CHAPTER 42: REACH OUT

"Julianna, you don't really know me."

"Is that so?" I inquire, raising an eyebrow. "The way you talk to others is vastly different from how you interact with me. You make it seem like being around me is a challenge, like I'm the one complicating our relationship," I assert, prompting him to exhale sharply and run his tongue over his teeth.

"Kent, what I'm saying is true, and I'm just being myself. I treat you in kind, but when I initially moved in, I made an effort to get along with you because I liked the room. I never would have chosen to live here had I known you'd treat me this way."

"How am I treating you?" He repeats, a tone of surprise in his voice. "I thought I did quite a few nice things for you, Julianna. Including last weekend—"

"Cut it out!" I snap at him, and he retreats a step. It's the first time I've spoken to him this way. Kent, you can't be pleasant to me for one day and then act as if you've done me a favor. When you're nice, it's not like you're showering me wit