You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(17)

“You’re standing in front of my locker. Now go away.”

“My locker is here too, jackass.”

“I was here first.” I walked forward and got right behind her. My arm touched her bare back and I felt the warmth underneath. Then I pulled out my clothes, trying to pretend she was invisible.

“God, I feel sorry for you,” she snapped. “You’re the saddest person I’ve ever known. Were you the fat bully on the playground?”

“Were you the dorky girl sitting in the sandbox eating dirt?” I pulled my shirt on. “If me teaching you some manners makes me a bully, then fine. I accept that.”

“I’ve met a lot of jerks in my life but you have to be the worst.”

I gave her a straight face. “This is me caring.” I didn’t change my expression and kept staring at her. “And this is me not caring. Do you see any difference?”

“Fuck off.” She pulled her towel up and covered her chest.

“Same to you.”

“And Merry Christmas, Grinch.”

“I know Santa is going to bring you a box of coal because you’re nothing but a nuisance. I feel bad that your family has to sit through dinner with you. Do you annoy everyone you come in contact with?” I pulled the rest of my stuff out of my locker and didn’t look at her.

She grabbed her pile of clothes off the bench and hid her face.

“I’m sure your family hopes you aren’t coming home for Christmas this year.” I grabbed my jeans then pulled them on.

She carried all her things then headed to a different aisle.

When she was gone, I breathed easier. I hated looking at her. Just that pissed me off.

A moment later, she left the locker room with a bag over her shoulder. When I heard the door shut, I knew she was gone. “Good riddance…” I sat down then put on my shoes.

Gerald came in a second later then opened his locker. “Two weeks off. Excited?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. School and work have been dictating my life for too long.”

“I know how that is,” he said with a laugh. “What are you doing for Christmas?”

“Seeing my family in New York. My mom makes awesome pecan pie. I’m excited for that.”

“Cool,” he said. “You’ll be gone the whole two weeks?”

“No, just for a few days. Then I’ll be back in my apartment playing video games and drinking beer.”

He laughed. “Sounds good.”

“What are you doing?”

“Going to California to see my family.”

“I guess you won’t be getting a white Christmas this year,” I teased.

“Actually, I’m excited to get away from the snow.”

“That’ll be nice,” I said.

“Alex is excited because she’s never been to California. We’re going to go to Disneyland while we’re there.”

I froze. “Alex? The girl who works here?”

“Yeah. She’s coming along.”

“Are you…together?” Gerald was so much older than her. I just couldn’t picture it.

“No,” he said with a laugh. “In my dreams. She doesn’t have a family so I invited her to spend the holiday with me.”

My heart sped up. “She doesn’t?”

“No, she’s an orphan.” He said it casually while he changed. “You didn’t know that?”

I shook my head.

He sighed then put on his shoes. “She’s a really cool person, Theo. You should give her a chance. If you did, I’m sure you’d like her.”

I stared at the ground, feeling sick.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

I took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m an asshole.”

***

I got her address from Chan then headed to her apartment. It would be easier just to call her but that didn’t sound personal enough. When I found her apartment, I walked up to the door and knocked.

I still didn’t like her, but I hated myself for all the mean things I said to her. I was insensitive and didn’t know when to shut my mouth. What I said was really uncool.

She answered the door, her eyes guarded. “What?” Her lips were pressed together tightly, like she was forcing herself not to blurt whatever she was thinking.

“Uh, hi.” I had my hands in my pockets. Now that I was face-to-face with her, I wasn’t sure what to do or say.

“What?” she repeated. “What do you want?”

“I came here to apologize…”

Her reserve diminished slightly. “For what?”

“What I said in the locker room…I was being a dick.”

“Because you said Santa should bring me coal?” she asked incredulously. “No offense, but you have a lot more to apologize for than that. Of all the things you’ve said to me, that was probably the nicest.”

I ignored her hostility and tried to focus. “I just feel bad and I want to take it back…”

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Then they suddenly lightened like she realized something. “Gerald told you about me, didn’t he?”

I shrugged. “It might have come up…”

Now she was pissed. “You’re only apologizing to me because you feel bad for me. You don’t mean it. Theo, I don’t want your pity. I’m perfectly fine and I don’t need your sympathy. I prefer it when you’re a dick. At least you’re being honest.” She slammed the door in my face and locked it.