Page 84 of Second Chance

34

Fighting Words

[Denton]

“What’s going on?” I ask as I surprise Mati at her home that evening. I lean in to kiss her, but she pulls back. This sparks my growing pile of irritation. I’m too high-strung from all the thoughts running in my head, and while I should have been at Magnolia’s to sit with my mother, my car seemed to have driven here of its own volition.

“What’s going on with you?” she retorts, a bark in her question at the tone in my voice.

“I’m sorry,” I say immediately, stepping forward to cover her shoulders which bristle under my touch. I snap again. “What’s this?”

I remove my hands, holding them upward as if I’ve been singed by her.

“Nothing,” she mutters, turning her back to me and continuing down the hall to her kitchen. Her house is modest, laid out with small rooms, and I hesitate a moment as I remember this home is on borrowed land. Illegally.

“It’s not nothing,” I bite, unwilling to let the blasé response go. I’m itching for a fight, although Mati isn’t the source of my anger. I just need to release this buzzing energy inside me. Learning my father isn’t my father. Learning my father worked some illegal dealing to steal family land. Learning he might have blackmailed my mother to do so. I can’t take more rejection or questions.

“Fine,” she spins. “Everyone’s talking about us.”

“Who’s everyone?” I ask, stunned at the outburst and offended expression on her face.

“The whole town.”

My nose scrunches. “Who the fuck cares what the town thinks?”

“I do. I live here, remember?” There’s a spark under those words and the flame reaches out to me, looking to set me on fire.

“I know that,” I mock. My voice deepens, ripe with meaning. She stayed with Chris. However, it wasn’t really her fault. Her eyes narrow.

“Of course, you remember. You left me behind.” The venom in her voice is just as sharp as any slap, and I shake my head.

“I’m not doing this with you.” I’m not telling her the truth, I warn myself. Not tonight when I’m already wound up about other things.

“Doing what, Denton? We never did anything, right? We aren’t even doing anything now, according to you. We aren’t doing anything wrong,” she mocks in a falsely masculine voice.

“Lion cat, what are you talking about?”

“All those years ago. You had Kristy—”

“And you had Chris,” I interject. Mati sighs as if she’s exhausted by me. “And what about now? Again, who gives a fuck?”

“I do. I’m not some rock-star-on-the-road fling. One you can discard when you leave. I don’t need the town talking about me seeing you or being seen with you.”

“You’re ashamed to be seen with me?” I’m shocked once again and still not understanding what the town’s opinion has to do with anything.

“Denton, come on.”

“No, you come on. I’ve known you almost my whole life. We were friends. What difference does it make if we’re seen together?”

Mati stares back at me, her expression crippling before me. Her eyes softening with both sympathy and sorrow.

“You’re right, Denton. What difference does it make?”

I can’t read what she means, and I’m ready to ask when she continues. “I don’t think we should be seen together. I’m not ready for whatever this is.” She waves between us with a flick of her hand.

“Whatever this is? Why does this have to be anything?” The moment I ask, I know I’ve made a mistake. Mati’s shoulders fall, and she looks away from me.

“I’m not one of your groupies, rockstar.” Her voice drips with sarcasm.