In all probability.

I pointed. “When you don’t get the fuck out of my home, you’ll be paying for a brand new set of tooth.”

Darren and his buddy Will hurried out of the room. As quickly as they have been gone, the ache in my face flared up. Oh, proper. I’ve been punched.

“Are you all proper?” Alyssa requested.

“Suppose so. He acquired me good on the jaw.”

Alyssa’s eyes have been extensive and harmless. “Is it damaged?”

“No, but it surely hurts like hell. Shit.” The joint they’d been smoking was on the bottom, starting to burn a gap within the carpet. I tossed it into a close-by cup of beer earlier than it may do any extra harm.

“Keep right here,” Alyssa mentioned, hurrying out of the room.

The scent of pot was nonetheless sturdy, so I opened each home windows. Then I checked out myself within the mirror on the wall. My jaw was pulsing with ache now, but it surely was my eyes that I checked out. Barely bloodshot, and shiny blue. I knew my eyes have been one among my finest options, however now all I noticed was the one that had given them to me. My father.

I hate myself, I believed. Why do I develop into this particular person after I’m round Alyssa?

I wasn’t a violent man. I felt sturdy and masculine after I was serving to folks. I didn’t like this model of myself.

Alyssa returned with a can of beer. “This would possibly assist,” she mentioned with a hopeful smile.

“Is that this for my face, or my abdomen?” I joked.

“First face, then abdomen,” she joked again with a smile.

I laughed, and all of my disgrace disappeared. This woman was price no matter price I had incurred by punching Darren. I’d do no matter it took to guard her.

We sat on the mattress, and Alyssa gently pressed the chilly can of beer towards my cheek. “What did he imply about his dad?”

“Fuck if I do know,” I lied. “Darren talks quite a lot of shit. I’m not fearful about it. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fantastic,” she mentioned, although she nonetheless appeared shaken. “You didn’t have to do this.”

I turned to take a look at her.

“They have been… bizarre,” Alyssa admitted. “Will pulled me into the room and wouldn’t let me go away. Darren mentioned he would solely let me go if I took a success. I’m glad you confirmed up.”

I felt my anger stand up. In that second, I’d’ve punched Darren once more. And that realization scared me. I turned away from her and mentioned, “Any man would’ve achieved the identical.”

“No. Most guys wouldn’t.”

I felt her watching me, so I mentioned, “I used to be largely pissed off they have been smoking in my brother’s room. If my dad finds out, he’ll kill me.”

I used to be nonetheless trying away when Alyssa eliminated the can of beer and kissed me on the cheek.

I used to be so shocked that I whirled towards her, uncertain what to say.

“Thanks,” she mentioned, eyes stuffed with emotion. “You’re a very good man.”

Her phrases have been like a bandage on a wound, or a soothing can of beer towards a stinging cheek. It was precisely what I needed to listen to, what I desperately wanted to listen to. If I used to be a very good man, then I used to be nothing like my father.

With out thought, I cupped Alyssa’s cheek and kissed her.

It was tough to explain how I felt as our lips lastly linked. It was the fruits of years of banter, years of smiles, years of teasing. Years of delicate flirting. I’d kissed women earlier than. I’d had as a lot intercourse as any excessive schooler may boast about. However all of these interactions paled compared to this. A candle’s warmth in comparison with the blazing hearth of the Florida solar.

She’s all the things I’ve ever needed.

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