Squeeze the Day

🍋T W E N T Y - O N E🍋

I WAS HIDING in the kitchen, waiting for the food to be ready so I could make myself a plate and leave. Dwelling over the Shane situation had me feeling bummed, and I was no longer in the mood to go out and converse with anyone, so I figured my best bet was staying hidden inside. My cover was blown when the backyard door opened and someone stepped inside. I hid my breath, hoping if I didn't make any sounds my identity would be concealed. This tactic, of course, lasted for the better part of five seconds.

"What are you doing?"

"Shit," I grumbled.

Shane folded his arms across his chest, looking at me with an annoyed expression. It was only now that I noticed he was shirtless, his wet hair matted to his forehead from swimming in the pool I assumed. My eyes lingered over his body as I tried to think of a response, my breath getting caught in my throat from seeing him shirtless again. Why did he have to be so damn attractive?

"Silent treatment," he mused. "Real mature." Shane pushed past me to open the refrigerator door as I registered his words. Upon impulse, I slammed the door shut, which only further irritated him. "What the hell, Max? You almost shut it on my damn fingers."

I instantly felt really stupid for that. God, why didn't I think first? "I'm sorry," I murmured, opting to leave before I could do anything else dumb.

Using his signature tactic, Shane grabbed my arm to prevent me from moving any further. "You're not leaving until you tell me what the hell is going on?" I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it. "And don't give me any bullshit excuses. Why are you avoiding me?"

I didn't know if I was more shocked that he noticed and cared that I was ignoring him, or that he knew what my response was going to be? I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. Frankly, I had enough awkward conversations for the day, and I really didn't want to add this to my list. Besides, what was the point of discussing this? Any hope I had for us had long since disappeared. There was no future for Shane and I, so I just had to suck it up and get over my feelings for him.

When I didn't answer, Shane pulled my arm, yanking my whole body forward. I felt the cool fridge against my back, and it didn't help that I was basically trapped now. Why did I always find myself getting into compromising situations with him? When he looked down at me, behind the hard look in his eyes I could see the pain. My heart wrenched knowing that I was the reason he was was hurting, but I couldn't do this any longer. We were in a back and forth game that had no end unless one of us ended it. Sure my feelings for him were strong, but they weren't anything I couldn't get over. Of course it would take a lot of time, and I'd probably be spending the rest of my summer eating ice cream and watching unrealistic rom-coms, but it beat investing myself into something that wouldn't last, and would ultimately cause more pain.

"Unless you've suddenly gotten amnesia or lost your voice, can you say a damn word?" He slammed his fist against the fridge door beside my head, making me flinch.

"What do you want me to say?" I whispered, my voice cracking in the process.

"Tell me what the hell is going on with you?" He shouted. "You've been so on and off. One moment everything's great between us, and the next you're mad for no reason!"

"No reason?" Glad to know where he stood. "You think I'm mad because I'm just a moody little girl?"

"You're acting like one," he spat, making me ball my hands into fists.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I'm mad because you did something?"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "So why don't you tell me what the hell I did?"

"You don't have to be such a dick," I said exasperatedly.

His next words were what set me off. "And you don't have to be such a bitch."