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Just when I was about to give in and walk back into Bullfrogs, the doors flew open, and I chalked a point up to Tyler for being right again. Because there he was– crutching toward the car with his jaw set, his nose flaring, and a scowl on his handsome, but determined face.
I coached myself to keep an even face, even though I felt like shouting out, ‘HA!’
He crossed the parking lot with remarkable speed considering he was still new on crutches. In what felt like a split second, he threw the car door open, threw his crutches on the cement in a loud clatter, then hopped around until he was steady enough to lift himself into the driver's seat.
He slammed Tyler’s door closed and sat there fuming.
“Duke– you can’t just–”
The veins in his neck were practically bulging and his nose was flaring with anger. He took a deep breath then said very evenly, “You are not getting a boob job, Claire. And you cannot be serious about hooking up with Jettersen.”
I blinked for a second, realizing he never called me Claire; it was always just ‘Kessel.’ My first name sounded foreign on his lips.
I swallowed and quickly recovered. “Who says?!” I yelled at him. “Like you have any power to order me around?” I looked at him like he’d lost his ever-loving mind… but, I’d have to analyze later why I felt such a sense of satisfaction over him not wanting me to get plastic surgery.
“Me!” he said with wide eyes. “I say. Okay?” He covered his eyes with his hand like I’d made him exhausted. “Please don’t, okay?”
It was my turn to take a deep breath. “Why?”
He peaked up at me. “Why? Why what?”
I arched an eyebrow at him. “Why no boob job?”
His eyes darted a couple directions before looking back at me. “Because skating!” he yelled. “Aren’t you a possible contender to go to the Olympics?! That’ll mess you all up with balance and everything, Kessel.”
I wanted to shout,‘Not good enough’in his face. But instead, I crossed my hands over my chest and grumbled at the windshield. Of course. Of course he’d say skating and not what I so desperately wanted to hear from him, which was that he didn’t want me to change because he liked me the way I was.
“And hooking up with Jettersen? What is this? This isn’t you. It’s like I don’t even know you anymore.”
I gave him a cold stare for that comment, and he actually flinched away from me.
“Youdon’tknow me anymore,” I said as cruelly as I could. “And whose fault is that?!”
He looked away from me before moving his gaze back to my chest.
“I just don’t understand…” he trailed off.
“What?” I spat.
He tipped his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. “Why you insist on changing things about yourself.”
“Well, you don’t want me,” I snapped.
His eyes went directly to mine, and he looked at me like I’d just accused him of murder. “Who says?”
“You!” I said, feeling completely exasperated. “You, Duke!” I pointed at him. “You say! If you wanted to be with me tonight, you would’ve been. Instead, I had to watch you feeling up Daniella.”
All the tension rose to his face and he looked like he was ready to explode. “What about Jettersen?!”
I shook my head and let out a pathetic laugh, resigning myself to the fact that we were both too messed up to ever be vulnerable enough with one another to actually get together. I couldn’t admit that being with Tyler was only a ploy to get his attention. Stripping the night of all the secrets and lies was what we so desperately needed, but the Tyler lie felt like my only armor right now. Without it, I’d lose the feeling that I was good enough to be chosen.
I closed my eyes tightly. I was so over these stupid games. I played tonight against my better judgment, and I knew I was way too old for this.
I took a deep breath, then pushed Tyler’s car door open and jumped out, ignoring Duke’s pleas for me to stay.
Walking across the empty parking lot, I felt all the confrontational adrenaline leaving my body, and I was left feeling drained.
As I pushed my way into the bar, I realized Tyler had been waiting for me in the little entrance sitting room.
