Page 17 of Whatever He Wants
I pick up my phone, tempted to text him everything instead of facing him.Reluctantly, I ask if I can come see him.
Yes, he replies a few minutes later.
“I’ll be right back,” I say to Matt, then sling on a sweater and head outside.
My limbs feel a bit shaky as I climb the deck stairs, though it’s not just the chilly night breeze causing it.The warm, amber glow of the railing lights chases away the darkness, while the chirps of crickets fill the air.
After I knock on the back door, I don’t have to wait long.Isaac opens it, the interior light spilling out onto the deck.He looks tired, and he’s wearing pajama pants.Was he in bed already?
His gaze pins me, heightening my anxiety.It’s unfair how good he is at hiding his emotions while my body is like a scrolling billboard, broadcasting everything I feel.Like now, my face is warm enough that I’m sure it’s flushed, which means he knows I’m thinking about what we did a few hours ago.Is he thinking about it too?
Forget about that.
Do what you came to do.
“Matt sold your watch to a pawn shop,” I say quickly.The best way to deliver bad news is like ripping off a wax strip—fast and with purpose.“We went to get it back, but the store was closed by the time we got there.I’ll try again tomorrow.”I wait for his response.When there’s none, I prompt him.“Is that OK?”
“Sure.”
There’s no inflection to his tone.Just a dry one-word answer that fills me with both relief and annoyance.I’m glad he’s not sticking to theby tonightpart of his threat, but I panicked and stressed over nothing because of it.
“That’s it?You’re not mad?”
“Do you want me to be?”
“No, I just—earlier, you were really upset about this.”
“I guess you did a good job calming me down.”
My eyes widen.“Wow.You’re not even sorry about what you did.”
“I’m not proud of it.”He steps down onto the deck, moving closer, his imposing height dwarfing me.“I was an asshole.But let’s not ignore your part in this.For all your protests, you sure seemed eager blowing a man who isn’t your boyfriend.”His voice becomes silken, almost taunting.“Tell me the truth, if I’d wanted more than that, you would’ve let me, wouldn’t you?”
I hope Matt can’t hear any of this.
“I wouldn’t,” I say, forcing as much conviction into the words as I can.He tilts his head, a knowing look in his eyes.He knows I’m lying.I break eye contact.
“How much did Matt get for pawning my watch?”
Afraid the answer will piss him off, I hesitate.
“Three hundred dollars.”
Isaac scoffs and shakes his head.“It was worth nearly four times that.”
Oh my god.I knew the watch was expensive, but I’m still stunned by the actual cost.
“He sucks at bargaining,” he continues, then peers down the stairs at the closed basement door.“And he’s a coward too.He’s hiding from me, isn’t he?”
“You said he’s not allowed on your deck.”I pause and take a breath.“Look, as I said, I’ll drop by the shop tomorrow.It’s not far from work.I’ll go on my lunch break.”
“Pawn shops buy low and sell high.”His tone softens.“You won’t get it back for the three hundred they gave to Matt.Tell me what store and I’ll get it—”
“No.You said it yourself—I indirectly caused this.I’ll undo it.I’llpay their price.”
He lets out a soft, amused huff at me throwing his words back at him but says nothing.
“I have savings,” I continue.“And I can pawn the ring Matt bought with the money to help cover some of the cost.”
