Page 11 of Strum Me

Chapter Six

Emily

Present Day

He doesn’t move, and I wonder if he heard what I said.

So, I repeat it.

“I said, ‘Fuck you, Brad.’”

“I heard you.”

He seems too amused to have really heard though.

I try again.

“Fu—”

“Yeah yeah, I get it, fuck me, Brad,” he says in a loud whisper as he tugs on my arm before I can finish, pulling me into a quiet corner of the hall.

I wrench my hand away from his, ignoring the burning sensation around my wrist. Later I’d wonder whether it was from tearing my arm from him or from his touch alone. But for now, it just adds to the hate.

“Butter.” One word. One name. And it all comes back to me.

“Don’t call me that.” My mouth curls, pursing in annoyance.

“Well, I see you haven’t changed.” He, on the other hand, keeps looking aggravatingly amused.

“I hope I can’t say the same for you.”

He chuckles. Seriously? He’s chuckling?

The exit is behind me, and I’m determined to make it there.

“See you ‘round, dick-wad.” I flip him off before I go.

He moves fast, cutting me off.

“Still going for the classics, I see.”

“Someone’s got to have a bit of class.” The words come out in a hiss.

“Ooh. That hurt. You know I’m embarrassed about my humble beginnings.”

“Brad, there’s nothing humble about you other than your intelligence.”

He grins. He goddamn grins that fucking grin of his and nothing’s changed and it’s eight years ago and something in my chest just... breaks.

My hand comes up to press against my chest. I don’t know why, maybe to stop whatever is about to flood now the dam has cracked.

His grin instantly fades and suddenly he’s holding me.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I scramble out of his hold.

“Shit. Sorry. You suddenly went all pale and I thought you were going to faint or something.”

“Don’t touch me!” The words come out in a whispered yell. The last thing I want is for anyone to witness this scene.