Page 74 of Full Out Fiend
Silence lags between us, so I continue my explanation.
“She had a shit night. She and Teddy hooked up a few years ago, and she’s had a thing for him ever since. When she showed up to celebrate his birthday with us, he was already wasted and had his sights set on someone else. He barely acknowledged her.”
I don’t bother delving into the details of their messy relationship. They’ve always been hot and cold—fire and ice—each one making strategic moves against the other in a twisted game of situationship chess.
“She just wanted to go home, so I offered to walk her to her car on my way out. She was really upset, and I didn’t want her crying while she was driving. That picture is me holding her door open and trying to make her laugh and lighten the mood before she left. Any questions?”
Her back is still to me. She’s recoiling—shutting me out before I’ve even had a chance to dig my way back in and get reacquainted. There’s no version of this situation where I’m in the wrong, yet guilt and shame are my default settings. I push them both down and clear my throat.
“Well, I have a question. Who sent you that picture, Daphne?”
It’s an awful shot. Grainy and dark. I’m leaning against Tiff’s open driver’s side doorframe, which I probably only did for a few seconds. Without context, the photo looks incriminating. There’s an endgame here.
She answers with more silence, which just pisses me the hell off.
I sit up straighter, staring at the back of her perfectly styled hair, willing her to at least turn the fuck around so we can discuss this like adults.
“Did you ask someone to follow me last night?” I press.
Her head whips around so fast I would have missed it if I blinked.
“Of course not!” she defends. “This was sent to me unsolicited.”
Her hair might be perfectly styled, but her eyes are red and puffy, like she didn’t get enough sleep and she’s been crying for a while. The lack of rest I’ll cop to, but the tears aren’t my fault.
I level her with as much sincerity as possible, clenching my jaw until it aches. I don’t dare move a muscle—but fuck, I wish I could hug her right now.
“Who do you think sent that picture, angel?” I ask softly. She’s not the villain here. I have to keep my cool. If anything, she’s more of a victim in this than me.
“If I had to guess, I’d bet it’s from Anthony or Andy.”
The answer doesn’t surprise me. But it still pisses me off.
Fucking Adley assholes. When will they get a clue? They have no case to make—no business interjecting themselves into our lives. I’ll be damned if I let them have any power over me.
“You think? Or you know?” I run a hand through my disheveled hair and blow out a long breath.
Daphne sighs but finally meets my gaze. I don’t know if it’s relief or disappointment on her face, but I’ll be damned if I’m ever responsible for making her feel whatever she’s feeling right now.
“I honestly don’t know. I blocked both their numbers a while ago, but they keep finding ways to get through…”
She trails off as my fury rises. They have absolutely no right to be contacting her. I don’t give a shit if they want to follow me around, trying to “catch me in the act.” They can find me on campus, hunt me down in the library, or follow me around downtown Hampton any damn day of the week. I have literally nothing to hide. The truth is that no matter where I am, it’s not where I actually want to be.
The only place I ever want to be is wherever she is. In this house. Lounging on the couch. Snuggling in my bed.
Fuck.
She asked me to take her to bed last night.
It was perfect in every way.Shewas perfect in every way. Ethereal, like a dream.
The Adley assholes are trying to morph this dream into a nightmare, but I refuse to let them.
“I don’t have anything to hide. Like I’ve said before, I’m an open book, and I would never, under any circumstances, do something to make you question my loyalty. I wanted you to come with me last night,” I remind her.
“I know.” She sniffles, adjusting her position so she’s a few feet closer.
“And he fucking knows exactly what buttons to push to get under your skin.”