Page 36 of I Love to Hate You
“And don't forget to start looking for a job,” he adds, nearly snarling. “Whatever will pay you enough to get you out of here.”
I shut the door as I say, “Fine.” And I’m pretty sure I hear him mumble something horrendous under his breath, but I choose to ignore it and start down the stairs. The second I hit my bed, I snatch up my phone and scroll to Kendrick’s number.
I’m not the kind of girl who makes the first move. I’d prefer if the man built up his confidence and came to me. Confidence is key, after all. However, with Dad’s bullshit casting a shadow on what should've been a sunny day, I’m anxious to feel better. I just want to smile, if that's okay with my angry, cheerless father.
I’m nervous as I press Kendrick’s name, and even more so when the phone starts to ring, but I smile when he answers and I hear his deep voice again.
“Yeah?” he answers.
“Hey,” I say. “It’s Maya.”
There’s a moment of silence before Kendrick says, “Yeah,” again, his voice void of emotion.
Unsure of how to proceed, I clear my throat and try to find a good mood.
“Umm, yeah. I just wanted to see how you were,” I say.
“It’s not a good time,” he replies.
“Oh. Why? Is everything okay? You sound like you're pissed off.”
Kendrick sucks his teeth. “I’m not pissed off, Maya. I just have a lot of shit going on right now, so I don't have time to answer a hundred questions for you. I said it’s not a good time, and that should be enough. I have to go.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” I snap, my brows knitting together in anger. “This is how you're gonna act after everything that happened last night?”
“Why aren't you listening?” Kendrick barks, but he tries to quiet himself. “I said I don't have time for this right now and I have to go.”
I scoff. “So you wanted to hit it and quit it? That’s your game? I should've known. God, I’m an idiot. I can’t believe this.”
“Why are you jumping to conclusions just because it’s not a good time right now? Are you that self-centered? It’s not a fucking good time.”
“Yeah, I get the feeling there will never be a good time now that you got what you wanted out of me,” I say with a snarl, before another voice speaks in the background of Kendrick’s end of the call.
“Paging Doctor Brad Johnson. Doctor Johnson to operating room three.”
“I’m about to fucking hang up on you,” Kendrick says, sounding completely exasperated.
“Who was that?” I question. “Where are you right now?”
“Goddamn, why can't you mind your fucking business? Don't worry about where I am. It has nothing to do with you. I have to go.”
“Kendrick, wait,” I say, but the call ends before I can say anything else, and I toss my phone to the end of the bed out of frustration.
Before I can settle myself into a clear thought, my eyes sting with tears as my emotions swirl out of control. I try to breathe and think straight, but with the combination of my father's bullshit and Kendrick’s harshness, I’m overwhelmed. Everything comes to a head and I begin to cry uncontrollably. Tears soak my pillow as I curl into a ball in the middle of my bed and let myself go.
I thought Kendrick and I could work. Meeting him felt like fate having its way with us, and I had hope that we could get to know each other as I started job hunting and looking for ways to escape my father's house. I thought he could be the partner I was looking for, but he’s too much of an asshole for that.
It doesn't matter how good the sex is if the person giving it to me is toxic and doesn’t know how to treat me. So fuck it. I’ll move on without him. I’ll get a job and start making money on my own, and in due time, I’ll move out of this hell hole I call a home. This won’t get in my way, no matter how much it stings right now. It won’t stop me. I’ll give myself an hour to be sad, but when it’s all over, I’ll be stronger and ready to succeed on my own.
Fuck Kendrick Kennedy.
Kendrick
Twenty-Five
~ KENDRICK~
I drive away from Amber Perkins’ house with Maya still standing next to her car in my rearview mirror. She’s watching me go down the street, the slightest smile on her face until I’m too far to see, but the smile on my face doesn’t fade once she’s gone. I’m in shock from what just happened, but it’s the best feeling ever. Maya and I just hooked up in my car after I put a few people in check at the party. The entire ordeal has my adrenaline still pumping, revved up like a race car engine at the thought of protecting Maya and then pulling her on top of me right here in the seat I’m in now. That’s why my smile lingers—this has been one of the most exciting nights of my life.
