She swallows as if she got caught in the act.
“Sneaked past the guard? Got a friend to help you out?” I cock my head, still walking closer while she keeps backing away. “You do realize I could get you kicked out of here for good, right?”
“I don’t care,” she retorts. “Do it if it makes you feel better.”
My nostrils flare. It might be a small pinch of retribution, but it wouldn’t make a difference. Not to this situation.
“Did it feel good?” I ask, my tongue darting out to wet my bottom lip. “Sneaking in here just to vandalize my guitar?”
Her eyes glimmer with pride. “Damn right … And I’d do it again if I had to, just to make a point.”
I lower my head as I keep stepping forward while she steps back. “And what point was that?”
“That you messed with the wrong girl,” she says through gritted teeth.
A smirk forms on my face. I can’t help it. She just makes me laugh. “You’re funny.”
“What?” she mutters, clearly confused.
I shake my head and snort. “I’m amazed …” I look her directly in the eyes. “That you thought this would stop me from getting closer to you.”
Her pupils dilate, and her lips part as if she wants to say words she doesn’t dare to speak out loud. After a few seconds, she regains her courage. “Why?”
“Why not?” I retort.
When she can’t back away any farther, I plant a hand beside her against the wall.
“Don’t you ever get tired of bullying?” she asks as I tower over her.
“Bullying?” I snort, shaking my head. “You throw that word around a lot, but I’m starting to doubt you even know what it means.”
“Like hell, I don’t. That’s what you do,” she says, glaring up at me. “You twist things. You tease me, play me like I’m some kind of dumbass.” She tries to shove me away, but it’s no use because I’m much stronger than her.
I could move … but I’m not interested in letting her off that easy. Not after the stunt she just pulled.
“Monica … oh, Monica … you should’ve thought about the consequences before doing what you just did,” I say, grabbing her chin to make her look at me. “You come in here to try to ruin me, my reputation, my band, and you think I’d let you off the hook? You should’ve run when you had the chance.”
She makes a face. “I came here to give you a taste of your own medicine, and you know damn well you deserved it.”
I guess she’s right on that part.
“If you wanted attention, all you had to do was ask,” I say, raising a brow.
“I don’t. You degrade me. Push me to my limits. You even took a picture of my body. Why?”
“You know why,” I retort, trying to make her see.
“To protect your reputation?” She scoffs. “Like it’s that amazing.”
I cock my head. “Now, that’s a low blow.”
“You could’ve asked me not to tell anyone,” she hisses.
I narrow my eyes. “And trust you on your word?”
Her brows furrow. “And I’m supposed to trust you with a picture of my body?”
We stare at each other for a moment, but I can’t come up with a good comeback. Damn. She really got me there.
“I guess we should work on that,” I jest.
“Work on that?” She sounds offended now, and she folds her arms in defense. “You think it’s all fun and games, don’t you? I’m not amused.”
A few tears well up in her eyes again, the same kind that trickled down her cheeks back in the cabin, and they immediately bring me back to that moment … when I turned into a monster. And I did it all just to protect my band … the same band she just thrashed into the ground.
If that isn’t poetic, I don’t know what is.
“You think you can mess with me, but I don’t play nice,” she snarls. “I’m not a fucking victim. I bite back. And you’re finally catching on.”
Grinding my teeth, I stare at the girl in front of me, clearly hurting because of all the things I did to her. It wounds my fucking soul, and I don’t fucking understand why.
I never used to care. Not for anyone, not even for myself.
And here she is, breaking open the parts of me I thought were forbidden.
A tear rolls down her cheek, and I instinctively reach for it and brush it aside with my thumb.
She just stands there in complete shock, her mouth opening as my thumb slides down her lip, while my eyes find it impossible to look away from all the pain I’ve caused this beautiful girl who deserves better. Better than me.
“Do you hate me so much?” she growls.
Hate?
Hate her?
I couldn’t. Not ever.
And that’s exactly the problem. I needed her to hate me, so I wouldn’t have a reason to come close. But she refuses to give up on me, keeps fighting back. And it finally begins to dawn on me why.