Chapter 13 - One True Thing

I tightened the belt of my robe. "I'm going to get dressed and go."

"What?" Menzi glared at me. "Go where?"

"Home," I said, tired all the way through to the bone. "I think you need to digest all of this."

His arms crossed. "We can do that together."

"I don't think we can." My chin came up, grief drowning out my shame and my heart-wrenching disappointment. "Not while you're looking at me like you feel sorry for me."

"I'm not made of stone, Aviwe. I wouldn't be human if I didn't care."

Everything I'd run through since lunch collected into one searing pain in my chest, and then into a clean, cleansing burst of anger. "I don't want your damn pity."

He shoved both hands through his hair. "What the hell do you want, then?"

"You! I want you."

"You have me. How many times do I have to say it?"

"Your words don't mean anything when you can't back them up. From the moment we met, you've been hot for me. You haven't been able to look at me without making it damn clear you want to fuck my brains out. And that's gone, Menzi." My eyes burned. "That look. It's gone."

"You can't be serious." He stared at me as if I'd grown a second head.

"I don't think you know what your wanting me does to me." My arms wrapped around myself, covering my breasts. I felt suddenly naked in the worst possible way. "It makes me feel beautiful. It makes me feel strong, and alive. I—I can't be with you if you don't feel that way about me anymore."

"Aviwe, I…" His voice faded out. He was hard-faced and far away, his fists closed at his sides.