“Yes, I fucking I like it,” I bark, slamming my hands on my hips. “God, what is wrong with women wanting a little extra in the bedroom? When a man wants it, he’s a hunk of a manly man, but when a woman wants it, she’s a filthy whore who isn’t worthy of respect. I’m so tired of this crap, so fuck it. Yes, I love Nathan Booker novels, and maybe I felt empowered by it. Maybe I felt like I could communicate my desires to you without you judging me, but boy was I fucking wrong. I thought we could be open and honest with each other, but you can’t handle that, because you think women are supposed to be doting, quiet, humble, innocent little creatures who only want to lay on their backs while their husbands pump away on top of them for a few minutes, before it all comes to a premature, splattering end. Well, I want more than that, and I only showed you an inkling of my true desires. I want to be satisfied, too. God forbid a woman wants some goddamn pleasure of her own. Jesus fucking Christ!”

Vance and I stand face to face, both of us breathing heavily from the emotion pouring out of our mouths, and without even saying a word, I know where this is going. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know we’ve entered a space we can’t come back from. It has been seven months since we started dating, but we went into a dark tunnel, and I know we’re not going to make it out together. He can’t handle it. He can’t deal with the darkness, and I don't want him if he’s not going to try.

“Well, I don’t think there’s much else that needs to be said then,” he states, tossing the book on the couch. It hits the cushion and bounces off, landing on the floor.

“Goddamn it, Vance!” I snap as I stomp over and pick it up. “This is mine, so don’t come into my apartment taking your temper tantrum out on my book.”

“Oh, give it a rest, Alina. You care more about that porn than you do me.”

“Fuck you,” I bark with a pointed finger. “It’s literature, you piece of shit, and I cared enough about you to want to try to communicate and grow with you. That’s all I wanted was for us to grow and expand together. But it’s obvious you’re incapable of growth.”

“I’m capable of growth, but not with someone who wants to be treated like a whore.”