You son of a bitch! You can’t just cast me aside like that!”

I turn away and head back towardon the door and cursing atinto bed I hear one of hbors open his door and yell at her to shut up It doesn’t even slow her down and she renews her efforts to kick and punch at my door

Finally, I hear another neighbor yell, “I’oes absolutely silent and then I don’t hear anything else I assume she’s left but I in no way believe that’s the last I’ll hear froet an earful from Kyle tomorrow at practice, but I’ll deal with that then

I roll over onout into the dark of my bedroom I let my mind clear and think of Sutton I wonder to myself, how can this woman cause my heart to squeeze in pleasure one er the next? Is she purposely playing h to my demons and confront them?

She makes me uncomfortable…the clarity hich she seems to see me

She ht see