Henry.
Childish? Did I really call her childish?
“Well done, idiot. That’s definitely going to win her over.”
If I could only control my damn temper… Damn it, she drives me crazy. She’s still as stubborn as ever, and I can’t find the patience when she’s yelling at me.
AND SHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO! SHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO THROW A THOUSAND THINGS AT MY HEAD!
I can hear her from here, shouting “Shit” throughout the house. I don’t know if I should laugh at having gotten under her skin or feel like crap for making her feel so terrible.
In this situation, I shouldn’t be laughing. In fact, I should be taking this seriously, and I know that. But I also know that the only way to get through to her is to push her buttons. When I rile her up, she’ll let out all the pent-up anger and frustration… Plus, I missed her yelling. Even though now, it’s even worse than it was years ago. Her new choice of swear words is novel to my ears, and I’m sure it’s new to hers too. And damn it, I love getting a rise out of her!
I’m holding back the urge to go back into that house, grab her, pin her against the wall, and silence her with a kiss. But knowing her, she’d probably bite my tongue off…
Anna.
So, I’m just a damn child! Bloody arrogant jerk.
“This isn’t over, damn it…” I murmur, fuming with myself.
I leave the house at inhuman speed, hoping to catch up to him and give him a piece of my mind right to his stupid face. When I open the door, he’s right there, laughing.
Blinded by rage, I push him, knowing very well that my face is contorted in anger.
“Is this funny to you, asshole?” I yell at him.
“Potty mouth,” he retorts, smirking.
Is he high? It wouldn’t surprise me. His friend Levingston used to do drugs all the time.
“Go to hell.”
“Uh, you’re worse now than years ago, Anna.”
“This is serious, bastard! There’s a child involved, Henry!” I shove him again, but he remains unmoved.
“There’s no dispute there, Anna. I want that child.” He becomes serious. The problem is, I believe him, and I don’t want him speaking to my son. I don’t want him involved at all.
“Why?! Tell me why you’re back! You decided to leave; no one told you to. Your departure shattered my insides. Dave came and set everything right.” My voice breaks, but I won’t cry. I don’t cry anymore.
“Come on! Seriously? I know you’ll never feel for him what you feel for me.” He snorts and steps closer.
“Correction: What I felt for you.” I raise a finger, warning him not to come any closer, but he just keeps moving.
Pinned against the entrance door, Henry’s skin grazes mine, and I hold my breath. I shouldn’t show that I care, but my stupid body doesn’t cooperate; my skin prickles, and I feel the warmth spreading.
“You don’t deny it. And, correction: you’re still affected by my proximity, and I bet it doesn’t happen with him.”
“I love Dave. Your closeness makes my skin crawl, and not in a good way.” I lie.
“If you loved him, you’d have already spread your legs for him,” he says with a mocking smirk.
“You son of…!” He grabs my wrist before my hand, open and ready, could land on his cheek.
“Easy there, child. Can’t you admit that there’s a reason you haven’t slept with him?”
“Turns out, the only guy I ever went to bed with left me pregnant, alone, and with a damn broken heart.”
Dave’s car pulls up. My thoughts return to Henry. Does he believe I love him? We’ll see…
“You think I don’t love him because of that? Watch… Tonight I’ll show how much I love Dave, and you’ll shut your mouth for once.”
It’s as if I punched him in the chest; he takes a step back.
“You won’t.” His voice is rough, fists clenched.
“Who the hell are you to tell me what I can or can’t do? You mean nothing to me anymore! Do you get it? Five years passed, Henry. Be coherent for once and understand that I don’t love you anymore. I CAN’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE. Things will never be as they were. MY LIFE HAS CHANGED. I returned to Seattle to start over, and I’m happy. Don’t think you can come back and turn my life upside down again because you won’t.”
“If you sleep with him, you’ll regret it. You’ll feel like shit because you love me and you’ll always love me. And as for turning your life upside down… I’ll take that as a challenge.”
“A challenge?” I ask, furious. Another challenge with me as the prize? Didn’t he learn that he can’t play games with me?
“I’ll flip you upside down. Your life. Your heart. Everything. You’ll come back to me.”
“Henry… I don’t love you anymore.” I say through gritted teeth.
“You’re lying to yourself.”
“Please… I’m begging you. Don’t ruin my life.”
Henry leans in, ensuring our eyes meet.
“Anna, look me in the eyes and tell me you’re happy, and I’ll leave,” he says with conviction.
Seconds pass, and I don’t answer. Why? His eyes have hypnotized me, and the words I want to hear won’t come out.
“I… ” I begin, but then I see Dave approaching, and he’s looking… Odd.
“What’s going on here? Are you feeling better, love?” he asks, wrapping his arm around my waist.
“Yeah, I just came to say goodbye to Henry.” I give a forced smile and look down.
“Are you leaving?” Dave asks.
“Yes, it’s getting late.”
“Alright, Henry. It was nice meeting you. I guess we’ll see you around.”
“Count on it.”
A queasy feeling churns in my stomach at the mere thought of seeing him again. And it’s not the kind where I feel disgusted… It’s those damn butterflies that I once felt when I was younger and naive.