Page 25 of Finding Alfred
“No—”
“You realize I’m a grown ass man, right?” He huffed. “Fine, then you can drive me to the bookstore. How’s that for compromise? I mean, seriously, all I do is sit.”
Even though he was right, I didn’t let it go. First, some weird instinct was hammering at me that he needed to be in bed resting, and I had to take care of him. But second, I wasn’t giving in from a fight. If I gave in now…I didn’t know what, but it wouldn’t be good. Plus, I was stubborn like that, and I was getting hot. Literally. “No. You shouldn’t have been out therefucking around and getting hurt. You haven’t been acting like agrown ass man, as you said. You’ve been stupid. So, no. I’m not driving you, and you’re not going anywhere but back to bed.”
“Alfred.” His face turned red. I still wasn’t giving in. “Leave me alone. I’m a god damned adult and I can take care of myself, I’ve been doing it since I was ten.”
“Not very well. You don’t even have fucking food in this house. Stop arguing with me. I’m going to the store. Be back in about an hour. Can you wait that long for breakfast?”
“No. Give me my fucking keys.” He stepped closer to me, which was a mistake.
I yelled, and very loudly, too, “Stop.”
He did but then scowled. “Do not yell at me. Especially, in my own fucking house.” He wasn’t yelling, but his voice was raised. I had not heard him or seen him like this before, and to be honest, it pissed me off. Probably irrationally so, but all it did was make me angrier.
“What are you going to do about it?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re in no position—”Oomph.
Fucker shoved me.
“Now give. Me. My. Keys. Then get the fuck out.”
“Fuck you.” I stormed out of the house, taking his fucking keys with me. “I knew you were only going to hurt me. You’re reckless and wild and all you can see is whatyouwant like a spoiled baby. I shouldn’t have ever given in to you.” I wanted to slam the door, but he was standing in it, but that would have been more satisfying. Instead, I slammed my car door and missed the first time I tried to stick the key in the ignition. Then realized it wasn’t even my key. I tossed his in the seat next to me and pushed mine in. Looking up, I saw Jackie stalking onto the front porch. Maybe he didn’t think I’d go, but I did. Stuck the bitch in reverse and backed all the way down his drive and onto the main road.
Fuck him. Fuck his pool. I didn’t need this shit when I was only trying to help.
I did not go to the grocery store.
I went home. I needed a shower and to cool off. Let’s see how well he did taking care of himself. Arguably, he probably had a spare set of keys anyway. But at the moment, I did not give one flying fuck. I hadn’t ever been this angry. But the anger was dousing the hurt. I probably said things I shouldn’t, but it was bound to come to this sooner or later. So fuck Jackie Corbin and all his bullshit.
Chapter nineteen
A week later
I hadn’t even bothered to text him. I was pretty sure whatever we had was over. He left me angry and confused, staring after him from my porch. But even after calming down, I was mad—angry to my core. That low simmering won’t-go-away kind of mad. I didn’t know if I could actually be with someone who would go all Kathy Bates on me. After fishing out my spare keys and finishing dressing, which took longer than I liked, I headedinto town. By that time, I hadn’t even wanted to go, but it was a matter of defiance.
He really showed me what he thought of me—stupid, can’t take care of myself. And throwing my mother in my face? That would be the hardest to get over. So when he didn’t come back or return my keys, I wrote him off. Hell, I was happy to be working on my blog and helping out the random customer, waving at the teens coming in to check out the latest video games, and eating sticky buns. And catching up on the gossip when either Evelyn or Reuben came in. So fuck him and his sexy man-bun and smart clothes and coffee addiction. He wasn’t very nice underneath all that.
Except I knew that was a lie. I didn’t want to admit it, though.
When I was a mile deep into my next blog post, Eddy stormed in and slammed his hand on the counter, making me jump. “Hey.”
“What? Are you okay?”
He was obviously upset about something. “What are you going to do about Alfred?”
“Uh…nothing.” There wasn’t anything to do. I’d given up.
“Maybe you should. He’s been very grouchy. And I meanvery.”
Why did this upset Eddy so much? Oh. Like a lightbulb. “Afraid you’re going to lose him to the big city?” I certainly had been. And if I were being honest, still was, especially now.
“Yes, but more importantly here, I’m more afraid that two of my best friends in the world are breaking each other’s hearts for no. Good. Reason.” He tapped the counter with each of his last three words. But…
“We have good reasons.” I turned back to my laptop, wanting this conversation to end. Because he actually was right. And my chest physically ached thinking about it. Alfred said those thingsbecause he was mad. And I had caused it. But I sure as hell didn’t want to face up to that. Would he even accept an apology?
Brock called from the back, “Eddy. Stay out of it.”
“Whatever. I have to go to the office. Bye.” He stormed out, glaring back, probably at the entire store, as he went. He wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t know what the hell to do about it.
