Page 35 of An Uphill Battle

“Drake,” she whispers up at me, all breathless, her eyes brimming with unshedtears.

“Bit, what on earth have you been up to?” I ask her just as Brent rounds the car and joinsher.

“Just went for a drink. Needed to clear my mind—toforget.”

I bristle at her words, because if her stubborn ass would’ve just listened, this night could’ve ended a hell of a lotdifferently.

“Wanna tell him what else you got up to?” Brent asks. Azalea looks down at her feet, mumbling to herself. “Cat got your tongue? I’ll tell him, then. Found your girl over at Bryn’s Bar, good and drunk, and on her way out the door with some Joe Schmo. She could barely walk, and he damn sure looked up to nogood.”

Anger rockets through me, and I clench my fists at my sides so tightly that it feels like my knuckles are at risk of bursting through my skin. Nevertheless, I nod for him tocontinue.

“I set that jerkoff straight—sent him on his way—and put your girl in my car. Drove straight here. Not gonna lie to you though, man. She came ontome.”

Azalea still hasn’t looked at me, and I’m seething, my vision tinged red. Silently, I count down from ten to one and back again before gripping Azalea’s chin and tilting her eyes to mine. “You kiddin’ me with this shit, LittleBit?”

She shivers at the gravel in my tone. “I–I was upset and wanted to... forget. So, I went out. Had a fewdrinks.”

“And tried to hook up with not one, but two different guys, both of which weren’tme.”

“They... I... he made me feel wanted. I just want to feelwanted.”

“You want to feel wanted?” I parrot her words back to her indisbelief.

“Yeah, Drake. You don’t want me—” I let out a primal growl, and I slam my fist into my front door, stopping her in her tracks, thankfully shutting herup.

“Jesus Christ, Azalea. Are you serious right now? Do you even hear yourself? I’ve all but fucking spelled it out for you. Laid all my cards on the table, and I don’t know if you’re just ignorant, oblivious, or so damn blinded by the past that you can’t see what’s in front of you. But know this. I’m. Done. I’m so fuckingdone.”

Her lower lip trembles, and I almost cave. “Done? I–I thought you said you’d always lo–loveme.”

“And I will, but I’m sure as shit done chasingyou.”

“B–but,Drake—”

“But nothing, Azalea. Go home.” I turn to Brent, and we silently communicate that he’ll drive her home. Dejected, pissed, and so damn angry, I turn back toward the door, jaw locked to fight the overwhelming desire to turn around and kiss away the pain on her face. But I can’t. I won’t. It’s high time I put myself first, even if it fucking killsme.

“You don’t mean that!” she hollers at my retreating back, her voice hoarse andshaky.

“I’ve never said anything I meant more. Go home. There’s nothin’ here for you.” I yank open the door to my house, giving her a clear view of Kelly sitting on my couch before slamming it behind me, the noise of the wooden frame creaking and her sobs the soundtrack of myheartbreak.

19

Azalea

“C’mon,stupid girl, let’s get you home,” Brent says to me, but I’m immobile. I can’t seem to peel my tear-flooded eyes from Drake’s front door.She’s here. With him. In his home, looking every bit as comfortable as I ever did.“I mean it, let’s go. I got shit to do, and babysittin’ your ass is cutting into myplans.”

When he tugs my wrist, I give way and stumble along behind him. This time, he doesn’t open the door for me. He just stands there glaring until I climb in and buckle. He climbs in and I go to tell him my address, but he swipes and taps at his phone screen and the navigation app starts spouting directions before I get thechance.

Brent doesn’t speak to me, much less look at me, the entire drive to my apartment, and I just don’t get why he’s so mad. What did I ever do to him? We make it to my house in record time, and he slams his truck into park. “One of your friends will be here soon. I’ll wait with you tillthen.”

I brave a glance at him and wince at the hard set of his jaw. “Why’re you so angry withme?”

“Azalea, I’m gonna be real with you, okay? You’ve made a lot of stupid-ass choices tonight, and you probably blew any chance you had with Drake. I don’t know what you think you know, but truth is, you don’t knowshit.”

His words claw and nip at the anger already brewing in me, agitating me even further. “What I know, Brent, is that the only man I’ve ever loved is holed up with the same two-bit whorewho—”

“Watch your mouth, little girl,” Brent shouts, the sound of it stopping me in my tracks. “Say one more word about my woman, and you’ll be waitin’ your ass outside the truck in the cold for yourfriend.”

“I’m... your what?” I hear him, but I’m notfollowing.

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