Resist Me

Chapter 24

West

“When did you get a hickey?” Kai asked, coming closer.

I craned my neck away from him. Bringing my coffee mug to my lips, I glared at him, hoping it came off threatening enough for him to stay away. It just made him smile.

“Is it from the party?”

“No,” I mumbled.

“Oh my god, it is. No wonder you wanted to stay. Who’d you hook up with?”

“Just drop it.”

“You’re either ashamed of her or want to keep her to yourself for some reason.”

My face heated. I knew that he could see it because I was too white for dignity. Dumb Irish genes. Seriously, I got black hair, but I couldn’t be blessed with a sliver of melanin? Bullshit.

It had been three days since the party, which made the hickey piss me off even more. Why’d he have to suck on my neck so hard? He was an asshole. A hot, vampiric asshole.

When I got home the next morning, I dropped right back into my bed. I woke up a few hours later and he’d already texted me. That came across as needy. Massive turn off. No, it didn’t make my heart beat faster. That just happened because I’d been forced back to the land of the living and my head hurt from the shots I pounded at the party.

The twinge in my ass had gone away, at least. Soon, all reminders of my sin session with Linc would disappear. I’d forget all about it and we’d go back to staring daggers at each other in passing. Did he ever glare at me the way I did at him? I was pretty sure he used to. There had to be a good reason I loathed the guy. Kai always said I was making something out of nothing. It was crazy to think he’d been right the whole time.

God, I’d never over thought something so much in my life. It didn’t help that Willow kept giving me knowing looks. At the party, it felt like she’d pushed me toward him, so maybe I should blame her for what happened. That was gross, though. I didn’t want my sister to be responsible for that.

I shuddered, making Kai raise a brow. With a huff, I set my cup down and refilled it, then drowned it in white chocolate creamer.

“You’re gonna judge me,” I said.

“Never. Well, that’s a lie. I’ll judge the hell out of you, but in the most loving way you’ve ever been judged.”

“First, let me say that it meant nothing. That was pre-established.”

It didn’t look like he believed me, but he motioned for me to go on.

I took a deep breath while I considered breaking my coffee cup so that I could slit my throat.

“It was a man.”

His brow furrowed. “You just mumbled that so fast. What’d you say?”

“It was a man.”

He blinked slowly, then rolled his lips. Raising his own cup, he drank for longer than was necessary. He leaned his elbows on the counter and cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry. Did you say you slept with a man?”

“What!” Sen shouted, rushing into the room. His mouth was gaping like a fish as he looked back and forth between us.

“What the hell, Sen?” I growled.

“I was eavesdropping. ”

“Obviously.”

Kai held his hand out. “Come here, baby.” When he got close enough, Kai tucked Sen into his side and kissed the top of his head.

Ugh. Cute. Gross.

I remembered the way Linc kissed me after we had sex. It was tender and made me feel cherished in a way I never had.

“Who was the guy?” Kai asked.

Realizing they were both watching me, I gripped my mug tighter. “Someone random. Never met him before.”

“You didn’t know him, but you gave him your dude virginity?” Sen asked skeptically.

Don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious.

“Yup. Probably had too much tank juice. It happened and it’s fine.”

“Did you like it?” Kai prodded with a smirk.

“Does it matter?”

Sen leaned closer, but Kai pulled him back a little. “Which one… Who…” Sen grimaced and made a gross gesture with his fingers.

“That’s a good question,” Kai mused. “Giving or receiving, West?”

“I’d argue that every position gives a little something,” I replied dismissively.

“Oh my god.”

“Don’t.”

“It’s cool,” Kai said, holding up his hands. “I’m supportive of all positions.”

“Everyone in this house has now taken a dick,” Sen chortled.

“I’m done here,” I announced, dumping my cup into the sink. Kai called after me, but I ignored him.

Slamming the front door behind me, I stuffed my hands in the pockets of my sweats and walked toward the street. It was raining and I hadn’t grabbed a jacket, but I was a Washingtonian now. I could handle some sky water.

I ended up walking to the coffee shop instead of campus. Sure, I’d just guzzled half a pot at home, but there was never enough caffeine. I stepped up to the counter and smiled at the woman there. She had pretty copper hair and a really bright smile. Definitely my type.

“Hey,” I greeted, looking down at her name tag. “Brandy.”

Her face pinked. “Hi. How are you today? ”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “If I say I’m living the dream, is that cliché?”

“A bit,” she laughed.

That made sense. I was living a nightmare, actually, and I didn’t know how to navigate this labyrinth I’d found myself in. Was it possible to have a midlife crisis at eighteen? A quarter life crisis maybe, but that would mean I only had until I was seventy-two to live. That sounded fair. The years ahead were looking bleak anyway.

“What are you getting today?”

I blinked and wondered how long I’d been spacing out. “White chocolate mocha. As big as they come. Iced.”

“Got it. And your name?”

“West.”

After I paid, she leaned on the counter. The way she positioned her arms made her breasts spill out of her top.

“Do you go to the college?”

I nodded. “Yeah. You?”

“I’m a history major.”

“That’s cool.”

“I just work here on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I don’t have class.”

“Sounds like a good schedule.”

Someone called my name and I offered Brandy a smile before I moved to the pickup counter. After I grabbed the coffee, I paused. She’d been flirting. I looked back at her and she smiled. Pulling my lip between my teeth, I contemplated going back, but I just really didn’t feel interested.

Shaking my head, I walked out of the shop.

*****

“God damn motherfucking roaches!” I roared, flinging open the bathroom door. In just my towel, I stomped into the kitchen and grabbed the worthless spray I’d bought. It clearly wasn’t doing any good, but I’d be damned if I didn’t try.

It wasn’t just scurrying and face bombing now. I’d been having a nice shower when some ninja roach darted out from behind my shampoo bottle. It got caught by the water and surfed its way down the drain. I couldn’t have peace in my own home. Every day, I was stuck in a war zone. Every goddamn day .

“Relax,” Willow drawled from the couch. “It’ll get taken care of.”

“Oh, will it? That’s good to know. Where’s the exterminator, huh? Where’s god , Willow? Because he’s obviously abandoned us.”

She tried to smother her laughter as she typed furiously on her phone. I leaned over the couch to peer at her screen.

“Rick?” I scoffed. “Really? You could do better.”

“You’re my brother and you’ll always think that.”

“That’s a lie. If you came home with Theo James, I’d say you don’t deserve him.”

“Would you steal him for yourself?”

“Screw you.”

I wrung out my short hair since I didn’t get a chance to dry off. The water splattered on her head and she let out a frustrated shriek.

“God damnit, West.”

“Get rid of the roaches and I’ll be more agreeable.”

“I told you, it’ll get taken care of. Linc will be here soon.”

I froze. “Excuse me?”

“We were talking yesterday and he said his family owns a pest-”

“A pest control company. I know.”

“If you know, then you should have asked him to help.”

“He offered. I said no.”

“That’s stupid.”

“You’re stupid.”

“Scared to face him?” she taunted.

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you think you know?”

“Come on, West. I know you. Plus, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. When I said something about it, he didn’t deny it.”

“Don’t interfere in my life.”

“It was before you guys boned.”

“That doesn’t matter. I don’t want you meddling.”

“Listen.” She turned around and squished my face with both hands. “He’s hotter than god. The guy can play piano and probably other instruments, which means he’s good with his fingers. He thinks you’re the bee’s knees. What is there to complain about?”

“Everything you just said made me want to vomit. Do bees even have knees?”

“If you’re freaked out because he’s a guy- ”

“I’m not!” I shouted, making her flinch back. I took a deep breath and leaned my forehead against hers. “I’m not freaked out. Me and Linc wouldn’t work. I can’t stand him.”

“That’s obviously not true. Just stop being stubborn.”

“I don’t have time for anything aside from casual hookups.”

Before she could continue arguing, there was a knock at the door. I gritted my teeth and strode over to it. Once I threw it open, I turned around and walked into my room. It took me thirty seconds to change, then I shoved my wallet into my pocket. On the way out the door, I briefly met Linc’s eyes, but I didn’t stop or say anything. The library was calling my name, a siren song leading me away from whatever the hell horror show my sister tried to set up for me.

It had been a week and he’d texted me a few times. I hadn’t responded. Sure, that probably made me the asshole, but I didn’t know what to say or do.

So, I said nothing and did nothing.