“Diamond, go back upstairs, now,” her dad shouts, and Aveena shakes Dia’s arm to snap her out of it. Only then does she come back to the land of the living.
She gives me one last glance before being hauled back upstairs by her best friend. I call her name until she’s out of sight, but Jesse isn’t having it, pushing me toward the door and out onto the porch. I stumble backward but manage to catch myself before falling.
Next thing I know, Jesse, Big Dad, and I are standing on the Mitchells’ front lawn. I know shit is getting serious when her other dad runs outside, making sure to leave the baby inside for a moment. Pure horror flickers in his eyes.
They’re scared of me.
I didn’t just make a bad first impression.
I’m terrorizing them.
“Get off my property before I call the cops,” Big Dad snarls, and I believe every word. He’s not bluffing. He will call the cops on me.
“I’m sorry. Fuck, I…” I ramble, the realization of what I did slamming into me. “I’m so sorry.”
I spin and cross the street toward my car. I unlock the door with the remote as soon as I’m close enough and plop down onto the driver’s seat with a curse. As I’m driving off, I think back to the pain on Dia’s face when she saw me.
Jesse was right.
I am selfish.
I’m selfish for thinking that what I want matters right now.
I’m selfish for showing up here and trying to force her to see me.
But mostly, I’m selfish for thinking that the girl I want…
…still wants me.