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“Adam, what’s going on?”
“Look, you need to move into one of the dorms so we need to go and talk to the admin office and see if we can get you a room.”
“What the hell?” I say, completely shocked at Adam’s out-of-the-blue request. “I’ve got a place to live, why would I want to move?”
Adam rubs the back of his neck, pacing as he does so, before placing his hands on his hips and answering me.
“Because, Thea, I don’t trust that Rose guy and I don’t want you anywhere near him. He’s moody and clearly has anger issues. Not to mention the fact he looks at you like some kind of predator. You’re not safe around him and I’d feel fucking better if you kept your distance.”
My mouth drops open in shock and I’m momentarily speechless. He surely can’t be serious about this. I thought we covered this last time we were together and yet he’s bringing it up again? I take a step back to put some space between us while I process the meaning behind his words. My shock turns to anger as his words sink in. Who the hell does he think he is, telling me what I need to do?
“You’re not serious about this Adam, are you? I thought we discussed this. I’m happy at the house. I’ve got a nice room, I’m living with my brother, and we have a good arrangement between us. Why in the hell would I need to move out? Besides, Kyler is hardly ever there—not that he’s a threat in any way at all. I’m not sure why you think he’s a, what did you say? A ‘predator’? But I can guarantee you he’s not. And he certainly doesn’t have any anger issues.”
“Everything okay, T?” Millie calls out from behind me, keeping a short distance to give us some privacy. I quickly nod to her before turning my attention back to Adam.
“Tell me Adam, what makes you think Kyler is threatening?” I continue.
Adam laughs once, without humor, a sneer forming on his face. It’s a side to him I’ve never seen before, and it’s not one I particularly like.
“What makes him so threatening?” Adam seethes, the words coming out low, sharp, and disdainfully. “Maybe it’s the fact he was at the town council meeting yesterday when he wasn’t invited to attend. Or maybe it was because he caused a scene in front of everyone by acting out, interrupting at every opportunity, and then walked out, embarrassing his family. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s because he threatened me, calling me all kinds of abusive names, getting all up in my face and physically assaulting me.”
Adam’s words shock me into silence, and I cross my arms over my chest in frustration. Sure, Kyler can be a bit moody, but I find it hard to believe he would assault anyone. Would he? If anything, he’d defend someone if they were in trouble—the injuries he endured as a result of the fight at the bar are proof. But then, why would Adam lie? My head starts to spin with Adam’s words as I try and correlate them to Kyler’s personality. Could it be true? Surely not—there is no way Jude, Nolan and Devon would be friends with someone like that, let alone share a house with them. I rub my forehead, willing away the impending headache threatening to appear. I’m so confused right now, and Adam’s agitation is not helping.
“Adam, are you sure you’re not mistaken?” I ask him, trying to keep my tone calm.
“NO! I’M NOT FUCKING MISTAKEN!” he roars. The gruffness gives me a sudden, racing heartbeat. I take a small step back, but Adam notices and moves toward me, grabbing hold of my arm as he does.
“I’m not telling you again, Thea, you’re coming with me, and we’re getting you out of that goddamn house!”
“No, Adam. I’m not moving into dorms. Whatever happened at the meeting with Kyler sounds like it was out of character. He’s not a threat.”
“Why the fuck are you defending that little shit?” Adam bellows, his face contorting with anger. “I’m your boyfriend. You should be listening to me, be on my side and respecting my wishes!”
“And I’m my own person and you should be respecting mine!” I yell back.
Adam doesn’t reply, instead pulling me behind him again, this time with more force and I try and release my arm from his grip, unsuccessfully.
“Adam, stop,” I say as I dig my heels into the ground to provide some kind of resistance, to no avail. “Stop, Adam, you’re hurting me.”
“I suggest you do as she says, buddy,” a deep voice sounds from behind me. Adam stops abruptly and I stumble into him a little before getting my balance and turning around to see Nolan standing by Millie. For anyone who didn’t know him, you’d think he was standing casually about to engage in a run-of-the-mill conversation. But to those who are close to him, you’d see he was on guard, arms by his side with hands fisted; feet apart and ready to move at a drop of a hat if needed to step in to calm a situation. In this case, my situation.
“This has nothing to do with you, Nolan,” Adam tells him.
“I hear what you’re saying, but I’m telling you now Jude is not far behind me and if he comes out and sees you dragging his baby sister behind you like a piece of meat, he’d have a lot to say about it. So, I suggest you let Thea go, take a step back and calm down.”
The standoff between the two of them goes on for a few moments before Adam lets go of my arm, and takes a step back, covering his face with his hands as he deeply breathes in and exhales a couple of times as he calms down. He rubs his hands down his face and looks at me.
“Thea, I’m?—”
“No.” I interrupt him before he can utter a half-hearted apology. What just happened and how he spoke to me, deserves more than a pathetic “I’m sorry.” I need to know what was behind his outburst but now is not the time. I’m too confused, too angry to hear his words and understand them right now.
“We can talk about this in a few weeks, when I’m back home for Thanksgiving,” I continue. “Just . . . go, Adam. Please? It’s a long drive back to Silver Lake. I promise I’ll hear you out when I’m back, but can you just let this go for now?”
Adam doesn’t reply for a few moments, before nodding once. “Okay, sure,” he says, his once-tense shoulders now sagging with exhaustion as he steps toward his car and opens the door.
“Just think about what I said. Maybe be more alert okay? Just to give me peace of mind?” he asks before he gets into the driver’s side.
This time it’s my time to pause before replying with a nod. “Okay, sure,” I say, repeating his words.
