I think we've just been lying in my bed in silence for at least an hour. Occasionally, he would ask me something and I would answer. Then I would ask him something and he would answer. And we both stared at my ceiling the entire time.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, turning to look at him this time. I was surprised when I found him already watching me.

He shook his head softly.

"Well, I'm hungry."

"Then go eat."

"Will you make me something?"

He rolled his eyes but he was smiling. "Can't you make yourself something?"

"I'm not very good at cooking. Chloe's better than me but she's working."

"Hmm, I bet Whiskey's helping her with that."

"You brought Whiskey?" I grinned.

He nodded.

I nudged his arm with mine. "Answer me. Will you make me something?"

"No, you should make it on your own." He shook his head and turned to look at the ceiling again.

"Why not?"

He rolled onto his side, looking at me. "Because."

"Because?"

"Just because," he smirked, using my words from last night.

"Reece," I pleaded, scooting closer to him.

"What do you think Chloe thinks we're doing right now?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. Why?"

"I'm just curious. What would people think if they saw us going into a room together and not coming out for hours?"

"It's only been an hour," I deadpanned.

"I'm just asking hypothetically," he smiled, pulling me closer.

"They would think of horrible things."

"Horrible things we've already done?"

I nodded slowly. And then just to scare him and give him a little heart attack, I said, "Reece, I like you."

He went completely stiff and just stared at me in shock.

"You're good company," I smirked, remembering when he scared me that same way a while ago. I chuckled, starting to climb off the bed. "If you're not going to make me anything, I'll make it myself."

He pulled me back down, making me whine. "Would you tell me if you actually liked me?" he asked, not even a hint of sarcasm or humor in his voice. He was dead serious, he really wanted to know.

I shook my head slowly.

"Why?" he questioned, his eyes narrowing just a bit.

"Because you'd leave me," I whispered.

He blinked, his face void of any emotion or reaction.

I took that time to slip out of the room and into the kitchen. Whiskey ran over as soon as I opened the door and started trying to climb up my leg. I chuckled, scooping him up. I walked to Chloe and sat down beside her first, putting my head on her shoulder.

She took her headphones off, resting them around her neck, and turned to me. "He'll break your heart, my pretty little girl," she whispered.

"I'm starting to believe that," I said, lifting my head and looking at her.

A knowing look flashed across her eyes. "I knew you liked him. Does he know?" she asked, keeping her voice down.

I shook my head, setting Whiskey on the floor. I'm so glad she's not painting right now because if she was, the smell of acrylic would have killed me already. It makes me nauseous and it makes my head hurt and my nostrils and eyes burn.

"You haven't told him?"

I shook my head again, resting my elbow on my knee and leaning forward, looking at her canvas which had a background of flower petals and leaves.

"Are you going to?" she whispered.

I turned to look at her and shook my head again.

Her eyes widened. "Will you keep fucking him?"

I nodded sheepishly.

She gasped, "So you'll keep fucking around even though you—" She stopped talking and we both looked at my door as it opened.

He stepped out while scratching the back of his neck. I bet he'll leave after the little stunt I just pulled. He stood right where he was and stared at me. "You want fries?" he asked.

I perked up, "Huh?"

"I can make them. You said you're hungry."

I nodded, "Fries are good." Is he just acting like this because Chloe's here? Probably.

"You want some too?" He looked at Chloe.

She shook her head, "I just ate before coming back home. Stopped by Candy's."

He nodded and then started making them.

I turned to Chloe and grabbed her headphones, putting them back over her ears. She nodded, understanding that I didn't want her to eavesdrop on this conversation. I normally don't mind because I tell her everything anyway. But this one, I don't want her to hear. I walked over to him and stood beside him.

He didn't even look at me though.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"You said you're hungry," he said, turning the stove on.

I turned it back off. "You said you wouldn't make me anything," I replied.

"I said you should make it on your own. But I'm making it now. What's your problem?"

I frowned, staring at him. "What's my problem? You're the one freaking out over a little joke."

"Things like that aren't little jokes, Indie."

I rolled my eyes. "So what, huh? I don't like you, but even if I did, what's the big deal? It would just be a stupid little crush, I'd get over it. It doesn't change anything."

He turned to me. "It changes everything. It changes this whole deal we made."

"Deal?"

He sighed, "It changes the whole game."

"Game? Deal? Do you hear yourself? You couldn't make it more obvious you're just using me for sex."

"So are you, Indie. What's the difference? We're doing the same damn thing to each other. You don't get to act mad about it."

"I'm..." I trailed off with a frustrated sigh. "Reece," I said slowly. "What's wrong with you? I was just joking back there, why are you—"

"Because I don't think you were joking."

"Do you want me to prove to you I don't like you? Tell me how to prove it and I will. Ask her. I tell her everything. She would know if I liked you," I said, gesturing to Chloe.

When we both looked at her, she was happily bobbing her head to the music, not a clue about what we were saying.

I grabbed all the stuff and threw it back into the cabinet and fridge. "I'm not hungry anymore." I turned around and walked to my room. I couldn't even close the door because he slipped right back in behind me.

"What are you mad about now?"

I rolled my eyes, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Nothing."

He stood in front of me, towering over me. And I didn't like that. So I stood up on the bed, towering over him.

He sighed, shaking his head softly, and then looked up at me. "You're mad I said the words 'deal' and 'game' while talking about this?" He used a finger and pointed between us.

"Reece, I hope you understand that I am well aware of what we're doing. I know that we're using each other. But answer me this, have I ever made you feel like you were being used? Have I ever actually just had sex with you and tossed you away. I'm not saying you do it all the time, but sometimes, you do. You talk to me like you'll gladly throw me away if we decide to stop here."

"I would," he scoffed, nodding. I gritted my teeth. "You know what, Indie? I would. Because that's how I do things, okay? If we decided to stop here, I would have no problem tossing you away. I would gladly do it, okay? I would—"

I lost control hearing him say it so many times. And my hand found a mind and will of its own and swung, slapping him. It was hard too.

He chuckled dryly, poking the inside of his cheek with his tongue.

"Get out," I said, catching my breath. "If it's so easy for you, okay. Let's stop right here then. We're done. Get out."

"Indie—"

"No. You said what you said. You just made me feel more worthless in a second than anyone ever has. Not even Landon, who was fucking cheating on me. Even he didn't make me feel like shit. Get out."

He sighed, taking a second to breathe while he looked at the ceiling. "Get down," he said softly.

"No. Get out," I spat. He reached forward to grab my hand but I stepped back and off the bed. "Leave." He started walking over and I quickly ran to the bathroom. He was able to push the door open though, so I climbed into the shower, closing the glass cabin door. "Leave," I demanded.

He rolled his eyes and tried opening the door but I held it shut. He pulled harder and I couldn't hold on against him, he pulled me with the damn door.

I stumbled forward and he caught me as I crashed right into him. I started throwing his hands off of me but he was the one holding me in place.

"Listen to me, that's not what I meant—"

"I want you out. Leave. Go. Get away from me. Toss me away since it's so easy for you. Go!"

"You slapped me!"

"Because you practically called me your worthless whore! But humor me, go on."

"Indie!"

"No, please, tell me. Actually, tell me this. After the first night, when have I begged for sex again? Huh? It's always you calling me, asking me to come over, asking to have sex. It's you who came here today because you couldn't a day without me. So am I a worthless whore? Or is it you?"

He pushed me further into the shower and pinned me to the wall. "Indie," he said softly, staring down at me. "Calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down. Do you know what you just said? And it's very well possible that I'm just overreacting. But I don't like being treated the way you just treated me. Do I ever speak to you like that, Reece?"

"Indie," he said, his voice is getting louder now. He's getting agitated.

"Tell me or I swear to god, Reece!" I yelled, still trying to throw his hands off my body. And I managed to this time.

He let out a huff, his nostrils flaring just a bit. He grabbed my shirt and pulled me off the wall. Then he grabbed my wrists and held them behind my back till my fists dug into my tailbone. He moved me around until I was directly under the showerhead. "Will you shut up and listen to me?" he snapped.

"No. Fucking answer me," I demanded.

"No?"

"No," I spat.

He reached around me with his free hand and turned the shower on.

And ice-cold water rained down on me. It rained down like a fucking storm. Along with the realization I knew but didn't want to admit. I like him. And I'm falling for him. Hard.

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