Is this all that it is to him?
Are my heart and my body a bloody game?
The fury from earlier sweeps over me. My posture stiffens, but I keep my tone level when I speak.
“Actually no, Aiden. I’m not done playing. I think I’ll take Xander up on his offer and become his girlfriend — for real this time. Then, there’s Cole. I didn’t realise he’s so interesting and smart. Even Ronan is so charming. Choices, choices.”
“Are you done?” Aiden’s jaw is tight, but he manages to control whatever temper is trying to blaze through.
“I’m not done.
You don’t believe me, do you? Do you think I’m bluffing? I’ll prove it to you.”
He grips my arm with brute force. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Watch me.”
I push at his stupid broad shoulders. I should know better than to use physical strength against him, but at this moment, I’m so worked up I can’t think straight. He keeps me pinned to the tree with an effortless hand around my arm.
“Let me the fuck go,” I pant with frustration.
“Never.”
He says the word with so much conviction. So much… authority.
I stop and stare at him with what must look like an ‘are you shitting me’ expression.
“You already moved on, so let me do the same.” My voice breaks and I clear my throat. “What the hell do you want from me anymore?”
I resist the pressure building behind my eyes.
I’m not going to cry.
“Do you honestly believe it’s even possible to move on from you, sweetheart?” The strange mixture of tenderness and anger causes my heart to jump.
“Everyone at school saw you move on with Silver just fine.”
“I don’t care about everyone at school. The show was only meant for you.”
“For me?” The bite of anger returns again. “Did I miss some memo that you should be parading with another girl after we had sex for the first time? Not to mention that you abandoned me after said sex.”
Aiden’s lips quirk in a victorious smile. “There. That’s the reaction I’ve been hoping for.”
“What?” I snap.
“You wanted this.”
“I wanted this? Your manipulation game is strong but it’s not strong enough to make me believe I wanted you on another girl’s arms!”
“You wanted to have a choice. A real one.” The grey of his eyes hardens to gunmetal. “So I gave you a chance to choose me. Your reply is three days late, but I’ll take it.”
My lips move to say something, but nothing comes out. I’m speechless.
After a few seconds — or minutes — of staring at his wrongfully beautiful face, I say, “Your way of giving me a choice is thrusting Silver in my face?”
“An encouragement.”
I laugh without humour. As usual, he always makes the choices swing in his direction. “Why Silver? Why not any other girl?”