Page 26 of Whatever He Wants
I’ve wanted to beat her shitty boyfriend senseless since I discovered his theft.Every single part of me is begging to pound my fist into his side repeatedly and enjoy his pain.But I second-guess myself now that I have him pinned.I would be reverting to the worst version of myself if I hit him.He’s a lean, twenty-something-year-old kid.I work out, and I have an active job.In my teens, I used to be a piece of shit who picked fights with kids weaker than me.I can’t be that person again.Especially not in front of Denise.
Denise comes toward us, grabbing my arm.“Let him go!”
She squeezes between me and Matt, using herself as his shield.Unfuckingbelievable.I wanted to protect her from him, but she’s protecting him from me.I release Matt’s shirt and back away.He shifts his body to cower behind Denise like a cockroach scuttling somewhere to hide.
I hold Denise’s stare.“You’ll always look out for him, but he’ll never put you first.You deserve better than that.”
16
Denise
Isaac turns and leaves before I can respond.His footsteps thud up the stairs, the tension lessening once the door shuts behind him.
Guilt and regret twists in my stomach.I hurt him.I saw it before he hid it behind his mask.He thought I was protecting Matt, when in truth, I was trying to protect him.I didn’t want things to escalate and him winding up in trouble after pulverizing Matt.
Mad at myself for what I did, I turn and glare at the reason.My so-called boyfriend.He takes off his backpack and drops it on the floor, a scowl on his face as he rubs his throat.
“That guy is a fucking psycho!”
I fold my arms.“And you’re an asshole.How could you do that to me?”
“Do what to you?I didn’t do anything!You can’t give me shit when he’s the one who suggested it!”
I’m outraged again, remembering his answer to Isaac.“It was a test, and you failed.How you responded says a lot about you, and a lot about our relationship.I’ve been your girlfriend for six years.I’ve loved you, cared for you, supported you, and sacrificed for you.And you turned around and tried to trade my body for a favour.”
He scoffs.“Don’t act like I’m the shittiest one in our relationship.You’re my girlfriend, but you idolize Isaac so much, it’s like you’re in love with him.It hasn’t been easy feeling like I can never measure up.I tried to ask you to marry me, and instead of giving me an answer, you ran to tell Isaac about it.Why?You needed his approval, like you always do, because it matters more to you than I do.”
“I didn’t need his approval.I wanted to return the ring the moment you tried to propose, remember?Seems like a clear answer to me.”
He takes a breath like he’s about to retort when he pauses.His gaze fixes on a spot below my chin, and his anger turns into surprise before he smiles, but it’s more of a sneer.He shakes his head.
“I can’t believe it.I can’t fuckingbelieveit!”
Matt tilts his head back and laughs like he’s just gotten a hilarious joke.I tense at his changed mood and behaviour.What could be so amusing?
“Gotta hand it to you, Denise, you’re good.”His disdainful smile is still in place.“I never suspected a thing.Looks like you slipped up this time.”
“What are you talking about?”Why won’t he spit it out already?
“I’m talking about that hickey on your neck.The hickey that I definitely didn’t give you because we haven’t fucked in a long time.”
Oh god.A cold, unpleasant tingle courses through my limbs, yet my face burns.I slap my hand over the spot where Isaac sucked me, and Matt lets out another derisive laugh.
“Ding ding ding!It’s amazing you knowexactlywhere it is, babe!”His amusement vanishes, contempt in his eyes and voice.“Who gave you that hickey?Wait, let me guess.Was it the guy standing real close to our bed when I came home?The guy who said he wants you?Babe, are you fucking Isaac?”
The words rush out of me.“No, I’m not.”
But I almost did.
“That’s a fucking lie.It all makes sense now.Why else would he offer to fuck you in exchange for not calling the cops on me, huh?He knew you would do it because you’re a dirty slut.”
My eyes widen at Matt’s appalling words.Where did the crudeness end and the meanness begin?
“I’m not lying.I’ve never had sex with Isaac.Like I said, he was testing you—”
“Yeah, right!You were probably fucking him since before we moved into the basement.After his wife died, you were at his house almost every day.What were you guys doing, all alone for hours?”
“Nothing.Nothing happened between us!He was grieving and he needed my help.”
