Page 24 of The Through Duet
I slid my hands in my pockets as I asked, “What exactly are you sorry for?For judging me, insulting me, or rejecting me?”
“Uh...all three, I guess,” she replied, and it was crazy how a woman that I barely knew could piss me off so thoroughly.
“Well, how about you wait to apologize until you know what you’re apologizing for,” I snapped.“Or better yet, how about you save your apologies until you actually mean them.”
Her head reared back a bit, her eyes wide.“Do...do you honestly believe that I would have come out here to embarrass myself if I didn’t mean it?”
The look in her eyes had me immediately feeling like a jerk.“Rya, I’m sorry-”
“No...no, it’s fine,” she quickly rushed out.“I...this is on me, Koen.”
Before I could say anything to that, she turned, then headed back into Precious Pets, and the sickening sensation in my stomach only intensified.I was still feeling incredibly insulted, and I was grown enough to recognize that.I also didn’t want to be a hypocrite.Last week, she hadn’t wanted to hear what I’d had to say, and that had infuriated me, but now I was doing the same thing to her, and that wasn’t right.While I had no problem with an eye-for-an-eye in certain situations, this wasn’t one of them.
So, since I’d heard that you shouldn’t leave an animal alone in a car, I quickly grabbed Satan from the back seat, then headed back inside Precious Pets.However, when I finally reached the reception area, Rya was nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, welcome back,” the receptionist automatically greeted.“Did you forget something?”
“I need to speak with Rya,” I said, not caring if I sounded like an idiot.“Can you call her for me, please?It’s important.”
“Oh...uhm, sure,” Erica-said her nametag-stammered a bit, and I secretly gave thanks to God when she picked up the phone to page Rya.“Rya, can you please report to the reception area.”
I glanced around, searching for intercom speakers, wondering if I was going crazy.“Can she hear you?”
Erica smiled at me.“Oh, that’s because our regular intercom system is designed to be heard only in the back,” she explained.“It’s designed that way as to not annoy or disrupt our customers or animals who are waiting in the lobby.However, our emergency intercom system can be heard throughout the entire facility.”She leaned in conspiratorially as she added, “Our voices are also translated into a melodic tone as to not startle our babies back there.”
Before I could comment on how fancy Precious Pets was, Rya was coming out of the side door, and she immediately stopped in her tracks when she saw me.However, she was completely uninterested in me as soon as she noticed the carrier in my hand.
“Is Kyle okay?”she asked, her concern genuine.“Did we miss something?”
“No,” I said as I shook my head.“He’s fine...well, except for being a meanspirited demon, he’s good.”
Rya’s green eyes slid the Erica’s way really quickly, no doubt wondering what was going on.When she looked back at me, she asked, “So...what...what can I do for you?”
“Go out with me Friday night, and then we can call it even,” I said, not caring that we had an audience.
“I’m sorry, what?”she squawked.
“Go to dinner with me Friday night, and then we can call it even,” I repeated.“We can start over.”
Her beautiful eyes narrowed.“Why does that feel like emotional blackmail?”
“It’s only emotional blackmail if you feel something for me, baby,” I pointed out, and in no way taking back calling her baby.
Rya crossed her arms over her impressive chest as she shot me a look.“Does feeling that you’re being ridiculous count?”
“I don’t care what you feel as long as you feel something when you’re around me,” I replied honestly, and when the reception phone began to ring, Erica let it ring three times before reluctantly answering it.
However, just when I’d thought that we had some privacy, another girl came through the side door, and then she immediately grinned at Rya.“Hey, Rya.”
“Hey, Victoria,” Rya greeted back like there was nothing to see here.
The newcomer glanced at Kyle’s carrier, then asked, “Are we picking up or...?”
“He’s picking up Kyle Wilder,” Rya told her, and I had a terrible feeling that I might be losing her to the crowd.
“So, what do you say?”I asked, pushing her again.“If you’re free this Friday, I’d like to take you to dinner.Your favorite spot.”
“My favorite spot is a taco truck on Shrader Street,” she replied, clearly testing me.
