Stir Me (Rouse Me 2)

She reaches for my hands. "Alyssa isn't like you. She'll never understand your world. She'll be happier with someone like Ryan."

Anger surges through me. "Fuck you."

"What? I..."

"You can say what you want about me, but if I ever hear you speak ill of Alyssa again..." I shake my head. "No, it doesn't matter, because I'm not going to hear you speak of anything again."

"Luke, I... You can't."

"I can't? You just asked me to cheat on my girlfriend."

Her eyes narrow. "You did the same thing to her."

"That's different."

"How?"

"Alyssa and I were strangers. You and are I friends. Hell, I come running every time you need me. Would you really throw that all away just to get in my pants?"

"I've never asked you to 'come running.' Never."

"You beg me not to leave."

"I'm sorry," she says. "But I love you. It's your fault, you know. You keep showing up when I need you."

"I don't feel like that about you. I don't feel anything for you anymore."

"Then why do you... what are you so..."

"What else was I supposed to do?" I ask. "You drop hints that you'll fucking kill yourself if I don't stay."

She stares back at me. She looks like she's about to cry, but she'd never cry in public.

She shakes her head. "You can't do this. You're my best friend. I'm sorry I said stupid things, but I do love you. I've been stupid all this time. I never should have been with Edward. He was nothing compared to you."

"You were in love with him."

"No." She bites her lip, her eyes quivering. "I loved you. Always."

She doesn't believe a word she's saying.

"Love is something you do. And you don't manipulate people you love. You don't spend two years carrying on an affair behind their back."

"I was mixed up, but I always loved you."

I push her away. "Stop. It doesn't matter if you ever loved me or if you still love me. I'm walking away from this friendship."

"Because of Alyssa?"

"Because of me."

She pouts. "She's not worth it. She's never going to give you what I could give you."

"I don't like you, Samantha. Lately, I hate you. You have no qualms about threatening suicide to get your way." I take a step back. "Whatever debt I owed you, it's repaid. You're on your own."

Her voice is loud and desperate. She's practically screaming. "Please, Luke. I'm sorry. I'll change. Just stay with me."

I stand my ground. "No."