Page 61 of Chasing After You

16

Dorian

As soon as the bike was parked, I hopped off and stormed inside, leaving Josh alone on the driveway. My combat boots hit the ground with hard, angry thuds, every movement sharp and cold and purposeful.

Ishouldn’thave listened in.

I shouldn’t have planted the bug on his phone in the first place. Shouldn’t have heard that fake little cutesy laugh he gave Eli. Shouldn’t have heard the clink of glasses or the flirting.

I sat there on the couch, waiting for the sound of his footsteps on the porch. Each second dragged like a blade down my spine.

The door opened, hesitated, then shut again.

He was quiet as he searched for me.

“Dorian?” he called, voice soft. Wary. Like I was a dog that might bite.

I didn’t look up.

He hovered in the doorway to the living room. “What the hell just happened?”

I clenched my jaw.

“You can’t just show up to my date anddragme away. That guy probably thinks I got kidnapped. You scared me, Dori.”

Still didn’t look at him. If I did, I’d snap.

“Please, what’s going on?”

“You lied to me.” My voice came out lower than I meant it to—more restrained, more bitter.

He faltered, “I—yeah, okay, I lied. But only because I didn’t want you to get weird about it! And look at this. Youdidget weird about it.”

“I’m not weird,” I snapped. The words burned on the way out. “I’m protective.”

He scoffed, stepping forward. “Ofwhat? You’re not my boyfriend. You’re not my dad. You’re not—” He cut himself off.

And that silence said more than the words he couldn’t finish.

I stood slowly, every breath in my body tight as wire. “I know what I’m not.”

He stepped back. Just a little. His voice shrank. “Then why are you so mad?”

Because you let someone else touch what was mine.

Because you smiled for him.

Because I’ve been patient. Gentle. Waiting.

Because I’ve wanted you every single fucking day since the moment I first laid eyes on you, to the night you left me behind, to every day after.

I let out a short, dry laugh. “BecauseIbrought you here.Itook care of you. I’ve been quiet and careful andgood.And you ran off to some guy who probably calls every man on that app handsome like it’s a party favor.”

Josh’s expression twisted.

I stepped toward him, slow, deliberate. “You think you’re the only one confused? Do you think this is just a passing thing for me? I’ve beendrowningin this foryears. How dare you leave me here alone! How dare you fucking lie to me!”

“Stop it,” he said, quiet and panicked. “Don’t say anything else.”