I rubbed my arm. “And anyway, wasn’t the whole point of this year to get me to give up my virginity anyway?”
She gasped. “You slept with that man?”
“Hannah, would you just listen to yourself? I didn’t sleep with him last night. Max was hurt in a fight last night. And I just couldn’t leave him there. He was hurt!”
“What kind of fight? Where?”
“Right outside the dorm, Hannah. He was jumped. He wasn’t conscious. I wasn’t going to just leave him there.”
“Did you call the cops? Get him in an ambulance? You still would’ve been home had you done that.”
I shook my head. “He didn’t want cops or an ambulance. I drove him back to his place in my car.”
She threw her hands up in the air. “You what!? He’s a criminal, Dani. Only men who have records or a chance at arrest don’t go to hospitals after they’re jumped. Don’t you know any of this?”
I raised my head high. “He was hurt. I wanted to spend the night to make sure he was okay. That’s what I did. If you don’t like it, that sounds like a personal problem.”
Hannah put her hands on her hips. “You want to know what I think?”
“I already know what you think. You‘ve had no issues shoving it down my throat since I got back.”
“Dani, I don’t know what the hell’s gotten into you--”
“Control of my life. That’s what’s gotten into me.”
She sighed. “Dani. This guy? He’s trouble. I know that just from looking at him. You need to walk away now, while you still can.”
“See? That’s the issue with people. Always judging others on the outside. Max is always judged, and so was I. But he didn’t judge me. And I didn’t judge him. That’s why it’s nice to be around him. Maybe you should take a page out of his book.”
“What? Pissing people off so I can get jumped and not go to the hospital?”
I pointed at her. “You take that back.”
She smacked my hand away from her face. “Never.”
I felt my nostrils flaring with anger. “I’m not walking away.”
“You have to.”
“No.”
“Dani, just listen to me.”
“I am listening, Hannah!”
My voice rose so high that it echoed off the corners of our room, causing Hannah to wince.
“You’re just like my mother. I do hear you. Everyone can hear you. The only thing is that I’m not listening. Why? Because I don’t want to. I hear you. I get it. But I’m not taking your advice. And that’s what?
?s pissing you off.”
She snickered. “And why won’t you listen? Why won’t you just trust me on this?”
I shrugged. “Because I don’t want to.”
She nodded. “Well, great. Wonderful. That’s just dandy.”
“You don’t have to like it.”