The Price of Love (A Price Novel Book 1) by Maggi Craft Read Free Book Online Page B

time for me to go home.
    Minutes later, I heard a knock at the door. I dropped the clothes I had in my hand and sat on the bed. I wasn’t going to open the door. I didn’t care who it was. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. “Arden, open the door. I know you’re in there.” It was Slayde.
    At first I thought about being quiet and hoping he’d give up and go away, but that seemed highly unlikely. I finally forced myself to speak. “Slayde, go away. I don’t want to see you. Just leave me alone.” I walked out of the bedroom and sat on the couch.
    “No, I’m not leaving you alone. I don’t want to leave you alone. I tried that for two days, and that didn’t work. Please open the door and talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong. I don’t have a clue why you are so angry with me.”
    I sat there in silence, crying. After another minute, I heard him unlock the door.
Dammit, why didn’t I move that key?
He let himself in and sat beside me on the couch. Taking my chin in his hand, he lifted my eyes to meet his.
    “You have a key to Kenedy’s apartment?” I asked. After what Holly had said about Kenedy being jealous, I thought maybe there was something I didn’t know.
    “No, I got the one above the door.” He smiled and tucked my hair behind me ear.
    I pushed his hand away. “You knew there was a spare key there this whole time? And you knew her roommate was here? And you never said a word?” I had stopped crying. I was angry again.
    “I didn’t think about that until a few days after you got here, and I was enjoying your company so much I didn’t want you to leave,” he said sweetly.
    “I bet you were. You must think I’m some sad, stupid little girl you can play games with and that I will follow you around like all of the other girls here. But that is not happening. I want you to leave,” I shouted and pointed at the door.
    “Wait. I absolutely do not think that. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why are you so angry with me?”
    “You really don’t know why?”
    “No, I don’t!” He looked very serious.
    “I’ll tell you why. Because you got me drunk at that party, then brought me back to your apartment and took advantage of me.”
    He looked confused. “What? Is that what you think happened? I don’t remember shit after we left that party, and I sure as hell don’t remember having sex with you.” He sounded defensive. “I definitely think I would remember something like that. What exactly do you remember?”
    “Well, I don’t remember anything after dancing, but I know that I woke up, we were both in the bed with no clothes on, and I know we had sex.” Tears started pouring out of my eyes anew as I said that.
    “Let me get this straight. I don’t remember having sex, and you don’t remember having sex. Maybe we didn’t.” He was looking at me like I was nuts.
    Oh my gosh, was he dense or what? “Slayde, we definitely had sex, OK?” I went back into Kenedy’s room. I didn’t want to talk about this anymore.
    “How are you so sure?” He followed me.
    “Do I have to spell it out for you? The blood in the bed didn’t tip you off?” I buried my head in my hands. I was so embarrassed.
    He didn’t say anything for a minute or two. “Well, I didn’t see that. So, I really didn’t know. Are you sure?”
    “You changed the sheets, and yes, Slayde, I’m very sure.” When I finally managed to look up, he was staring at the floor, chewing his top lip. He looked as if he might cry.
You have got to be kidding me.
Now I felt bad. “Look, Arden, I’m so sorry. I really didn’t know. I changed the sheets because they smelled like booze and cigarettes. I really had no idea. I get why you’re so upset. You must have thought I was a real jerk. I don’t know what to say — I definitely didn’t know you had never … ” and his voice trailed off. I knew he was telling the truth.
    “I guess there is nothing left to talk about,” I said. “I’m sorry I jumped to