Page 108 of The Flirty Forward

He puts his hands up. “My bad.”

I ignore him and look over at Brielle. She shakes her head. “What?” I demand.

She looks up and scans the room. “Man, I wish he played hockey so Aiden could take him out on the ice.” Aiden smirks and wraps an arm around her. Normally, I like seeing the two of them together. Tonight, it’s like salt in a wound.

“What did he do?” I demand.

She slides her phone across the table to me. I pick it up and look at her text messages with Stephanie.

Bri-what happened? Where did you go? Oh, and can you text me that you got home safely? Sebastian’s kind of freaking out.

Stephanie-I’m home

Bri-are you okay?

Stephanie-yeah

Bri-okay if you don’t stop being vague, Aiden and I are going to leave and come over there. I’m going to play my best friends card. You need to tell me what’s wrong. What happened? Why did you leave?

Stephanie-I'm fine. Just tired.

Bri-and????

Stephanie-and you’re demanding

Bri-yes I am now tell me

Stephanie-I'm just being dramatic. I had a run-in with William. He just reminded me of a few things.

Bri-what things? And can I remind you we don’t listen to stupid people?!

Stephanie-ha! Yeah, he was just being a jerk.

My skin is crawling. I just want to know what he said to her to make her retreat like that and to cry! I’ve never seen her cry. She’s usually so strong. My fists ache to beat him up for making my girl cry.

Bri-WHAT DID HE SAY?!!!!!

Stephanie-sheesh! Dramatic much? He just reminded me what a disappointment to my parents I am, which I already know. He told me that Sebastian only wants to be with me right now because I’m new to him and that he’ll get tired of me and want somebody prettier, more fun to be around, more of a party girl. He reminded me that I’m not that...which he’s right. I’m not. And it just made all of my fears come flooding back. What if he’s right? What if Sebastian does get tired of me? What if he wants somebody that loves to flirt and party? What if I’m an embarrassment to him like I am to my parents? I don’t think I could handle that. So that’s it...just me being overly emotional and dramatic. I should probably check what day of the month it is.

I shove my chair back, and everybody at the table turns to stare at me. I slide the phone across the table to Bri. “I’m leaving. Rico, you’re doing the check.” I don’t wait for them to say anything; I stride towards the exit. My chest is burning; I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this angry in my entire life. I finally make it out of the building. A hand on my shoulder stops me, and I spin around.

Gunner puts his hand out. “Keys.”

I shake my head, stepping back. “I’m leaving, and you’re not going to stop me.”

“I’m not stopping you; I’m driving you so you don’t drive your car into a wall or a ditch. You shouldn’t drive when you’re this angry.” I toss him the keys. Minutes later, we’re driving to Stephanie’s house with me in the passenger seat.

After a bit, Gunner glances over at me. “I play hockey with you. I’ve seen you in all sorts of situations. I’ve never seen you as angry as you are right now.” It’s quiet a moment. “Want to talk about it?”

I almost grin...almost. “How hard was it for you to say that?” His silence is all I need for an answer. I don’t say anything for a minute. I don’t want to say anything at all, but I figure I at least owe him an explanation.

“William’s a first class—”

“Yeah. I got that. What’d he do?”

“He told Stephanie that I’m going to change my mind and find somebody else prettier, who likes to party more. He played on every fear she’s had about me, that I’m just a playboy, that I’ll get tired of her.” I stare out the window.

He doesn’t say anything for a few minutes. Finally, he says, “If she really knows you, she’ll know what to believe.”

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