Page 60 of Reconciling With the Rival

“Great. Now I’m going to have to burn my sheets. They smell like you.”

I shrug. “Is that the worst thing in the world? If there’s any reason to burn them, it should be because the thread count is terrible.” I swing my body off her bed and grab my clothes, and the two of us face one another as we get dressed.

“Not all of us are rich and can afford shit like that,” she bites back at me.

“If I could afford shit like that,” I make fun of her, “then I wouldn't be living here with you.”

“Dear God, don’t fucking remind me you’re across the hall.”

I’m about to bicker back with her, but the door to the apartment opens and closes, and I hear my sister come in.

“You guys didn't kill each other last night, did you?”

No. Definitely not.

“Get the fuck out of my room,” Ella snaps, practically pushing me across the hall before my sister can see me walk out of her room half-naked.

I’m standing in my doorway, staring at Ella, who’s crossing her arms at me in her doorway.

“This was a mistake,” she tells me.

“Agreed.”

“Don’t tell anyone about this. Got it?”

I nod. “Don’t tell your friends, then.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Trust me, they would be more excited about this than I am.”

“I’ll never bring it up again, Ella.” Before she can say anything else, I slam my door on her.

What the fuck is going on?

I cannot believe I had sex with Ella Williams, the girl who pushes my fucking buttons and pisses me off to no end.

It had to have been the dry spell. That’s the only reason I fucked her last night, not because when she was yelling at me, I couldn't stop staring at her lips.

All she ever does is yell at me, and after the shitty day I had, I had enough of her pissing me off. So, I kissed her. And it shut her up real quick.

I don’t like Ella, but we both needed a distraction. Sex is good like that. It’s a good distraction in the moment, but then you wake up with regrets like I’m having now, and it doesn't seem like a good idea.

My parents called me on my way home yesterday, and said my dad’s recovery was moving slower than they would like. I asked if that meant anything bad, but they danced around an answer.

The doctors also told them he might have to have another surgery soon, but they’ll cross that bridge when they get to it.

Which means my Dad refused to do it. My mom told me he doesn't want to go through surgery again, and I understand. Heart surgery is grueling, and I can’t imagine how much stress it puts on his body.

But I don’t want him to have another heart attack—or something worse—in order for him to have the surgery. I don’t want to wait until that happens.

Which caused my mood to drop. Not only am I helpless over here in the States, but he won’t even listen to what I have to say over the phone.

Then, I came home, wanting to make myself dinner and lock myself in my room until my mood got better, and then Ella started slamming anything she could, which pissed me off more.

All I wanted to do was forget about the shit going on with my family and how helpless I felt. Sex with her did help, but I somehow feel shittier than I did yesterday.

I’d promise not to do it again, but if my dry spell continues after this, I might find solace and release with the girl who hatesme. She sure looked like she was enjoying herself last night, so maybe she would take me up on that offer.

It would work out, because neither of us has feelings for one another—not like that, anyway. The only feelings Ella and I have for one another are hatred and annoyance.

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