I do not utter a word to Grey the entire way back home, because I have nothing to say to him. I know how he can be a cruel asshole, but he didn’t have to be one back at the grocery store. He knows I chose him, everyone knows that. I am with him now; he has me. He doesn’t need to show me off or rub anything in Noah’s face. He’s already hurt enough as it is. But of course, asshole Grey just had to come out and emphasize why everyone is so hesitant with me being with him. Because, when he wants, he can flip a switch and turn into a vile man who does the most hurtful things.
I’d rather he did so with me and not toward Noah. As horrible as it sounds, I’m used to it. And I don’t want my friend, who is on the fence with me already, to be the brunt of Grey’s less attractive side. As much as I love him as a person, that side will always be ready to strike, and I will always despise it. Unfortunately, it makes up about eighty-percent of him. Like I said, I’m used to it. I send Noah a text apologizing, and he replies saying it’s okay. I wish it was, but it most definitely is not.
When the car pulls up in front of the house, I grab the house keys on the dash and climb out of the car.
“Wait, Liv! Aren’t you going to help?” he asks.
I continue toward the house, ignoring him. He wants to be an asshole, he can bring the things inside.
“Olivia!” he calls after me, but I don’t answer him.
I unlock the door and am entering when my arm is gripped, and I am spun around.
“Why are you being like this?” he asks, more like barks, through grinding teeth. His anger is coming alive; I can see the sparks in his deadly eyes. But I don’t give a damn. I have adapted to the burns.
I rip my arm from his hand and push him away from me.
“Do not touch me.”
“Since when are you resistant to my touch?” he scoffs as a nefarious smirk slices into his dimpled cheeks. I gasp at the underlying sharpness beyond his words. Is he really implying that I am so easy when it comes to him?
“Since you’ve started acting like a barbaric ass, that’s when!” I shout, not caring if anyone hears me. His face falters a little like I chipped his ego. Good. He freaking deserves it. I spin around on my heels and enter the house.
“Why the fuck are you being like this?” The barrier that shields his anger finally shatters as he chases after me into the kitchen.
“Why do you think, Grey?” I don’t face him as I open the fridge. He is very smart; I know he can figure it out without much trouble.
“I don’t fucking know. That’s why I am asking!” he exclaims in a duh tone.
I shift my glare at him. “Get the groceries and think.” I slam the fridge door closed and ignore his eyes following me as I round the island and sit on a stool. He looks at me with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. “Get the damn groceries, Grey!”
He opens his mouth to scream something at me, but I give him a pointed look that says try me, I dare you. He backs down instead and grunts before storming out of the house, muttering Spanish curses I full well understand, but I don’t say anything. Not to him directly. I spew my own curses in other languages he wouldn’t even begin to comprehend. I rub my face and wonder how I fell in love with someone like him, but then I remember how charming and sweet he can be and—ugh.
A few minutes later, all the groceries are on the kitchen counters. It’s quiet as I put away everything while he just sits on the island, staring at me with narrowed eyes. I think I just need to cool down and maybe I will adapt to yet another one of his asshole tendencies. But all of that is thrown out of the window when he grabs my wrist, stopping me from picking up a loaf of bread next to him.
“Let go of me, Grey!” I snap and try to pull my hand away, but his strength is like a steel—unmoving.
“Not until you tell me what I did wrong,” he says, and I groan.
“You showed me off in front of Noah, shoving it in his face that I broke his heart just to be with you—that. That is what you did. And I do not need your help in making him hate me, trust me,” I explain, and his grip loosens. I grab the loaf and place it in the pantry, gripping the knob on the door. I take deep breaths as he scoffs and begins talking.
“Seriously? What the hell is wrong with showing off my girl?” he questions.
My stomach flutters at his words, but I ignore them and face him.
“He’s already hurt. You didn’t need to do that,” I say, and he rolls his eyes as he hops off the counter and strides over to me. “I’m serious, Grey. I…I hurt him. And he really liked me. I could have liked him too, but I was—”
“Still in love with me?” he finishes my sentence, but in the wrong way I intended. “I’m sorry you were so hung up over the big bad wolf. I should have backed off and let you like the pretty charming boy, right?” His words are seared with malice, and it makes my mouth grow very dry. “I’m not stopping you.” He backs away, and I notice how flushed he was against me. “Go ahead and get your prince. Don’t let me stop you.”
“You are such a piece of shit. You know that, right?” I stand up straight against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest. “I love you, Grey. I have proved that to you so many times, it’s actually insane. I do not love him—was that not clear enough when I went behind his back and had sex with you? Was it not clear when I left him and went to Venezuela with you to comfort you? If you seriously don’t think I love you, or at least care for you more than I do myself…then you’re stupider than I thought you were.”
“I know you love me, Olivia,” he says slowly.
“Stop calling me that!” I shout.
“Why the hell not? It’s your name, isn’t it?” he snaps back, hands thrown up and waving around theatrically. He’s trying to piss me off, he really is!
“Because it sounds like you’re angry at me for no reason. Because you only call me Liv and it makes me feel like I am in the wrong when, as usual, it’s you!” I point an accusing finger at him, and he twists his face at it.
He bellows, throwing his head back. “Are you fucking kidding me? Do you want to bring up the past?” I shiver at what he’s referring to, my one biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. One that still haunts me within, down deep.
I take a step back, feeling my heart drop to my stomach. “I don’t know, shall we?” I slither out, referring to his more than fucked-up past.
He glares at me, and I do the same right back.
Finally, he rolls his eyes and mutters, “Honestly, I am fucking done with this.” I watch him walk to the door, and I rush after him.
“Done with what?” I question him.
He closes the door after he opens it and looks back at me, anger simmering under his skin. “Done with you acting like you love the guy.”
“I just told you I don’t!” Seriously, has he lost his mind?
“There is nothing wrong with me showing you off, Olivia!” he shouts.
This asshole, I just told him how I felt about him using my full name. It hits me in the gut every single time.
“When you do it to hurt my friend, yes, there is.” I cross my arms, and he punches the wall. I gasp and jump back when he stalks over to me and towers over me.
“Your ex-boyfriend, you mean,” he gripes out.
“He was my friend first,” I point out, and he rolls his eyes. “And we were only together because I was trying to get over you.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he says as he shoves his feet in his boots.
“Where are you going?” I sigh.
He swings the open and tells me, “Out,” before the door slams behind him.