The Hating Game

Let’s put our weapons down, okay?” He raises his hands to show he’s unarmed. His hands are big enough to encircle my ankles. I swallow.

To hide my awkwardness, I mime taking a gun out of my pocket and toss it aside. He reaches into an imaginary shoulder holster and takes out a gun, putting it on his planner. I unsheathe an invisible knife from my thigh.

“All of them.” I indicate under the desk. He reaches down to his ankle and pretends to take a handgun out of an ankle holster.

“That’s better.” I sink into my chair and close my eyes

That’s why I never needed help to beat you. I didn’t want to beat you.

I type my password: IHATEJOSHUA4EV@

Books were, and always would be, something a little magic and something to respect

I couldn’t. If I’d let myself smile back, and be friends with you, I probably would have fallen in love with you

Knowledge is power, and I don’t have much.

heaven and hell and into purgatory. A kindergarten classroom. An asylum.

I’m twenty-eight years old and it seems I’ve fallen through the cracks of

I’m sitting here with a cellmate because every power-crazed
war general has a second in command to do the dirty work.

So this is what sex with you would be like.” I can’t resist teasing him. “I was hoping you’d participate a little more.”
He finally says something. “I’d participate. So well, you wouldn’t walk straight the next day.”

Both love and hate are mirror versions of the same game—and you have to win

Love and hate are visceral

Hmm, that’s no good

She scans the agenda. For bigger meetings we’d do a bit more preparation, but the all-staffs are pretty straightforward since the division heads are doing most of the talking. The CEOs are there mainly to show involvement

He wants to do it so many times that we lose count, and probably die in the process.

He wants to make sure I’m addicted to him.

“Doctor Josh, MD. You would have been a sexy doctor.”

“Oh, definitely.”

I turn the page and unfortunately a lurid diagram of an erect penis glares up at me.

“I am trying to be a bit more normal.”

He looks at the page. “How’s it working out so far?”

“I’m glad this isn’t a pop-up book.”

“Drink your tea, you little pervert.”

“Take the hoodie off. Please. I’ll only look with my eyes.”