Page 71 of I Love to Hate You
Kendrick glances at me for a second but doesn’t say anything, and I can’t help but wonder what just went through his head, but he’s not the type to hold his tongue when he has something he wants to say, so I decide not to ask about it. He’ll say it when he’s ready.
The next ten minutes are spent in silence as we focus solely on consuming the delicious meal that he brought to life. We take sips of wine between mouthfuls of pasta, and before we know it, we’re both full and feeling the effects of port wine crumbling our inhibitions.
“So,” I say, dropping my fork onto the plate. “Now that you’ve fed me the world’s greatest pasta, are you going to tell me what the hell you whispered in Chad’s ear today?”
Kendrick smiles as he takes another sip of his wine. “Oh, I had forgotten about that. It really wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“Not that big of a deal? The man looked like he was ready to piss himself, and he practically begged for my forgiveness. So, keep it real. What’d you say?”
Kendrick leans back in his seat and smirks. “I simply told him that what he did was hazardous to his health. It was rude and misogynistic, and if he didn’t apologize immediately and earn your forgiveness, I was going to ruin my internship by ruining his life. I would find out where he lived, sneak in while he was asleep, and knock out every tooth in his mouth so that he couldn’t speak to you that way ever again. I said that if you didn’t tell him you forgave him, that today would be the last day he could eat regularly for a long time. So he made sure to specifically ask for your forgiveness.”
I stare at Kendrick in complete shock, my eyes watering from my lack of blinking.
“Umm,” I say after clearing my throat. “Did you mean all of that?”
“Every word of it. I wasn’t kidding when I said you’re mine and I’m your protector. If you didn’t forgive him, I would’ve been unavailable for dinner tonight and we wouldn’t be here enjoying this bomb ass meal I made, because I’d be playing dentist at Chad’s house right now.”
My heart hammers as I shake my head. “You’re crazy. Why would you do all of that for me? We only just started dating, and you’re acting like you’re in love already.”
“I’m not in love,” he shoots back quickly. “But I do like you, Maya. A lot. And I never once said I was some good guy who’s out to do the right thing all the time. I’m not. I’m from a bad neighborhood, I grew up poor, I idolized criminals, I’ve been a bully, and I’ve had a friend shot to death by men who will probably never be charged with his murder, because the police couldn’t find them and neither could Simon’s people. While none of that is an excuse for me to be brutal, I’m still a product of my environment and I’m unafraid of violence, especially in defense of helpless people and those I care about.”
“And I’m someone you care about?”
“Very much so.”
“Why?”
“Because being with you feels like I’m at home with my best friends. I’m just as comfortable with you as I am with my mother, and it doesn’t matter where we are. Talking to you makes me feel more safe, and that’s really rare for me. Usually, stepping outside of Strawberry Mansion makes me nervous and anxious, like everyone knows I’m from here and they can see it on me and judge me for it. It makes me uncomfortable, but you do the opposite. No matter where we are, when I’m with you, it feels like home, and no one will ever disrespect my home.”
All I can do is shake my head, because I can’t understand why Kendrick is the way he is. I don’t get how someone can be a self-admitted bully, and also go out of his way to protect helpless people, then spin around and break a man’s fingers, before flipping back to compassion and making sure no one disrespects me. He’s all over the place, and one might think that it’s too much. Maybe some people only want the sweet parts, but I want it all. I want him to hurt people who are disrespectful. I want his warmhearted side, and I’m just as attracted to his malevolence.
“I don’t think Chad will ever look at me again,” I say, trying not to grin too much.
“That’s fine.”
I laugh. “What if I wanted to be besties with Chad?”
“I highly doubt that’s what you wanted.”
“You don’t know,” I say. “Maybe I like Chad. In fact, I think I’ll send him a few winky faces and flaming heart emojis in our new intern group chat so he knows how I feel.”
Kendrick smirks as he adjusts in his seat. “I don’t think so.”
“No?” I say, reaching for my phone. “Who’s going to stop me?”
“I won’t have to stop you,” Kendrick says confidently. “You’ll stop yourself, because you know you’re mine now.”
“Oh, is that right?” I pick up my phone and go to the group chat. “You better stop me, finger murderer, before I start sending emojis and Chad takes back everything he said today.”
He glares at me without moving.
“You don’t think I’ll do it?” I bark.
Hot pinpricks form all over my body as a giddy excitement and playfulness takes over. Kendrick doesn’t move, so I open my text box and send a flaming heart to the intern group chat and wait for Kendrick’s phone to chime. As soon as it does, he looks at it and gawks at me.
I smile from ear to ear. “Oops,” I say innocently before adding, “What are you going to do about it?”
Kendrick slowly stands up. “I’m going to put you in your place, my little brat.”
