𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 || baxter radic (discontinued)

13.

𝒃𝒂𝒙𝒕𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒗

As much as I want to chase after Cove, I don't. It will only cause her to get more upset with me. I didn't understand why she just couldn't admit that she wanted to be with me. She's always so hot and cold. I can touch her tenderly and the next minute she's pulling away like I've burned her. I'm not all bad. All these rumors about me don't help. That's who I was before these two Americans decided to show up. But they've changed little ol' Baxxy.

I don't see her for a few days. I keep my distance because I feel if I don't, I'll be the next murder victim in the state. I wasn't about to have my life risked for a girl I set off. I was crazy, but not that crazy.

"Bax, can we talk?" She approaches me, but I step back, keeping my distance. If I'm at least two steps away I'll have a chance to run, save myself.

"Well that's not ominous." I get myself ready for an attack while her eyes narrow at my words. She clearly wasn't in any mood for fun. The girl was on a mission I was getting in the way of.

"Please." She huffs, letting her face fall with warmth. She wanted to be soft with me, I'll let my guard down for now.

I hold out my hand for her to take, which she willingly does, slotting her fingers between mine. I lead her away from our friends who are talking about some surf event coming up in the next week that we're all attending. I just have nothing to add to the conversation, and clearly Miss I-Am-Not-A-Surfer doesn't either.

"What's up?" I question her, leaning against the wall to make her feel more at ease. It's clear she's a bit stressed and I want to be there for her if I can be.

"Sorry I was a jerk yesterday." She stares at the ground, unable to face that she's actually in the wrong. I'm kind of used to that by now. "I'm not one to admit when I feel something for someone because then it makes it real. If its real, then it can hurt me. I don't do well with getting hurt."

"Such a softy." I wrap my fingers over her shoulders and pull her in toward me. "Don't you think if I was going to hurt you, I would have done it by now?" Her body falls effortlessly against mine, like this is all she's ever wanted—a nice strong boy to love her. 

"Maybe." She mumbles into my chest, still unable to confront me head on.

"I'll forgive you this one time Cove, but if you continue to push me away don't be mad when I stop coming back. A dude can only hold out for so long." My voice is calm as I speak to her. I don't need her crying. If Summer even senses that Cove has cried because of me, I'm a dead man walking. I did not need to chance that.

"I do like you Bax." She finally confesses something I've known for far too long.

"I'm well aware." I chuckle and hold her tightly, because at least she knows I'm listening—that what she says matters.

"That took a lot to say you jerk." She pushes lightly against my chest, a small chuckle escaping. I can tell that her cheeks are tinting a light shade of pink. Her light shove has created just enough distance between us for me to catch it. I want to pick on her for it, but I refrain.

"Would you like me to confess my love to you?" I start to bend down to one knee as I reach for her hands. She instantly yanks me back up feeling embarrassed. But it only causes a bigger scene. Our friends glancing at her dramatic motions.

"You're embarrassing me Bax." Despite all of this being her fault, she groans, knocking her forehead against my chest. It's so cute it makes me want to smuggle her back to my place to cuddle her through the night. But she'd never allow it. Summer would never allow it.

"Kinda my thing." I look at her with a smug expression. "Better get used to it." I keep a hold of her hand as I wrap my arm over her shoulder. "Seems like you might be stuck with me now."

"What have I done?" She groans, being her usual dramatic self.

"Created a monster out of me." I joke giving her a quick hip check as we walk toward Summer who is lost in some exciting conversation by the look on her face. I mean her face always looks like she's having a good time. Even if she isn't.

"We're not dating." She looks up at me, another dagger into my chest. She really just couldn't help herself? She couldn't let me have this one thing. I go to unlink my fingers, but she tightly closes her fingers around me. She's glued our skin together and I'm going to have to fight tooth and nail to free myself. "Because you haven't asked!" She glares at me.

"You're my girlfriend. I'm not asking because I'm not playing your silly games. So I'm telling you instead." I glare back at her. "Cove, you are my girlfriend."

"That's not very 2023 of you." She raises her brows at me and I huff out a breath in annoyance. I was done fighting this battle. I gave her the option, if she didn't want the title that was her own problem.