Testing The Waters

Chapter Forty-Four

Amber eyes, wild and raging, stare down at me.

"Party's over," Alex growls.

"What the hell is your problem?" Grant yells at him.

Alex's hard face moves to Grant, but he doesn't release his hold on me. Like a tight band, he looks about one second away from snapping.

"My problem is you thinking you have a right to put your hands and fucking mouth on my girlfriend!"

Grant's brows shoot up before his eyes dart to mine. Mortification seeps into my cheeks, and Grant takes a step back, shaking his head. "Sorry man. I didn't know."

With a final glare in Grant's direction, Alex starts pulling me away through the throngs of people who are watching the humiliating scene unfold.

At one point, I trip over my heels, fighting for balance.

"Slow down!" I scream at him.

He growls, but slows his pace, leading me in angry silence out of the house and to where his black mustang is parked outside. Releasing my arm, he glares at me as every muscle on his body flexes up and down in quiet rage. "Get. In."

"I need to tell Claire where—"

"I'll fucking text her!" He points to the car. "Get in the car, Babbie!"

My stomach churns in anxiety, as I open the door and slide into the passenger seat. Once I'm in, Alex slams the door and stalks over to the other side of the car and climbs in. His angry breathing fills the car as he puts the key in the ignition and drives us away.

Starring out at the open road, his jaw ticks a few beats before he finally glances over at me. "What the hell were you thinking?"

My own anger starts to flair. "He kissed me, Alex! Not the other way around!"

His hands tighten on the steering wheel. "Well, what the fuck did you think was going to happen? Flirting with him all night. Dancing for him like you did!"

I grit my teeth. "It wasn't like that! Besides, I'm not the one who brought a date!"

Alex shakes his head in exasperation. "For the last time, she is a friend. A fucking friend, Babbie. The only real friend that I have right now!"

"You fucked her! How would you feel if one of my closest friends was a guy I fucked? Who was in love me!"

He releases an angry breath, his whole chest deflating. "I would hate it. I'd want to break his goddamn neck."

I hold my hands out. "Well, there you go!"

"Fine! I'll end it. Is that what you want? Will that make you happy?" He glares over at me. "Because clearly this entire relationship is all about what you want... what makes YOU happy!

I glare back at him. "That is not true!"

He scoffs. "From the very beginning, you've been the one calling all of the shots. YOU decide when we're on. YOU decide when we're off. And I'm just following you around like a damn puppy dog lapping up any little bone you throw my way."

Rage pounds against my chest as I stare at him in shock. "How can you say that? I have given you everything!"

"Everything?!" his voice tips up in disbelief. Suddenly, the vehicle starts to slow as Alex pulls off onto the side of the road. I watch in confusion as he puts the car in park, opens the door and climbs out, slamming it shut.

He stomps to the front of the car, the headlights illuminating his tense body against the dark backdrop of night. Both hands grip the back of his head as his chest moves up and down, up and down, visibly forcing air into his lungs in fury.