I sat on the two-seater in the ladies' bathroom, which was luckily empty. I leaned my head back against the wall and groaned.

Why is he here? Well, to be fair, the only reason I organized this date was because I was hoping he would show up and interrupt the way he did. But not with another girl. And neither did I expect that girl to start hitting on Callum.

Right before Reece and Jessica got here, I told Callum everything. It felt wrong to be here on a date with him with an ulterior motive. So I told him that Reece and I had a thing going for a while. I didn't mention the enemies with benefits situation though. I just said we had a thing going on and I really like him, and I sort of fell for him but he doesn't do relationships.

Callum then proceeded to ask me very bluntly if I was using him to make Reece jealous. And I had to be honest so I said yes. And surprisingly, he said it's all right, and while he thinks I'm attractive, he sort of knew there was something going on between me and Reece.

I had my arms folded across my chest while I stared at the wall ahead of me. The door opened and I looked over, thinking a lady had come to use the restroom, but then I saw Reece. I looked away and continued to stare ahead of me while he walked in and shut the door, locking it behind him. "This is the ladies' room, you know. You're meant to be down the hall," I said without sparing him a glance.

"I'm here to talk to you."

"Why do you want to talk now?"

He walked over and sat beside me, our arms touching, our legs touching.

I folded one leg over the other so it wouldn't touch him anymore.

"You look really pretty," he said.

I could feel his eyes on the side of my face and it took a lot of self-control to not turn and look at him. Or kiss him. I think every time I look at him, that's all I want to do. Kiss the fucking daylights out of him. "Why are you here?" I asked, glancing at him from the corner of my eye and then going back to staring at the blank spot on the wall.

"Didn't you want me to be?"

"Are you talking about the bathroom or the restaurant?"

"Both." Well, he's not wrong.

I did want him to crash my date and I did want him to follow me here. But now that he's here, it sounds messed up. I'm still begging in one way or another. I'm still letting him walk all over me. He can have me when he wants, it's true, but he shouldn't know that. I shouldn't act like it. "I came here for a date. And I'm in the bathroom to use the bathroom. Why would I want you here?"

"Then go. Use the bathroom. I'll wait, we can talk after that."

I turned to look at him, determined to not let my expressions give anything away. I don't want to crumble in front of him again. "I don't want to talk to you."

"Then what do you want to do with me?"

"Kill you. Slap you. Hurt you."

He nodded slowly. "Fair enough. Go ahead."

I scoffed, shaking my head softly.

"Why?" He grabbed my hand, bringing it up to his cheek. "Go ahead, do it."

"Should I?"

He nodded.

So I did it. I wind my hand up and then I slapped him.

He let out a huff, touching his cheek.

"There. I did it. Now go."

"I wouldn't have said that—"

"If you knew I would actually hit you so hard. I know. I did what you asked, now get out. You're not supposed to be here."

"Indie—"

"Fine. If you won't leave, I will." I stood up but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back down.

"Can we talk for just five minutes?"

"Let go."

"Three minutes?"

"Reece."

"Two? Two minutes? Please?"

I shouldn't have looked at him. I should have known better. Because when I looked at him and saw his eyes, and the redness slowly painted his cheek, I felt horrible. And I don't think I've done anything wrong. But still, that didn't help me feel better about this. "What do you want to say to me now? Didn't we already talk everything through at your apartment that night?"

"I thought we did. But now I'm not so sure."

"Why?"

"I regret what I said." He stared at me. "I think."

I rolled my eyes and looked away. "You think you regret what you said? So you don't actually regret it, do you?"

"Indie—"

"Reece, let's not complicate it. It's a simple question. Do you want to be with me or not?"

"I do but I don't," he groaned.

"You do but you don't," I repeated. "So you don't?"

"No," he sighed. "I want to be with you. I like being around you, I like spending time with you, I like doing things with you—"

"You like having sex with me, that's it. Isn't it?"

"No!" He exclaimed. "If that was it then we wouldn't have spent so much time together. In fact, I'm the one who always wanted to be around you, don't deny that."

I worked my jaw, still looking at him.

"But I'm not the right guy for you."

"If you know that then why aren't you leaving me alone? I came here with Callum, didn't I? Why are you here?"

"Because even though I know I'm not right for you, I can't see you with someone else."

"Then be better," I snapped. "If you want me and you think you don't deserve me, be better." I stood back up and faced him, my arms folded across my chest. "Reece. I don't think you don't deserve me. I'm not the one who said that, I don't think it either. I think you do deserve me. I don't think you've done anything to prove otherwise. But you're the one who's so afraid to even try."

He stared at me, leaning his head back against the wall and tilting his chin up.

"Why? Because your parents cheated on each other? And it led to your family falling apart?"

He looked away, his jaw clenched.

I sighed and leaned down, bringing my face in level with his.

He turned to look at me again, his eyes lingering on my lips for a beat too long.

"You're not your parents, Reece. Just because they did something wrong, doesn't mean you will too. You are your own person. They didn't raise you to cheat on someone. They cheated on each other, that's it."

"That's it, huh? Indie, do you realize that every kid follows their parents? Every kid has some traits from their parents."

"Actions are not traits."

"Loyalty is. Isn't it? It's a trait neither of my parents had. So why would I have it?"

"Because you know better than your parents ever did. Reece, when you love someone, you shouldn't even be thinking about other people."

"My parents weren't in love, you don't think I know that?"

"If you do, then why are you doubting yourself? If in the future you find yourself thinking about another girl while you're with me. Then tell me. I won't hold you down. I won't force you to stay with me. The fact that you said no isn't what hurts me. It's because you said no without even trying." I straightened up and moved toward the door.

"Indie." He grabbed my hand.

"Hmm?" I asked without turning around.

"Can you just stay here for five minutes?"

"I don't think I can handle five minutes alone with you now," I mumbled, staring at my toes.

"Then let me take you home?"

"We shouldn't be left alone, Reece. I can't hold it in."

"Hold what in?"

"I think I'm reading it wrong," I sighed, turning out. "It isn't lust anymore." It doesn't even just stop at desire or yearning.

He stared at me, letting out a breath. He knows without me even saying it.

I think anyone might. It's probably written on my face.

"Indie."

"What?"

"How did you fall in love with an asshole like me?"

"I don't know." I pulled my hand out of his grasp and walked to the door, twisting the lock open.

"Indie," he sighed. He keeps saying my name.

It hurts, it physically hurts my core and my chest. I closed my eyes and took a breath. "Don't come to me again, Reece. Don't talk to me or even look at me."

"Until?"

"Until either, we both get used to the distance. Or until you have the courage to admit how you feel."

"And how do you know that?"

I stiffened, feeling his chest pressing against my back. I could hear his breathing right by my ear.

"How do I feel?"

"You'd know that better than anybody," I said, clearing my throat. "When you've admitted it. And when you have the courage it takes to tell me, then call me."

"You want me to tell you 'I love you' over the phone?"

My breath hitched when he said the three words. He wasn't saying them to me, but hearing him say it felt like it was enough for the time being. I think he might have done it on purpose. "I might be in Hawaii by then," I mumbled. "So unless you fly down there, it'll have to be over the phone, wouldn't it?"

"When do you leave?" He questioned.

Tomorrow is my last day of classes and Chloe still has a few art classes left. I leave in exactly five days.

"Do you leave this week?"

I shook my head. "Monday morning, first flight." I spun around. "Logan International Airport. The flight is at 6:40 in the morning, I have a layover in Seattle, and I'll get to Kauai at around 4:45. Anything else you want to know?"

"Hmm," he nodded.

"What?"

"Where are you staying?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Kauai Beach Resort & Spa. Anything else?"

He shook his head. "I might see you there, then."

"Huh?" My eyes widened. I was just joking about that. "Hey, are you being serious? I was just—"

"Let's go. Our dates might get the wrong impression," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me off the door. He pulled the door open and while we were walking back, I heard a crack. And I'm so sure my heels just broke.

"Oi!" I stumbled, grabbing his arm and steadying myself. I groaned, looking down at my feet. It did, in fact, break.

He turned around, looking down at my heels. "Your luck runs out around me, doesn't it? You're always falling." He kneeled down and unstrapped both my heels, taking them off and holding them in his hand. He kneeled down again, his back facing me.

"Huh?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Get on."

"But—"

He glanced over his shoulder at me. "Quickly. Or you can walk home barefoot too."

So I grabbed his shoulders and climbed on.

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