Page 97 of By Rude Strength

“Youarean asshole,” Gavin snapped. “You always have been. You have such a nasty temper. It’s pathetic, you know. The way you always snap—”

“Especially when you poke at me. Again and again andagain.” LA narrowed his eyes, barely keeping his temper in check before a thought occurred to him—Gavin was baiting him.

Gavin was fucking baiting him. Gavin wastryingto piss him off. This was what always happened. Gavin would get him mad enough to make him blow his top, and then LA would feel guilty for snapping at him and probably saying something really hurtful.

Blaming Gavin for it would have been easy, but then LA remembered what Cass had said about being in control of only his own actions or whatever.

That’s when it clicked.

While it was true Gavin was being an absolute manipulative dick and LA couldn’t stop him from being a dick, LA didn’t have to lose his temper and give him what he wanted. He could simply keep his temper in check—however difficult it was.

LA took a deep breath.

He thought of peach crumbles and golden eyes, and it was suddenly a lot easier to stay calm.

He even smiled as he said, “Look, I’m sorry that I wasn’t always kind. I know I have said some really horrible things to you. It doesn’t matter why I said them because I’m responsible for my own actions and… I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you what you needed for us to have a truly fulfilling relationship.”

“What?” Gavin’s eyes widened.

“You heard me.” LA shrugged. “I can’t give you what you need. I don’t think I ever could. And that’s okay. I really hope one day you do. Find someone who can, I mean.” He smiled again, taking a step back. “It’s just not gonna be me.”

Gavin stared, his mouth gaping. “But… But—”

“But it’s okay. We’re not good for each other. It’s fine. What’s not fine is you pushing me and trying to drag me into a fight when I’ve already made it very clear that I’m done. We are not dating. I am not going to ever date you again. So. Good luck and all that.”

“Wait, wait!” Gavin gestured toward the parking lot. “What, what about your stuff?”

LA shook his head. “Whatever you have of mine… Hey, I’ve lived without it all week and been fine, so. Trash it. Burn it. Piss on it. I don’t care.”

“LA.” Gavin continued to gawk like a fish. “What the fuck? You… You can’t just…”

“Hey.” LA’s temper flared and he swallowed back the horrible curses aching to escape. “Whatever I do now, it’s because I wantto. Not because I feel like I have to.” He waved. “You have a good life, Gavin. Bye bye now.”

Gavin huffed and puffed, but no other words left his mouth for several seconds. He all but stomped his foot as he left, stalking away in a hurry.

Fuck.

LA let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

He’d done it.

Damn, that felt good.

LA turned around with a grin, his heart racing, but he gasped when he nearly smacked right into Cass. “Cass!”

“Elly!” Cass said cheerfully, offering out his arms for a hug. “Are you all right?”

“You scared the shit out of me! Where the hell did you come from?”

“Oh, well, I may have been a tiny bit invisible and maybe sort of hiding.” Cass grimaced.

LA stared flatly. “Really?”

“Not the whole time!” Cass pouted. “When you didn’t come back, Brandon and Kevin got worried. I offered to come find you, and well, when I heard what you were saying to Gavin…”

“What part did you come in at?”

“Right about thepoke mepart.”