It's Pucking Complicated

False Accusations and Heated Arguments

ISADORA

Maybe I should just call Dad and tell him to give up on this arranged marriage nonsense because I sure as hell won't be marrying anyone just because I was told to and I can't stand the one-sided tension between Phillippe and me.

Why does he keep looking at me every chance he gets? Seriously, what's his problem?

I can't figure it out.

It's not like he seemed particularly excited about the whole thing.

The best course of action would be to ignore him completely and focus on this camping trip. Knox and I still have to send a clear message about our 'relationship', so it's safe to say that I don't have time for distractions like Phillippe.

I have to stay alert at all times, because one tiny mistake could destroy what we're trying so desperately to build. And nothing kills progress faster than inconsistency.

Speaking of killing...

I dig my elbow into Knox's side and he cuts me a look. Wide-eyed, I grit out in a low voice, "You're suffocating me!"

He loosens his grip around my neck and I suck in a proper breath. Geez, what is with him? He was perfectly fine when we were in the car, and now he's back to being a total d**k. I don't get him at all. He has these mood swings that give me whiplash.

His reaction to his teammate offering to lend me a jacket was uncalled for, and we're still going to address it later on.

We follow Eric and Phillippe to the heart of the campsite, where a fire is going and white plastic tables are lined with platters of store-bought snacks. Blocks of cheese, sliced up fruit, an assortment of crackers, cold meats...you name it. On the other side are boxes and boxes of pizza and bags of takeout food right next to them.

I won't even mention the coolers filled to the brim with alcoholic drinks.

"Help yourselves," Eric states with a dramatic wave of his hand. "There's more than enough food to go around. Tomorrow, we'll get a new delivery."

"Is there anything hot to drink?" Josh asks, reading my mind. "I don't think I want an ice-cold beer when I'll be freezing my ass off in a few hours."

Eric laughs at this. "Come on, man. You wanna warm up, you have bourbon. There are plenty of drinks around. Come on, Phillippe, let's move closer to the ladies."

Sure enough, Phillippe glances at me before following Eric to the bonfire, where long, thick logs have been placed carefully around it. I'm the first to look away, reminding myself that eye contact means I'm looking, too, and I really shouldn't.

Beside me, Knox exhales sharply, which makes me look up at him questioningly. His eyes aren't on me, though.

I jab his side again, asking, "What's your problem?"

Josh must've heard the question because he widens his eyes and says, "I think I'll go looking for that, uh...that drink. You want something, Isadora?"

"If you find coffee or something, then sure. Thanks."

He glances at Knox and for a second, looks like he wants to ask him the same thing, but it seems he decides against it because he walks away without saying anything else, leaving us alone.

That's it.

I turn toward him and his arm drops from my shoulder. His blue eyes are practically burning with restrained fury and his lips are pressed into a thin line. I fold my arms across my chest, scoffing. "What's your problem, Knox Julius Mohrelian? Are you on your period, is that it? Need a pad? Because I have one, just in case."

Knox narrows his eyes at me. "Don't be smart with me, alright?"

"You don't think people will take one look at you and know something's wrong?"

"What? People in relationships can't have shitty days?"

"Sure they can, but you're the one who claims we need to make a good impression, and now you're acting this way in a crowded campsite! You wanna go home, is that it?"

He shakes his head at me. "Just forget about it."

I raise my hands in surrender and look away from him. Honestly, he's impossible sometimes. How am I supposed to deal with this? This isn't a one-man job—I have bad days, too, but I'm trying here.

I mumble under my breath, "But if I were the one acting this way..."

Knox hears my remark because he says, "I told you to forget about it, Halvick. You know, this is all your fault."

My eyes widen and I point at my chest. "Mine? How's this my fault?"

"You haven't been honest with me from the start," he grits out, stepping so close to me that the front of our bodies touch. I don't back away, not when there could be someone looking. "Right now, I'm contemplating whether or not I should continue wasting my time with this."

The way he utters these words rubs me the wrong way. I narrow my eyes and ask him slowly, "What are you talking about? Have you gone mad, is that it? I'm not keeping anything that concerns this fake bullshit we have going on."

"No?" he asks wildly, faces inches away from mine. "Then explain why—"

He doesn't get to finish his question because Josh returns with two flasks in his hand. "I got your coffee, Isadora. Still want it?"

Knox is the first one to put some distance between us. He turns away from us completely, and I stop paying attention to him because I'm so done with his bipolar ass. I say to Josh, "Thanks. I really needed this."

"Yeah, they're just handing them out. Some girl made them. She's giving out these spiced muffins, too. Apparently, they help keep you warm. Want one?"

"Absolutely," I remark as I follow him to where this girl is. I don't look back at Knox. At this point, I don't trust myself to be around him, because if he said anything else out of line...

What did he even mean by that? What could I possibly be hiding from him to warrant such a reaction?

"Hey, is everything okay between you two?" Josh asks kindly. "I didn't mean to interrupt, it's just that you were starting to get pretty loud and I figured I should do something to, you know, help out."

My heart sinks. "Really? We were loud?"

He nods.

"Damn him," I grumble. "I don't know what's wrong with him sometimes. He's such a jackass. An unreasonable jackass at that. Is he always this way?"

"No, actually," he answers right before we reach the girl giving away muffins. "I don't think I've seen Knox look so mad. Even in the rink, he keeps his cool."

"So, it's just with me?"

Josh shrugs, opting not to answer.

We grab a muffin each, then turn back. I can't stop myself from looking over at the spot where we were just standing. Knox isn't there anymore. Good. He needs to cool the hell off. His brain is probably short-circuiting or something, because he's not making sense anymore.

"Good, huh?"

"Yeah," I say before even taking a bite of it. The taste of cinnamon and apples explodes in my mouth along with other spices I can't identify. Yeah, it's a pretty good muffin. "Mmm. It's really great."

"Think Knox will want one?"

"Don't know and don't care."

Josh laughs. "You're his girlfriend, remember? You're supposed to bring him things."

"Maybe," I agree with a shrug of my own. "But right now? He could jump off a cliff and die for all I care."

"Jesus," I hear him mutter before taking another bite.