Page 108 of Bewitched By the Sea Monster
His eyes scorched into mine. “Aboutwhat?”
“How about…”
The fact that you’re a selfish prick.
And I was too stupid to see it.
“...L-last night,” I said, after only a brief stutter. “And this trip. Andus.”
Jackson stuck his head under the trickling water and angrily scrubbed the shampoo off. “I can’t believe this. You’re still sour.Still?For fuck’s sake. Whatis the matter, Pippi?”
“I’m trying to tell you?—"
“You haven’t been right since we came here.”
“Because I didn’twantto come here.”
He closed his eyes. “I swear to fucking…I surprise my girlfriend with a dream vacation?—”
“This wasn’tmydream vacation.”
“—I bring her to a magical island?—”
“—knowing she’s terrified of the ocean.You forgot that part.”
“And she decides to be an ungrateful bitch.” He flicked water at me.
“Ungrateful?”
“I don’t know what the fuck got into your head—” Jackson broke off, sudsing up a rag and scrubbing his body down. An action that, a week or so ago, might’ve left me salivating. And he was so deliberate abouthowhe did it. Fondling his chest. His biceps. His cock.
But I’d never been so cold.
Sexually cold, at least.
The anger was broiling.
“—but Imissmy happy girl,” he finished.
“I don’t think your happy girl has beenhappy. Not for a while.”
He heaved a big sigh.
“We reallyneed to talk about this, Jackson. I can give you some time so we can both cool off.”
“We don’t havetime. We have to be at the dock in a few hours.”
I bristled. “Why onearthwould you buy?—”
“Because everyoneis going to be on this tour, Pippi!” Jackson threw his rag at me. “Everyone.And maybe you don’t give a shitabout the peopleIlike, but can you at least appreciate that I enjoy their company?”
“Sure I can. When you start appreciating the same thing about my friends.”
He rinsed himself, glaring at me the whole time, and then flicked the shower off. “Can you stop being selfish?—”
“Howdare?—”
“—and be in a civil mood. Then maybe,maybe,I’ll be civil for whatever pointless talk you wanna have.” He snatched a towel off the hook.
