Maggie watched out the window of Trevor’s SUV. She still couldn’t believe she actually agreed to this. Something was clearly wrong with her. She chanced a glance over at Trevor. He seemed annoyed, his hands were tight against the steering wheel, his knuckles almost white.

What’s his problem?

If he didn’t want to take her home, what possessed him to insist on it? Stupid, stupid man. No, better yet, stupid her. She should have just waited until the tow company came. She stopped her inner debate when she heard him make a noise. “Really, if it’s that big a deal just drop me off on this side of the road. I can walk from here.”

“Not in this neighborhood,” he growled glancing at her briefly before turning his eyes back to the road.

“What do you mean not in this neighborhood? It’s a nice place.” She looked out the window and mumbled, “stupid jackass,” under her breath.

“You’re kidding, right?” he said mocking her. “We just drove past a drug deal.”

She turned to glare at him. “You don’t know that.” Why did he always have to act like he was better than her? Not everyone had the opportunity to live in the nicer places around LA. She barely got by with her apartment as it was. Fuck Trevor and his judging, Mcjudging eyes.

“When you see one guy hand someone cash and the other guy hand back a little baggie of white stuff, I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say it’s a drug deal.”

Prick.

“I’m sure you’d know,” she mumbled.

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Take a right at the next street and my apartment is about three blocks down on the right.”

He turned the blinker on. “Did you just say I do drugs?”

She shrugged. She chanced another glance at him. He was staring at her, his jaw tight, and his eyes narrow. “God, you’re a piece of fucking work,” he said. “Here I am, taking you home after your piece of shit car breaks down, out of the kindness of my heart, might I add and you have to be a bitch.”

“I’m not—“

“I do not do drugs, little girl,” he sneered. “Just because I’m known to party and have a good time, does not mean I fuck around with that shit.”

At first, she was taken aback. Yeah, Trevor and her hadn’t really seen eye to eye before, but she didn’t expect him to get this upset about her jab. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything… Screw that! Yeah, he offered to take her home, but in the end, he’s nothing more than a high and mighty jerk. “That’s not what the gossip sites say,” she said poking the beast.

“The gossip sites are fucking garbage. Sure, the sex parties have some merit, but—“

“You’re a pig!” she interrupted.

He snorted with amusement, looking at her up and down.

Her mouth dropped. This guy was nothing more than a total dick. If he made one more jab about her weight, she was going to find the next sharpest item she came across and stab him right in his stupid, jerk face. “Fuck you!”

“No thank you,” he said, before pulling over to the side of the road. He looked around, then back at her. “This the place?”

“Yeah,” she said, opening the door. Fuck this guy. First thing she was doing once she got into her apartment, was to call the tow company and get her car towed. After today, she wanted to wipe her hands of Trevor. Fuckin’ prick!

She grabbed her belongings and turned to mumble a “thanks”, only to see the driver side empty and Trevor making his way in front of the SUV to her side. “What are you doing?”

“This neighborhood is horrible,” he said as if that was the only explanation needed.

“No, it’s not.”

“Yeah, it is.” He grabbed her backpack from her hands and swung it over his shoulder and started to the door of her apartment building.

“Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” She took off after him.

He turned to her as he made it to the door. “How do you know that behind this door there isn’t some gangbanger ready to jump out and take you?”

“Fat people are harder to kidnap,” she said without missing a beat.

To her surprise, he threw his head back and roared with laughter. “I do see where that could cause a challenge.”

She narrowed her eyes, but in all honesty, she wasn’t upset he said his words. He’d just agreed with her. Plus she was sure she’d get another opportunity to stab him for making a crack about her weight. When he opened his mouth, there was a ninety percent chance he’d say something to piss her off.

“Just give me my bag and go,” she said reaching for her backpack.

Ignoring her he walked to the mailbox slots where he scanned the names. Unfortunately, he was smarter than he looked. She knew the second he found her name and apartment number. Turning from the slots he made his way to the elevator.

“Doesn’t work,” she said matter-of-factly. She rolled her eyes, it was clear he wasn’t going to just leave, so instead, she walked past him to the stairs.

“You have to walk up four flights of stairs every day and you’re still overweight?” he asked in disbelief.

“It amazes me that you haven’t had your face rearranged. How is it possible you haven’t gotten the shit beat out of you, for the crap you say?” she asked, annoyance dripping from every word.

“Everyone loves me,” he said moving past her taking the steps two at a time.

“Dick.”

When they made it to her floor he walked down the hall looking at the numbers on the doors. Once he made it to her apartment he waited expectedly.

What. The. Hell.

She summoned everything she had inside of her to make it through the next few minutes. Closing her eyes for a moment she took a deep breath. Universe, I know the past couple of days we’ve been having a lover’s quarrel. But I swear, if you continue to fuck with me I will lose my shit! Just have him drop my bag next to the door and leave. That’s all I’m asking.

Opening her eyes, she took the final steps to her door noticing Trevor wasn’t leaving. Screw you, universe, it’s on! Grabbing her keys from her pocket she unlocked her door. Taking a deep breath, she turned to him. “Thank you, Trevor. I appreciate the ride and the walk to my door. Although it was unnecessary, and I really should punch you for the words that come out of your mouth, I do appreciate it.”

He opened his mouth to say something when a screeching came from inside her apartment. Damnit!

“What the fuck was that?” he asked moving past her into the apartment. Unsurprisingly, he had no concept of personal space. “You got some freaky shit going on in here?”

As if right on cue, Pocket sang his, “welcome home” song.

“Dear God, what the absolute fuck is that?”

She closed her eyes asking the universe for strength. “That’s my Siamese cat, Pocket.”

“That is not coming from a cat. That sounds more like an air horn.”

Offended, Pocket came from around the corner and glared right at Trevor. He opened his mouth and screeched again.

“Is it sick?” he asked, staring at her cat, concerned, and a little amazed.

“No, he’s not sick. He’s a Siamese. They talk.” She bent down to pick up Pocket. Cradling him in her arms she turned back to Trevor.

“You willingly got a cat that made that kind of noise, and you say something is wrong with me?” Trevor looked at the possessed creature, Maggie had mistakenly called a cat. Sure, it looked like a cat, but no way in hell was that thing a cat.

“Something is wrong with you. There is nothing wrong with Pocket,” Maggie defended.

“I beg to differ,” he said looking around her place. It was small, it only had one other door leading to what he assumed was the bedroom.

“Huh, when I pictured your place it wasn’t so…” He struggled to find his next words. “Normal?”

She snorted. “What did you think?” she asked annoyed.

“I don’t know, maybe something from the fiery pits of hell?”

She had to laugh. “I don’t even know what to make of that.” She walked past him, and into the kitchen. Well, he assumed it was the kitchen. It had a fridge and a sink. But the word kitchen was stretching it. When she returned she held out her hand to him.

“Here’s ten dollars for gas.”

He looked down at the money. What a fucking insult. “I’m not taking your money.”

“Take it,” she insisted

“No,” he said. The reality of being in her home was starting to get to him. He did the only thing he knew to get the upper hand once more “By the looks of it, you need the money a lot more than I do.” I’m sorry. Wait, where in the world had that come from?

Instantly her face hardened. Her jaw tightened as her eyes narrowed. “Get out!”

“Jesus, your mood swings change faster than anyone I have ever met before.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You constantly insult me, and if anyone’s mood changes in the blink of an eye, it’d be you,” she snapped.

Surprisingly the cat -so she called it- was glaring at him. Its demeanor seemed to change as well. If he didn’t know any better, he’d guess the cat was trying to plot his death. As if to confirm his suspicion, the cat slowly blinked staring at him with nothing but pure evil in its eyes. When the cat jumped from her arms, he actually felt scared for a moment.

Shaking his head to ignore the feelings – after all, it was just a cat- he said, “See this is what I’m talking about.”

“I swear to the universe above, if you don’t get out of my apartment right now I will kill you,” she proclaimed.

Something on her stare made him believe her. He almost stumbled back. With all her talk of murder, he wouldn’t put it past her. Just then to his dismay, he felt his lower half come to life.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Why is it every time she spat fire at him, his dick jumped to attention? Trying to figure it out, he looked her up and down. Her arms were crossed under her chest pushing her breasts up. Holding in his groan he continued to peruse her body. Her left leg was a little in front of her right, her hip popped out clearly in annoyance. His eyes continued to trace the curve of her body. He had to fight the urge to reach out and grab onto her hips and bring her closer. “Fucking hell!” he hollered.

“Don’t you yell at me, in my home. You’re a bastard, Trevor. Now, get the hell out!”

Get out? That’s exactly what he planned to do. She’d once again placed some of her weird fucking witchcraft on him and his poor unsuspecting dick.

The cat screeched again, making him jump. “What the fuck is wrong with that thing?”

“He’s just like his owner. He hates you.”

“Make sure I don’t see you around anymore,” he sneered making his way to the door. “I’ve had enough of you.”

“Right back at you, dickhead.”

He turned and glared at her as he swung open the door and stepped through. “Make sure you lock the door.”

He watched as her eyes went wide before narrowing. “Are you threatening me?”

“No,” he said. “It’s a bad fucking neighborhood. Lock the fucking door.”

He grabbed the doorknob and slammed it closed behind him. He stood there for a moment and waited. Once he heard the lock he finally made his way back down the hall. After jogging down the stairs and sprinting to his SUV he got inside and took a deep breath.

He had to reach down and adjust his pants. His dick was pressing so hard against the fly of his pants he almost couldn’t drive.

What the hell is wrong with me?

After making room so his dick could breathe, he threw his SUV into drive and took off. Briefly, he looked in his rearview mirror as he sped away. Seeing the apartment building his anger continued to rise. This was not a good area of town. Anyone with half a brain would know it wasn’t safe. Especially not if she lived alone.

Wait, did she live alone?

He thought back as he pictured the apartment in his mind. He didn’t see any sign of someone else living there. It was a one bedroom apartment, right?

She could have a boyfriend.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter.

“Boyfriend,” he sneered.

After a moment, he shook his head. Who the hell cared if she had a boyfriend or if she lived in a shitty part of town. It wasn’t his problem.

“Boyfriend.” He laughed.

He continued the drive in silence for a few moments. He felt his body tighten before he spoke his next words, “She better not have a boyfriend.”