Page 5 of Drive Me Crazy

I take his face in my hands, locking eyes with him. "It doesn't matter where or when, all that matters is that it's with you. That I know you love me, and for you to understand, I'll love you forever."

"Forever? That's a long time." He searches my eyes, I'm not sure what he's looking for, but he doesn't find it. "Not yet, but soon be a perfect time."

"Now..." I squeeze him tighter, growling through my teeth. A noise creeps up between us, sounding eerily familiar. "What's that?"

There it is, the look no girl wants to recognize on the face of her boyfriend. Caught like a deer in headlights, frightened, I'm grounded to where they stand.

He cuts his eyes, as if I didn't say anything. "I'm not sure what you're talking about."

"This asshole." I squeeze him again, but before he can lie and deny, I reach down and into his pocket. I drag a lengthy string of condoms from his front pocket. "Umm, if you're refusing to sleep with me, then who in the hell are these condoms for, Ridge?"

He lifts his shoulder, cringing. "They're Mack's."

"The hell you say!" I scramble free, getting to my feet before turning to throw them in his face. "All this time, you can't sleep with me!"

He holds his hands up. "It's not what you think."

"Everyone keeps telling me y'all are a thing and my dumb ass keeps thinking they're insane. But I seriously don't have a clue if you're with her or me anymore!"

He hurries to his feet. "Are you fuckin' kidding me? I spend every waking moment with you."

"And her!" I want to rip my hair out. "She's always around! You have to be there for her! She needs you! For god's sake Ridge, she wants you!"

"You've got it all wrong, Harper."

"No, I don't..." I shake my head, to keep him from seeing my entire body shaking. "I've been a damn fool. For years, I've trailed after you like a lost damn puppy and all to have it constantly thrown in my face. Just tell me the truth, tell me you love her."

He steps closer to me. "I love you, Harper and if I could explain why I'm standing by Mack, I would but now isn't the time."

"Will there ever be a time?" I pin him with a glare.

He drops his head. "Yes, but this isn't it. All I'm asking is for you to believe me."

"Again." I cross my arms. "To trust you and Mack, again. You realize this is my life. Every day, I'm defending you with our friends or with my parents."

His eyes snap to mine. "What about your parents?"

"Nothing. I mean, they're not important. I need you to pick, Ridge. Is it her or me?" My stomach knots from the declaration and the ultimatum.

"No, I'm not picking between the two women who mean more to me than anyone else on this world besides my family. I won't, I refuse to do it." He growls.

"Well, then I'm just a damn fool. Aren't I?"

Ridge stares off into the distance. "Is that your opinion or your parents?"

"Actually, everyone around here! People think you two are a couple, it drives me crazy!" I yell, as tears threaten to break their barriers.

"I don't give a fuck what the people of this damn town think or have to say about me. But I'll be damned if you believe it. Do you believe it, Harper?" His face contorts, the hurt from my words written all over him.

I reach for him, but he backs away. "Please don't, I didn't mean it."

"You might not have meant it, but you said it, Harper. That's what hurts so much because you'd rather listen to rumors than trust me." He glances toward the door, and my gut twists with realization this may be my last chance.

"Please don't go yet, I have so much to tell you." I tug at his hand, not wanting what little time we have together to be like this. Christmas break will be over soon, and I'll head back to Charleston while he goes back to Wilmington with Mackenzie.

He drops his head, toeing his shoes in the dirt. "It's gettin' late, you need to head home before Landon comes looking for you."

"Or is it that Mack needs you?" I wince the second it leaves my lips. Without a doubt, it was a low blow, but my mouth tends to open faster than I can control.