Page 80 of Between the Boards
“He wouldn’t just leave like that,” she shouts, gathering the attention of people sitting nearby. “He wouldn’t leaveme.”
Zale is silent for a moment as they both take in what she just said, her eyes widening slightly.
“You love him,” he says, sounding breathless. “Kairi, what the hell are we doing on a date together if you’re in love with another guy?”
She looks shocked, her eyes leaving Zale’s and finding mine. I probably look just as shocked as her because for once in my life, I think Zale might actually be right.
He follows her gaze to mine and hurries to his feet when he notices me standing only a few feet away. “What the hell are you doing here?” He bellows, sizing me up.
I don’t answer him as I hold Kairi’s gaze, her eyes beginning to turn glassy.
“I’m starting to feel like the fucking dumbass here.” Zale scoffs as he looks between us. “So let me make one thing clear, Kairi. When he leaves and breaks your heart, don’t come looking for me.”
”He isn’t leaving,” she shouts, angry tears spilling out of her eyes and down her cheeks.
Zale sneers as he looks back at me. “So then why did he ask Gabriel for a leave of absence earlier today without a confirmed return date?”
Kairi gasps, and looks over at me, hurt reflected on her face. “Y-your leaving?”
“Yes, but?—“
”See?” Zale shouts, turning to face her again. “I told you he was a flight risk.”
Her lip begins to tremble as she stares at me, betrayal written all over her face. I open my mouth to explain myself but she squeezes her eyes shut and pushes past both Zale and me, running off toward the restroom.
I turn to chase after her but Zale grabs me by my shirt with both hands and jerks me back to face him.
“I told you that you’d hurt her,” he says through gritted teeth. “You just couldn’t help yourself.”
I shove him off of me, nearby diners gasping as he stumbles back into the booth.
“Touch me again and I’ll break your arms,” I growl. “The only one that hurt her here is you, Zale, because you like to talk about things you don’t even fully understand.”
I don’t wait for him to reply as I turn and run in the direction that Kairi ran off to. I need her to know that my leave of absence is only temporary, and I need to know the truth about her feelings for me, because what I saw tonight isn’t someone that only cares for me as a friend.
TWENTY-SEVEN
KAIRI
I feel absolutely humiliatedas I push my way into the women’s restroom, tears still streaking down my face. I can’t believe I had an outburst like that in public, but I was so angry with Zale for talking about Colton like that, and knowing that he could hear Zale just made it that much worse.
I allowed my anger to get the best of me, and in doing so, I completely let my guard down and revealed the feelings I have for Colton that I’ve been trying to ignore. Zale called it love, and I don’t know if he’s right or wrong, but the fact that he said it in front of Colton has me in a full blown panic right now.
I thought I’d be coming on this date and clearing up any confusion I feel. I thought by doing this, it would become so clear to me that Zale is still the person I desperately want. But instead, this whole date just felt like a shit talking session, and not at all what I was expecting.
It was like Zale was venting to a friend, not getting to know the girl he’s apparently interested in. I knew I was right about him only wanting to go on this date to prove to Colton that he could still get me. That he was the better option.
After what happened tonight, and the way Zale spoke to me, any feelings I’ve been harbouring for him completely dissolved.He isn’t who I thought he was, or who I remember him to be. To even call him my friend right now feels wrong on so many levels, because a real friend wouldn’t insult me the way he did out there.
“Kairi?” I hear Colton’s deep voice call out from behind the restroom door. “Kairi, are you in there?”
A woman exits the stall—flushing the toilet behind her—and walks over to a sink to wash her hands, eyeing me in the mirror.
“Kairi, if you don’t come out of here, I’m coming in,” Colton warns.
“Go away, Colton,” I shout back.
There’s no way he’ll actually come in here, right?
