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“What did you just say to me?” He raises a hand, and that’s when I scream. I scream so fucking loud the walls shake.
He tries to cover my mouth with his hand, but I’m too quick. I run from his room and through the living room, not caring if his roommates see.
Alex doesn’t follow me. Instead, he stands in the living room and laughs.
He fucking laughs.
“Crazy bitch,” he says, and his roommates laugh along with him.
I slam the door behind me and don’t stop running until I reach the shore. It’s hard to run through the sand in my flip-flops, but I don’t stop. I run and run until I collapse on the sand.
He was going to hit me.
Alex was going to hit me.
All I can do is sob.
* * *
“Maia? Are you okay?”
Rhett’s voice both soothes and terrifies me at the same time. I don’t want him to see me like this, but his presence immediately calms me.
I shake my head and continue to cry, rocking back and forth and staring at the ocean and nothing else. My arms are wrapped tight around my knees, which are pulled to my chest.
My breathing grows shallow as I cry harder.
Rhett says nothing as he places his surfboard down in the sand and sits beside me. He rubs my back with slow motions up and down. “Breathe, Mi. Just breathe.”
I try, but it’s no use. A tidal wave of sobs breaks free.
“I’m so stupid. So, so stupid.”
“No, you’re not. You’re a believer.”
“There’s nothing to believe in. I know that now.”
“Don’t let one person’s darkness put out your sparkle. Because dammit, Maia, you shine so bright.”
I cry more. “I don’t feel like it.”
“Maybe not right now, but you will. The right person will make you sparkle even more.”
I turn my head and look into his eyes. They’re filled with concern and sadness for me but also something else…something special…comforting…
It’s like thousands of feelings crash down over me, threatening to pull me under and choke me with its intensity. I don’t think, don’t care, I just act.
I lean forward and press my lips against Rhett. He stiffens but then relaxes and kisses me back.
For five seconds, it’s pure bliss, our mouths moving together in perfect harmony. Fireworks explode around me, and fuck, it’s the best kiss I’ve ever had.
But Rhett pulls away, his head shaking, his eyes wide.
“It’s okay. I dumped him.” I lean forward again, wanting, needing, craving to feel his lips once more.
“That’s not the point, Maia. We shouldn’t do this. Not right now.” Rhett runs a hand through his hair, a pained expression etched across his face. “I’m sorry.”
I sit there. Frozen. Then it all starts to bubble up, heat racing through me. All the hurt, anger, and rejection fills my veins and before I explode, I jump to my feet. “Fuck this.”
