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Just as I was about to say something in return, I squinted down at the card again—it was for $300.
“Felix, this …” Looking up at him, I shook my head, smiling. “You didn’t have to. This is … too nice.”
Again, he shrugged, as if it weren’t the most gallant gesture a man could make—giving your girl the opportunity to dine with another guy at a posh restaurant? I didn’t think anything could top that.
It was just … sensitive. He knew how excited I was to see Pierre. Unlike someone else, he was actually happy for me.
“Treat him,” was all Felix said in reply, brown eyes sparkling. “From me to you to him.”
I meant to thank him, maybe even hug him, but I felt Elliot tugging on my arm.
“Let’s go, Silver,” he said, hooking his arm over my shoulders and wheeling me away, just like Leo had done.
“See ya,” I heard Leo call after us, but we were down the hall and around the corner before I could blow the two of them a kiss, or say anything at all.
As soon as we got to the elevator, I broke away from Elliot’s hold, and stepped far away from him, glaring.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I hissed, crossing my arms, the little box nudged under my armpit. “Why can’t I enjoy a moment of happiness? Just once?”
Elliot let out a rough sigh, and punched the elevator button. “Sorry.”
He leaned against the wall, and his eyes dropped to the floor, and stayed there. My duffel was still strapped over his shoulder. Even though I knew it weighed a lot, he didn’t let it show. He wouldn’t let it hit the ground.
Shaking my head, I turned away from him.
I just didn’t get it. How could someone be so chivalrous and such a pain in the ass at the same time?
Maybe that’s just what a relationship was.
I turned back to face him. If he wouldn’t talk, then I would. Someone had to be the bigger person.
“Look,” I said, letting out a short breath. “I know we have sort of a rocky past with Pierre. I know you think he’s in love with me, and that he’s going to try to keep in me in England with him, or something stupid like that.” Stepping closer to him, I lifted my hand up to his face, and took a lock of his dark, glossy hair between my fingertips, twirling it just as he does with mine. “But he’s my friend. And he knows that. He’s not you.”
“No shit, he’s not me,” he muttered. I could tell he was struggling to raise his gaze to mine. “That’s the problem.”
The elevator doors slid open, and a couple kids walked out before we stepped inside. An awkward silence fell over us, and I wanted to snap out of it. He was right, of course—he wasn’t like Pierre. As much as Elliot wanted me to, even though I was trying to move past it, I could never forget what he’d done to me. I loved Pierre because he was my best friend, and Elliot could never compete with that. No one could. What did he expect?
I stepped out into the lobby before Elliot, and led him outside to where his Mustang was parked smack in front of the building as if he owned the place. He tossed my bag into the back seat, and I slid into the passenger seat. As soon as Elliot slid into the driver’s seat, he blasted music. Rolling my eyes, I reached for the seatbelt, then paused.
“You know what?” I said, looking at Elliot as he put on his dark Aviators and revved the engine. He didn’t hear me. I turned off the music, and turned my body to face him. “You know what,” I repeated, “I think I’m just going to get my own ride.”
Elliot froze in place, as if he couldn’t believe what I said. “What?”
“I said, I’m getting my own ride.” With that, I turned back around and pushed the car door open. “Thanks for offering, but I can’t deal with this right now.”
“Kat.” Elliot lifted his hands up. “Deal with what?”
“Your attitude.”
I stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut behind me. Of course, this wasn’t the goodbye I’d been expecting, but there was no way I could sit in a car with him for forty minutes waiting for him to explode.
He was pissed that I was leaving. It was obvious.
But his attitude wasn’t my problem.
Turning back toward the dorm building, I took out my phone to call a taxi and sat down on the concrete steps as the phone rang. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Elliot idle for a few moments before revving the engine and turning out of the circular driveway. Part of me was expecting him to get out of the car and wrestle my ass back into it, but when his car disappeared into the traffic, I felt relief wash through me.
The fact that both Leo and Felix were happy to see me go was more than enough proof I needed to know that it was him, not me.
