Page 38 of Die for You

“Lenny!” I cry, pressing a linen napkin over Nico’s nose.

Lenny jumps up onto the kitchen counter, unperplexed as he reaches for an apple from the fruit bowl. He chews it as he watches me nursing Nico.

“Should have listened,” Lenny says, pointing his finger at Nico. “Or maybe I should have used your translator?”

“This isn’t funny.”

“It’s a little bit funny. Fuckingtesta di cazzo.”

It’s on before I can stop it as Nico shoves me out of the way and charges for Lenny. I trip over the bottle of wine on the floor and end up crashing into the wall. It’s an accident, but Lenny doesn’t see it that way. He launches off the counter and headbutts Nico, who stumbles backward.

Lenny doesn’t give him a chance to gather himself before he grabs him by the front of the neck and he shoves him into the refrigerator, choking him. Nico slaps at Lenny’s fingers, but I’ve seen Lenny fight—Nico doesn’t stand a chance.

I find my footing and jump onto Lenny’s back, hoping to stop him from choking out Nico.

It doesn’t work.

Lenny only seems to grip Nico harder, who turns red and gasps for air.

“Lenny, stop, you’re killing him! Please, stop!”

“That’s kinda the point.”

Lenny’s body is rigid, and I know he’s in a rage. I know this because when faced with bloodshed, my body responds the same way. This is why Lenny and I are bad for one another.

But regardless of this, we would kill for the other.

“He shouldn’t put his fucking hands on you!” Lenny screams.

Nico is losing consciousness, his eyes fluttering, the fight in him dying.

“Please, please stop,” I beg, hugging Lenny tight.

Our altercation soon turns into an embrace, and it seems we both realize how badly we craved each other’s touch.

Lenny loosens his grip on Nico’s throat and lets him go.

Nico gulps in mouthfuls of air, rubbing his red neck.

“I’m sorry,” I say to Nico, still clinging to Lenny’s back.

Nico looks at me, finally, how I deserve—he looks at me with disgust.

He doesn’t say a word as he storms out the back door, his bike tearing down the driveway a moment later.

I doubt I’ll ever see him again.

As always, Lenny and I seem to destroy everything we touch—us included.

But regardless of this, it feels so good.

I hold on tight, pressing my cheek into Lenny’s back. We’re silent, surrounded by chaos. We are the calm to one another’s storms.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper, eyes closed. I am suddenly so tired.

“I protect what’s mine…even if you don’t want me to.”

Tears wet his black T-shirt because that’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever said. But as I look around at the mayhem surrounding us, I remember the promise I made to myself.