Red, White and Beautiful by Bec Botefuhr Read Free Book Online Page B

thepenfrommymouth,Ianswerthephone.
    “Hey.”
    “Youdidn’tstayattheapartment?”
    “Ihavestudyingtodo.”
    “AndIsaidyoucoulddoitatmyplace.”
    “Marcus,”Iwarn,givinghimmybestscoldingtone.
    “Don’tsaymynamelikethat.Whydidn’tyoustay?”
    “Iwantedtocomebackanddomystudy,andIhaveanafternoon class,ok?”
    Hesighsdeeply.“Fine,I’llpickyouupafterwork.”
    “No,it’sok,I’llmeetyouatyourplace.”
    “Sierra…”
    “Marcus,please,Idon’tneedyoutocontrolmeeverywhereIgo.”
    Hesighsdeeply.“Fine,I’llmeetyouthere.”
    “Thankyou.”
    “Issomethingwrong,Sierra?”
    “We’lltalklaterok?”
    “Sierra.”
    “Ihavetogo,Marcus,”Isay,cuttinghimoff.“Bye.”
    Whenhehangsup,Ihangmyheadandsigh.IknowI’mkeepinghim atarm’slength,butIcan’thelpit,I’msoscaredofgettinghurtagainand whilethingsaresoupintheair,Idon’twanttogiveupmycontrol.I’m inlovewithMarcus,thatmuchIknow,butsometimeshisneedfor controlfrightensmeandIwonderifhe’sforcedtogiveitup,ifhe’llgive meup,too.It’spetty,Iknow,butIcan’thelpmyfeelingsandhowthey affectmyeverydaylifeandmyrelationshipwithaman,whoisso dominant,Ithinkhe’sforgottenhowtoliveanyotherway.
    Igetbacktomystudy.Byearlyafternoon,I’vedoneasmuchasI can.Igathermybackpackandheadouttoclass.It’salong,drearyclass andIdon’tfinishupuntilwellafterfouro’clock.WhenI’mdoneand I’vegottenbacktomyroom,IseeamassofmissedcallsfromMarcus.
    Sighing,Ipickupthephone,buthehasn’tleftanymessages.Idropmy bagandtakeaquickshowerbeforechangingandgatheringsomeclothes forthenight.I’mjustpickingupmybagwhenapoundingonthedoor hasmyheadsnappingaround.
    Rushingover,IopenthedoortofindMarcusstanding.He’spanting withrageandhiseyesarewild.He’snotwearingthesuitfromwork,but insteadworkoutclothes.Ablacksingletandloosecottonshorts.He’s sweating,hisbodyissowoundup,Icanseetheveinsinhisneck.Iknew Marcusexercised,butwhatdidhedo,runoverhere?Whyisherunning atthistimeoftheafternoonanyway,that’snotlikehim?Iopenmy mouthtospeak,buthebargespastmeandslamsthedoor.Ispinaround, confused.HaveIdonesomethingwrong?
    “Whenwereyougoingtotellme?”hebarks.
    Inshock,ittakesmeamomenttoprocesshimbeingheresoIcan answer.“Tellyouwhat?”
    “ThatyoutookajobwithBen!”heroars,spinningaroundand runninghishandsthroughhishair.
    What?
    “Ididn’t…Ididn’ttakeajobwithhim.”
    “Bullshit,don’tyoulietome,Sierra.”
    “Hecontactedmethismorning,Ididn’tsayIwasgoingtodo anything,Iwasgoingtospeaktoyoufirstand…”
    “Areyoustupid,Sierra?”
    “Ibegyourpardon?”Isnap,crossingmyarms.
    “Youheardme?Doyouhonestlythinkthatmanhasyourbest interestsatheart?Doyouhonestlythinkhe’sgenuineaboutgivingyoua job?”
    “Idon’tknow,that’swhyIwasgoingtotalkwithyou!”Icry, throwingmyhandsup.
    “Hewantstofuckyou.Heknowswhatwe’redoingandhewantsto claimbackhiscontrol.Hehasnointerestingivingyouajobforyour benefit,it’sforhis.Howcouldyoubesonaive?”
    Igapeathim.“Oh,sohe’sjustdoingwhatyoudidthen?”
    Hiseyesflarewithrageandhestormsforward.“Iwouldneverhurt you,notever.Meandhimarenotthesame,don’tyouevercompareus again.”
    “Howdareyoucomeinhereandtreatmelikethis!Ididn’tdo anythingbuttakeaphonecall.Ididn’tevendecidewhatIwantedtodo, butyou’vejustcomeinhere,rippingmeanewonebecauseyou’re jealous.”
    “I’mnotjealous,”hehisses.
    “Really,thenyoudon’ttrustme?Isthatit?”
    “Idon’ttrusthim!”heroars.“Idon’ttrusthim.Didyouseeyourself lastnight,Sierra?DidyouseehowyoufreakedoutwhenItiedyouup?
    Thatmanscarredyouforlife,howcanyouevenconsiderajobwithhim?
    Howcanyouevergetthatcloseagain?”
    Ilookdown,he’sright,Iknowhe’sright.AsmuchasBen’soffer wasgood,Iwouldneverwanttobethatclosetohimagain.Whydidn’tI justturnhimdowninthefirstplace?DidIwanttoseeMarcus’reaction, isthatwhyIreallydidthis?Irubthebridgeofmynoseandsighdeeply beforelookingbackupatMarcus.Admityou’rewrong,Sierra,because inthiscaseyouare.He’sonlyreactinghowyouwouldreactinthesame situation.Hecaresaboutyou,hedoesn’twanttoseeyouhurt.Don’tpush