Page 89 of Exes That Puck
I whisper, “Then I’ll let you ride my dick.”
She pushes me, but I don’t budge. So, naturally she steps back. “All you care about is fucking, Z. I’m so fucking over this! You haven’t changed at all!”
I laugh. “Can you blame me? I fucking love you, Kare.”
Her face winces as she shakes her head quickly. “Don’t fucking do that.” Her fingers are spread wide as she backs away. “I can’t keep doing this with you.”
I shrug. “Then don’t. Go and fuck Josh and tell me if that’s what you want.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’ll be back on Sunday.”
She’s staring at me as she walks away without another word. My heart is pounding in my chest when she turns around and walks away.
If this is successful, I know I just fucked up the best thing that ever happened to me. No more riding my dick, no more late nights talking about nothing, no more passionate fights, and no more Kara Day. I watch her ass swaying as she walks away and think,if only I had listened to her.
32
I can’t believe he’s telling me to go screw Josh like it’s something easy for me to do. Has he not gotten the hint that I love him? That I can’t just go out and hook up with someone else like he apparently can?
I reach the end of the street and have to choose—right or left. Instead, I turn around, not sure what I’m expecting. But Zeke’s still standing where I left him, watching me. My heart squeezes painfully. I turn left because at least he’ll see me for another hundred feet before I disappear completely.
I pull out my phone to call an Uber, then put it away. I need to walk this off, to stop feeling this heavy and disgusted with everything. The image of him and Brianne behind that locked door won’t leave my head, nor will the awkward looks when they realized I’d caught them.
So I walk. Block after block until I run out of residential streets and hit the main road. Only then do I call for a ride.
“Long night?” the driver asks as I climb in. It’s embarrassing that it’s the same guy who’s picked me up from this area before. He probably thinks I’m a disaster.
I snicker, wiping at the makeup that’s probably streaked down my cheeks. “Yeah. Thanks for all the rides.”
He shrugs. “You tip well.”
I sigh. If only he knew it was because I don’t want to be slaughtered by my Uber driver.
Back in my empty dorm room, I flop onto my bed and put on a mindless movie, something with explosions and no romance whatsoever.
I only leave to grab dinner in the dining hall, where I spot Annie sitting alone. I slide into the seat across from her.
“Hey,” she says, looking up.
I nod, trying not to cry.
“You’re going to be okay,” she says without preamble, like she can read the misery on my face.
I nod, forcing a smile. “Thanks.”
“I went through a brutal breakup last year,” she continues, picking at her salad. “Thought my world was ending. But you know what I realized? Sometimes the worst thing that happens to you turns out to be the best thing. It forced me to figure out who I was without him.”
Her words stick with me as I walk back to my room. Maybe she’s right. Maybe this is my chance to prove to Zeke—and to myself—that I can move on. That I don’t need him.
I pull out my phone and scroll to Josh’s number.
Kara:Dinner and a movie sounds great.
I hit send before I can change my mind.
The next morning, Payton stumbles through the door around ten, hair messy and wearing yesterday’s clothes.
“Walk of shame?” I ask from my bed.
She grins, collapsing onto her mattress. “Walk of glory, more like.”
