All of Me | Protector 1.4

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

*March*

       Ever since Valentine's Day, I've been finding it extremly difficult to be a bitch to Tony. We barely argue and we have been getting along quite well.

       And I hated it.

       With each passing day, I've been feeling like opening up to Tony, but I couldn't go throught with it. I couldn't trust him, or anyone, like that again. I couldn't be hurt like that again.

       Lydia and Ian decided to be jackasses and sent me an invitation to their wedding anyway. It wasn't even for another six months, in September, but I already knew that I wasn't going to go.

       Even though I wasn't talking to my family and I didn't want them talking to me, I was kind of hoping that at least one of them would show up to my apartment today. Only Today.

       Nobody did.

       Well, someone did, but it wasn't any of my family members. It just had to be Tony.

       "Hey," he said when I answered the door, giving me a small smile before handing me a small box. "Happy birthday."

       I gave him a curious look. "What did you give me?" I didn't even think he knew me well enough to get me something. "And how did you know it was my birthday?"

       "I stalk you on all your social media," he said. "No, I actually know all of the staff's birthday. That's something I do. When I work somewhere, I have to know all of my co-workers' birthdays. So, open your gift."

       I sighed before opening the box, pulling out a pepper shaker. "Why pepper? I asked.

       "Because you're really salty most of the time," he said. "You'll need to use the pepper to balance yourself out. You might need a bit more pepper."

       "Bloddy hell, Tony," I said. "I'm not that salty."

       "You kind of are," he said. "Is any of your family coming over?"

       "My grandma is," I said. "My parents are still overseas, though, and I, uh, don't have any siblings. Why?"

       "No reason," he said. "You've....you've been spending quite a few days alone. Thanksgiving, Christmas, your birthday. How long are your parents overseas for?"

       "A year, I think," I said. "They left in August, so...." I didn't know how long I could keep up the lie. "I don't mind spending those days alone, though I really didn't. Thanksgiving was with your family, Christmas was with you, my grandma will be here later on. You....want to come in for a bit?"

       "Sure," Tony said, so I let him into my apartment.

       We walked to the living room and sat one the couch after getting a can of soda for both of us. "So, how's Poppy and her pregnancy?" I asked.

       "It's....okay," he said. "The pregnancy itself is going smoothly, but this one girl started a rumor saying that Grayson isn't actually the father, which really hurt him because everyone was talking about it and saying that Poppy doesn't even love him. It's long and complicated. It took Poppy a good half our to explain to me on the phone."

       "Isn't she in university?" I asked.

       "Yep," Tony said.

       "Then why is a girl spreading a rumor?" I asked. "Can't she grow up?"

       "Apparently not," Tony said. "Poppy said it's because she likes Grayson and is obsessed with him. She even went so far as to call Poppy a whore just for being pregnant."

       I snorted. "She sounds like a real bitch."

       "I haven't even meet her, but I agree," Tony said. "That's why I didn't visit Poppy on her birthday. All of that was taking a toll on her, and she got into a fight with her friend that day. Anyway, Poppy and Grayson are having a boy and they decided on the name Ryder."

       "Aww, that's a cute name," I said. "The baby is going to be really cute. Poppy is very pretty and Grayson does have to good looks."

       "Of course Poppy is pretty. She's related to me, after all."

       I rolled my eyes. "How modest of you."

       "I have a question for you," Tony said.

       "Ooh, sounds serious," I said in a joking tone.

       "It's not that serious," Tony said.

       "Meaning there's a bit of seriousness," I confirmed.

       "Can you just let me ask the question?" Tony asked. "Why would you always argue with me?"

       "What?" I asked. "I never did. I don't know what you're talking about."

       "I'm serious," Tony said. "You would always find tiny things to argue about, but now you're not. Why?"

       "It's something I do," I said. "Arguing is fun. Especially with you because you get so irritated."

       "Ha ha," he said in a sarcastic tone. "So, just to be clear, it was because of nothing I did, right?"

       "No, you didn't do anything wrong," I said. "Trust me."

       Why couldn't I argue with him now? I tried, but I couldn't. I was getting too close to him, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't push him away.

       I had to keep trying. I had to push him away before it was too late.

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Little do you know, Charlie....

Sorry this chapter is so short. Next one should be longer, hopefully. cx

I REALLY HATE WRITING ON MY TABLET. I mess up too much because the screen is a bit too small so it's taking me longer than usual to write. I really can't wait until I could use my laptop again....