Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

“She’s not feeling well, so I doubt she wants to eat with you.” I can’t escape this fucker no matter how hard I try.

“I know that. We text. Are you going to let me in or keep staring at me like I want to steal your favorite toy?”

I open the door wider, giving Elías room to enter. The fact that Elena texted Elías pisses me off. The notion makes me feel stupid, buying her supplies to feel better when she has him to count on.

I stare at his bag of food with contempt. “Good luck with her. She’s all yours.”

Elías looks at her closed door before staring back at me. “This isn’t what you think it is. Don’t get mad at her because I’m here to help.”

“I never said I was mad.”

“The way your jaw ticks tells me differently. I’ve told you that she and I are friends. That’s it. She’s having a bad day, and I want to make sure she eats something.”

My stomach sinks. Fuck me. “What’s going on? Why is she acting the way she is?”

He shakes his head, lowering his voice. “It’s not my story to tell.”

“Fantastic.” It looks like I’ll never get answers because based on my attitude, I doubt Elena wants to delve into her feelings with me.

“If you expect others to open up, you should do the same.”

“I didn’t ask you for advice.”

He shakes his head. “Fine. Don’t be pissed because I’m here when I’m the one person she can count on.”

“Do whatever the fuck you want. Hope you get your cock sucked real good for bringing her dinner.” A perfect storm of anger enters my bloodstream, fucking everything up even more.

“Fuck you. I almost feel bad for how pathetically jealous you are.” Elías doesn’t bother looking back at me as he enters Elena’s room, closing the door quietly behind him.

I go to my room, desperate to escape Elías’s words. Screw him being all connected with Elena. This is the perfect reminder of why dicks like me don’t get close to other people. We’re better suited for breaking things beyond repair, surely ruining everything we touch.

Someone knocks on my bedroom door. I expect Elena, but instead, Elías is on the other side. Somehow, I resist the temptation to close the door on his face after his little stint with bringing Elena food a few hours ago.

“Do you mind

if I come inside for a second? I don’t want Elena to hear me.” He glances behind him toward Elena’s closed door.

“I mind, but it’s not like you’re giving me much of a choice.” I give him space to come inside.

“Some things need to be cleared up.”

I close the door behind him. “Can’t wait.”

“Well, I’ve tried my hardest to be your friend and a decent teammate.” Elías focuses on everything but me as he walks back and forth.

“You have.” I lean against the dresser and tuck my hands in my pockets.

“And all you’ve done is be a dick to Elena and me.”

“No use denying it.” I shoot him a tight smile.

“This is the issue I want to address with you. I can’t ignore how part of you is angry at us because you think I’m into Elena, but I can assure you I’m not.”

A loud laugh bursts out of me. “Do you think I’m stupid? You both have this thing with each other.”

“As much as it pleases me to know you at least like her enough to be envious of my relationship with her, it’s not right. You shouldn’t be acting like a dick to her because you’re intimidated by me.”

“Can you quit your fucking pacing?” I bark out.