“Here’s the thing,” I say slowly. “I don’t really know who you are. We jumped into bed together, and we both never thought we would see each other ever again. Our lives might’ve crossed paths, but that doesn’t mean we’re destined to be together for all time now. Maybe it would’ve been better if we never met up again.”
“Maybe that would have been for the best,” he agrees, and I’m shocked to realize how much that hurts me. “Because then you wouldn’t be playing games with my heart and mind games with my best friends.”
I wince. “I never intended… Look, they were the ones to start shit with me. If they can’t stand the heat from my sticking up for myself, then they shouldn’t have gone into the kitchen.”
“Are you really trying to say that vandalism is okay?”
“Are you really trying to say that bullying is okay?” I counter.
“Of course not, but two wrongs don’t make a right.”
“Three lefts do,” I mumble.
“Three lefts…” Rob groans. “Seriously? That’s what you’re going with?”
“Well, I go throw three jabs. Would you prefer that?”
“So long as you aren’t attacking me.”
I snort. “It’s not so much you I have an issue with.”
“So if it weren’t for my friends, we would be together?”
I hesitate, considering this. “I wouldn’t put it like that,” I say, my words coming out slowly, carefully. “I’m not sure if we would be together or not, but I will say that I do appreciate everything.”
“Appreciate everything,” he repeats. “Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve given you my all both times we were together—”
“So you don’t always give your all?” I ask.
“Do you? It’s exhausting to give up pieces of yourself to everyone.”
“I… I never thought of it like that before.”
“I have probably been with more people than you have, but that doesn’t mean I give a part of myself away to each and every person I’ve been with.”
“More people, huh? Does that mean—”
“I assume you haven’t been with a girl, so… I mean, saying I’ve been with more girls than you… Or have you been with a girl?”
“No. Not yet at least.” I laugh.
I wait for him to make a pervy comment such as wanting to watch, but he doesn’t.
“I know you think I have no right to feel this way, but I don’t like the idea of you being with anyone else, girl or guy,” he mutters after a long pause.
I picture him with a girl, any girl, and I have to admit that my stomach churns at the thought.
“You don’t have to come over,” he says, “not if you don’t want to. I’m not rescinding the invite, but if you’re worried about my friends being there, you don’t have to be. They’ve gone off campus for a party at another school, and they aren’t going to be making it back until tomorrow some time. Probably early afternoon, if not later.”
“Did you expect them to react to me the way they have?” I ask.
“No,” he says, his tone unreadable. “I told them about you after the cruise ship, and then I was shocked when I found you again… but you weren’t anything like you were back then. I’ll admit I was hurt that you blew me off so quickly, that you wouldn’t give me a chance.”
“You have to understand,” I murmur. “I’m going through some shit, number one, and number two, you were supposed to be a one-night stand, nothing more.”
“But who says I only have to be a part of your past?” he counters. “Why can’t I be something more?”
“Maybe you could be. Maybe not. It might not be a good idea. Your friends hate me.”