Page 98 of Sparktopia
That’s why he just said that.
Suddenly, everything becomes too much and all the new things I’ve just experienced start catching up. My whole body goes hot, especially my face, and then I feel tears forming. Because I’m overwhelmed, and sad, and sorry, and stuck. So I don’t want to talk anymore.
Luckily, our waitress comes up to the table with one of those screens in her hands. “What can I get for you tonight, folks?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Iturn to the waitressand order for both of us. Clara doesn’t object, even though I have no idea what she eats. She’s not thinking about food. She gives no fucks about what I order. She’s trying not to cry and that’s the only reason I take control like this. To give her an out. Just a few seconds to pull herself together.
When the waitress leaves and I once again look at Clara, she’s wrestled that control back. But she’s smaller now. Her shoulders are tucked forward, her hands in her lap. Like she’s trying to withdraw into herself.
I decide to change the subject. “Would you like for me to put you up in a hotel?”
“What?” She’s surprised by my question.
“So ya don’t have to stay in the tower with me.”
Her whole face crinkles up and I don’t know her well enough to determine if it’s confusion or frustration. But then, suddenly, like a switch has been flipped, all those wrinkles smooth out and she takes a breath. “That won’t be necessary. If you don’t want me to stay with you, I can take it from here.”
“No, ya can’t.”
“What?”
I laugh. “You’ve got no chance at all of taking it from here, Clara. I mean, you’d pull through, I’m sure of that. But it would take weeks, maybe months, for you to sort it all out and find a way forward.”
She huffs. “I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”
“Yes, ya do. Just think about it for a moment. Would you like a hotel?”
Again, I get that crinkled face and I decide it’s… annoyance. She’s annoyed at me because I’m gonna make her say something here, and she doesn’t want to.
“Would you like to stay in the city by yourself?”
Now she gets it. Because her crinkles become furrows and this is anger. “Why are you being a dick?”
“Because it’s not up to me, it’s up to you. And you’re letting me make a lot of big decisions for you right now. It’s really not my place. I’m only playing along because I’ve got no choice.”
She scoffs, places her hands on the table, and makes to get up.
I reach out and grab her wrist. “Sit down. It’s a stupid question. A really stupid question. And we both already know the answer. So why can’t you just spit it out?”
She pulls her wrist out of my grip and leans back. “No. I don’t want to stay in a hotel in the city. I want to go back to the tower with you.”
“See? Told ya it was easy.”
“Now it’s your turn. Why are you being a dick all of a sudden?”
“I already told you. You’re shuttin’ down. And I don’t like it. You can’t let me take over. Because you’ll get lost if I do. And I don’t like lost people. I like people who know who they are. And you… well, you’re lookin’ for a hero. The conversation we justhad about your man pretty much gave it all away, so don’t bother denying it.”
“Well. So? What’s wrong with that? I mean, he’s the frickin’ man, right? Wasn’t it his job to… protect me, or whatever?”
“Dunno. Was it?”
“Well.” She huffs. “Yes. Duh. That’s the whole point of having a man.”
“The whole point, Clara?” I’m smirkin’ at her when I say this. Which just makes her angry.
“Why are you being insufferable?”
