“I tried to apologize to you a million times, Courtney, but you never let me. I was drunk and also…”
Courtney’s head tilted, and her eyebrows went up. “You were also, what? Come on, Reed. You’re always so quick to run off at the damn mouth. What were you? You certainly weren’t having any trouble calling me names. So, what was it, Reed? Drunk and what?”
Reed just stared at Courtney. His fists balled up as he started to back away from her. “Nothing. I already said I was sorry for the things I said!” he shouted.
Courtney jumped from the sound of him yelling.
“And what in the hell do you care what I do with Anna or any other girl for that matter? You’re one to talk. You’re sleeping with Mitch, and you seem to be pretty damn happy with him, so I think you can just mind your own business. I’ll fuck whoever I want to fuck. ”
Courtney’s eyes started to fill with tears as Reed turned and walked toward the back door.
He looked back at Courtney as he opened the door. “I was drunk and also jealous. It killed me, seeing you and Mitch together, and the only reason I fucked Anna was so I could forget about you. Are you happy now, Courtney?” Reed spun around, walked out the door, and slammed it shut behind him.
Layton walked out of the kitchen as I ran up to Courtney. She practically collapsed into my arms, crying.
“Court, why? Why are you with Mitch if you have feelings for Reed?” I asked as we both slowly sat down on the kitchen chairs.
Courtney was sobbing hysterically now. I got up and went into the half bathroom to grab some tissues as Courtney settled herself down.
“Court, talk to me. ”
She looked up at me and tried to smile. “I can’t…a guy like Reed Moore will only end up hurting me. You heard what he just said. ”
My mouth dropped open. “What? Why in the world do you say that?”
“Because it’s true, Whit. He’s all talk, and he’s such an asshole. He’s rude, he’s a know-it-all, and he always argues with me. ”
I shook my head. “Okay, first off, I’ve never seen Reed be rude to anyone…well, anyone besides you. I think the two of you bring out the worst in each other because you’re both fighting this attraction that you clearly have for one another. Neither one of y’all have ever been in a serious long-term relationship. Do you think that scares you maybe?”
“No! I want to be with someone, Whitley. I want what I’ve read about in all those damn books. ”
“That’s the problem, honey. You’re comparing Reed to all your book boyfriends. You never even gave him a chance. What makes Mitch different from Reed?”
Courtney smiled. “Mitch is…just Mitch. ”
“Um…that’s not really an answer. ”
“He’s safe, and he’s polite. He always tells me how much he cares about me and how beautiful I am. He makes me feel special. ”
“Reed’s not safe?”
“Fuck no, Reed’s not safe. I mean, come on, Whitley, you heard what he just said. He slept with Anna to forget me? Who does that? Asshole men who don’t care if they hurt you or not. ”
“I don’t think he’s like that, Court. I mean, he just admitted he has feelings for you. ”
Courtney laughed. “He also admitted to sleeping with Anna to forget about me. If I’m that easy to forget, what does that tell you about him?” She stood and tried to dry her eyes. “It doesn’t matter anyway. He just tries to make me upset every time he sees me. He is always saying something to make me mad. ”
I thought about last night at the game when Courtney had come back upset. “What did he say last night when y’all were both getting drinks?”
Courtney stopped and looked at me. “What?”
“Last night at the football game, when you came back, you were clearly hurt, and Reed was following you. He seemed to be upset also. What did y’all say to each other?”
Courtney just stood there, staring at me.
“Court? Hello? What in the hell is wrong with you?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter. It was a mistake. ”