I gasp in outrage.
“What the fuck?” I ask him.
“Audra,” he says in a calming tone while stepping out of bed.
“Don’t Audra me. I thought I was wrong, but you really are one of those types, aren’t you?”
His eyes narrow.
“What type?”
“The ones that fuck women and then get bored by the following morning. Is that what I am to you, Ethan? Someone you can just fuck and then forget?” I ask, standing by the bed with my hands on my hips.
I’m grateful for the bed. It’s put a distance between us. Otherwise I might have slapped him.
He moves further away from me and runs a hand through his brown hair in frustration.
“I’m not, Audra. What the fuck? How could you even think that of me?” he questions.
“You’ve been distant all morning. You literally just rejected me. You can’t tell me you haven’t had second thoughts or regrets.”
He’s silent for a beat.
“I have not. I’ve been thinking about how we’re going to solve our problem. I haven’t been able to get in contact with my team in the U.S. because I don’t have a secure channel. These terrorists play bigger than I thought. They’ve got the local police involved. Even if you have to leave the hotel room, which you don’t, I need you to wear this hat at all times,” he says, handing it to me.
“That’s what I’m thinking about, Audra. How we’re going to get out of this damn country, safe and sound.”
I stare at him for a moment, trying to take in his words.
“Bullshit,” I finally say.
“Audra!” he yells.
“Don’t yell at me. I’m not some slut you picked up in a club. I have more self-respect than that. I deserve to be treated better. And screw your, ‘I don’t have to leave the hotel.’ I’m going to because I can’t stay in this room with you any longer.”
I grab the hat, and then move to the table to grab some money out of his wallet. Ethan watches me do all this, fuming in silence. His arms are crossed, and he doesn’t make any move to stop me. I can’t believe I ever thought he was a sweet, kind man.
He’s a dick. An annoying, insensitive human being. He doesn’t even try to stop me as I step out of the hotel room and slam the door shut.
****
It isn’t until I leave the room that I remember the already throbbing wound on my arm. I didn’t use my medication, and it also needed a dressing change.
Damn Ethan for annoying me. This is all his fault.
I realize I might have overreacted, but I’m not absolutely wrong in this situation. He has been distant, and then he had the audacity to lie to me. I’m sure he was also thinking about our safety, but I know men, and he rejected me. Cold.
He should just come clean and say, Audra, I don’t think it’s going to work out. Turns out I don’t have feelings for you, and last night only happened in a fit of passion.
If he said that, I would take it like a big girl.
I would probably kick him in the nuts, but at least we could remain friends. Instead, he’s doing the one thing I hate the most.
In my opinion, everyone lies too much. I value honesty above all else. It’s also why I’ve been single for so long. Most ofmy exes have been lying dirtbags, and as soon as I catch them in a lie, I drop them without a second thought.
It’s not a pretentious attitude; it’s just how I’m wired.
There are so many thoughts swimming through my head that I feel like it’s about to implode.
