Make Me Hate You

by Kandi Steiner

“Last night was amazing. I will never forget it.” My chest squeezed. “But that’s all it can be. One night. And we need to put it all to bed.” Tyler watched me for the longest time, and I saw every single emotion pass over his face in waves — pain, anger, hurt, sorrow, longing, regret. I wasn’t sure which one settled in deepest as his face leveled out, and his jaw ticked, his eyes hard on mine. “So, that’s it, then?” he asked. “That’s all you want to say to me right now?” I love you. I need you. Please, be with me. Choose me. Fuck everyone else. I don’t care who we hurt. I don’t care as long as it’s us in the end. I shrugged, wiping away the fresh tears on my cheeks with a whisper. “I don’t know what else there is to say.” Tyler tongued his cheek, looking out the window with nostrils wide and brows bent together so fiercely that the line between them was visible even across the room. He nodded, just barely, and then his eyes found me again. He took a step — toward me, into me — but then he stopped. The air zipped white hot with electricity and poison, with a warning that one false step would demolish everything. Tyler’s eyes searched mine, like he was waiting for more, but there was nothing more to be said or be done or be undone. It was what it was. And we both knew it. Maybe there was a part of me that hoped he’d say I was wrong. Maybe I held onto that hope like the string of a balloon, thinking he’d take me in his arms, call me crazy for ever thinking he would give me up...