Page 30 of Unpredictable

“I’m not asking you to,” I tell him while trying to keep my emotions in check.

You aren’t asking, but you’re assuming that he will, my mind pipes in.

Sterling stands and walks away from me. He keeps his back towards me while he stares out the window. “Ask me,” he says gruffly. “Ask me how many women I’ve slept with since school started.”

My heart stops as I’m brought right back to the last time I saw him. To the peach panties on the floor. I don’t mean to, but I ask anyway. “How many?”

“Ten,” he rasps.

“Ten,” I echo, eyes wide. My hand fists over my chest as I try to choke down my emotion.

He nods. “That’s almost one a weekend since you walked out the door. Not counting the one you walked in on.”

“Eleven women.” I shake my head in denial and anger. “Are you serious?”

He nods once.

“What was tonight then?” My voice is devoid of emotions. I know I have them. I know that somewhere inside, there’s a part of me breaking, but my body is numb. I can’t even tear up as my body shuts down, reacting to this new trauma.

Sterling shrugs and turns toward me. He leans against the window frame. “I love the way you taste, and I knew I wouldn’t have to work for it.”

“You said I was yours. You said you came here for me,” I remind him.

Once again, he shrugs his goddamn shoulder. “Heat of the moment.”

“Fuck you, Sterling Brooks!” I shout. I lunge towards his nightstand, rip his lamp off the table, and chuck it at him. He ducks just before it can connect, shattering right above his head. I dive across the bed and reach for my clothes that are in a pile and start putting them on as fast as I can.

“How fucking dare you? Why, Sterling? Why? I didn’t want you; I didn’t want this, but you fucking pushed and pushed. I fucking caved. We had a fucking deal, and then you go and touch me after you’ve slept with eleven fucking women? I was finally enjoying life again. Finally getting over your betrayal. I was resigned to never see your face again. Then you have to come here and show me a side of you I’ve never seen before. Why the fuck would you play those games?” I shout.

“Your overreacting, Victoria,” he says on a sigh.

I grab a picture frame from his desk next to me and whip it at him, smacking him in the shoulder and shattering next to his face, but he doesn’t budge an inch.

“We have known each other for most of our lives. We have been friends just about as long. You pursued this with me, not the other way around. You caused this. All because you’re a scared little boy afraid to become his father. Afraid that if you let someone, anyone, in that it makes you weak. Scared that the emotions you feel will ruin you. I pity you.” I take a deep breath, allowing the numbness to provide me comfort. “Never again, Sterling Brooks. Never again. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to talk to you. You hear me? I don’t want your name to show up on my phone screen. If I’m at a party, I want you to turn around and leave. I want you to cease to exist in my life. I will never forgive you for this.”

“Understood.”

I march across his room to the door, whip it open, and step out into the hall. “I swear to God, if you gave me anything tonight, I will kill you.”

I don’t hang around for a response.

???

Chapter Eight

Tinsley didn’t ask any questions when she picked me up down the street from Sterling’s, but every few seconds, she looks at me with concern in her eyes.

“Just ask.” I sigh.

“You okay?” she asks with worry in her tone.

“I’m peachy.” I force a smile. Then I cringe at my use of the work peach. Those fucking peach panties. I push my thoughts away as I try to focus on anything else.

It’s quiet for a few minutes before I remember what tonight was for Tinsley. “What did you think about tonight?” I stare out the window, studying her in the reflection. I watch her tense before relaxing.

“It was interesting….” She trails off.

“Finley good to you?” I turn to look at her.

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