Page 191 of The Sidekick

I subtly slide the notepad over to his side of the desk and start working on the laptop.

A few minutes pass, and I’m getting into my work when the pad of paper slides back to me.

“I was out of line doing that. I’m sorry.”

Wow, he’s starting off strong. At first, I want to write that it’s ok and brush it off. When I start to mark it down, I scratch it out. I can’t let him off the hook at the first I’m sorry. Where is my spine? I could say don’t do it again. Would that drive a deeper wedge between us? It feels like an ocean separates us already. It doesn’t need help getting bigger.

“Let’s work it out to make it easier for both of us.”

I’m too stressed to focus, so I open a document and start writing random words to make it seem like I’m busy.

The paper gets slid back to me.

“Rule one: No pressuring you for answers about what you and Asher do. Rule two: ?”

Am I supposed to come up with them? We’re doomed.

I tap the end of my pen on the desk as I try to think. What does Trevor do that makes me mad?

“Don’t talk to me about food.”

It takes me an embarrassingly long time to even write the four-letter word.

I can’t look at him when I pass it back. My spine is tense again, and my stomach is in knots. Please don’t argue. Please.

The paper comes back to me quickly.

“No eating punishments. Liquids?”

Huh. My brow furrows as I think about it. Some liquids equal the forbidden subject, too.

“Can you talk to Asher about this? I don’t think I can.”

He looks at me with a frown. I duck down so I can’t see him. He taps the pen on the desk, and I hear the snap of a pencil breaking in half. I try to ignore it and let him process it in his own way. I run. He gets mad. It’s weird that now that I know what’s happening, it’s easier to handle, at least at this level.

Oh my gosh. He walked away when I was yelling at him because he was angry. Dr. Robinson said that removing yourself from a situation that upsets you is the hardest thing to do. He did it so he wouldn’t return fire and say something he didn’t mean. I wish I had done that.

“Because you trust him more than me?”

The words make me scowl. I sit up to give him my stubborn look. He was waiting for me to respond so he gets the full effect. He leans back in surprise at the expression.

“No. Because I hate talking about it, and it makes me angry.” I might be writing too hard. The words are pressed in so hard I could read them from the back.

I shove the pad back to him. His hand stops it from going over the edge of the desk as he stares with shock. I look back at the computer and get back to work. The keys clack as I stab at them with my fingers.

I’m setting up the shutdown of the electricity for the jerk’s place when the pad slides back to me.

“I’ll talk to Asher. I’m not used to seeing you angry.”

I wince and glance up guiltily. He’s still watching me, so I duck down again as my cheeks heat.

“Shade is teaching me that showing people I’m angry is ok. I always feel bad after.”

He chuckles as he reads that. My cheeks start feeling like they’re on fire.

“Why didn’t you before?” He asks out loud this time. He sets the pad and his pen down with a finality that says he’s ready to take this a step further.

“My Mom,” I mutter. “Ladies don’t get mad.”

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