“So,listen, I know this is awkward, but Igottasay it,”I went on, ignoring the voice in my head. “While I’m gone, you can obviouslyhave free reign of the place. But please, don’t use my bedroom for any weirdsexual fantasies you might have, okay? Been there, done that, really don’twannago there again.”
Morgan’sface blanched. “That really happened to you?”
“Itold you,” I muttered and cringed. “I’ve had some bad roommates.”
“DoIwannaknow?”
Screwingmy face up, I shook my head. “Let’s just say, she had a boyfriend who reallyliked her to wear other people’s shoes.”
12
ToFeel Better
CHAD
“IDON’TLIKE IT, CHAD,”Ali persisted as she watched me toss t-shirtsfrom my dresser drawer into one of my duffel bags.
“Iknow. You’ve beenmakin’ that incredibly clear sinceI told you weeks ago.”
“Andyou’re justgonnalet it happenanyway?” she practically screeched, disbelieving.
Exhausted,I gave the last shirt a halfhearted toss and missed. “I don’t know what exactlyyou want me to do. This was Devin’s decision, not mine.”
“Youtold him about her,” she pointed out angrily.
Witha huff, I nodded. “Yeah. I did. Because she deserved a shot at it, but Devinstill made the call, not me. And besides, I’m failing to understand what yourproblem is in the first place.”
“Youknowwhat my problem is!”
“Oh,right, yeah.” I rolled my eyes and turned away from her. “You don’t want Mollycomin’ on tour with us. I’ve only heard that three-thousandtimes in a matter of days. Butwhat I still don’t understand iswhy.”I opened my underwear drawer and began throwing pairs of boxers on top of the moundof shirts. The original intent was not to pack like a disgruntled child, butChrist, I wasn’t sure she’d ever gotten under my skin quite this much.
Shescoffed bitterly. “You take the whole southern thing a little too literallysometimes, you know that?”
“Thehell isthatsupposed to mean?”
“Itmeans, sometimes you can bereallyslow and incredibly fuckin’ stupid.”And with that final, childish word, she threw my bedroom door open and ran downthe stairs to the living room.
Myparents were downstairs, enjoying a nice evening, and my girlfriend was luringme to air our dirty laundry in front of them. I shook my head, chucking anotherpair of underwear into the bag, before heading down to give her exactly whatshe wanted.
“Sorryabout this,” I muttered to Dad and Mama as I swung into the kitchen, where Alihelped herself to a Coke. I wrapped a hand around her arm and turned her toface me. “You know what? I might be slow and stupid sometimes, butyou’reactin’ like a jealous bitch right now and I don’tlike it.”
“Oh,so youdounderstand why I’m notthrilled about this arrangement.” Her face was painted with a taunting smirk.
Itook a step back, unraveling my fingers from her elbow. “You’reserious?What the hell do you have to be jealous about?”
Sheshook her head and crossed her arms. “I’ve tried keeping my mouth shut aboutthis whole thing for weeks now, but Igottatell you,Chad. It isnotnormal for a guy andgirl to be as close as you two are without fucking each other.”
Ileveled her with a steely glare. “What the hell are youimplyin’right now?”
“Youknowexactlywhat I’m implying,” shespat, tightening her brow. “I mean, you can be pretty stupid, but you’re notthatstupid.”
Themuscles in my jaw worked overtime as my teeth gritted. “What the hell right doyou have to judge how close we are?”
“BecauseI’m your fuckinggirlfriend, Chad!That’s my right!”
TheTV volume was lowered, and I sneered. “Keep your voice down.”
“Why?Why should I keep my voice down? I have every right to express how I’m—”
