understand?” Reed growls, peering deep into Kirk’s eyes.
“Or else what? What are you going to do, big guy?” For some strange reason, Kirk is finding this whole situation way too funny. He still has a big grin on his face.
“I’m going to drive you out of this town.”
“You think you run this town? You live your life like a cowboy movie?” Kirk asks. The two men are glaring at each other. Right up in each other’s faces. Their noses are nearly touching now.
“Reed, stop…” I try again, this time I place a hand on his shoulder and try to pull him off. He shrugs me off.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Kirk hisses.
For one moment, it seems like they know each other. The vibe between them isn’t that of two random strangers having a fight. This feels personal, somehow. What is going on?
“Do you know each other?” I ask, raising my voice so they can hear me.
“I don’t know him,” Reed grunts and finally releases his collar.
Kirk straightens up, wiping down the front of his shirt.
“Yeah, I don’t know him either,” he says.
“Get in your car and drive away before I make you do it,” Reed says, still growling.
“Just stop, you two, please!”
“Is he the guy?” Kirk asks, pointing at Reed with his thumb while grinning at me.
I can feel Reed’s eyes on me. He’s glaring.
“Of course he is,” Kirk adds when I don’t reply.
“What are you talking about?” Reed asks, but Kirk is already getting into the car, shaking his head like he’s hearing a silent joke in his head.
“Sounds to me like you and this lady here have some talking to do first, right, Ella?” Kirk gives me a wink, and I feel sick to my stomach. Why is he doing this? Why is he behaving this way? I can see he is being purposely provocative.
I watch as he gets in the car and drives away without another look at me. Reed is facing me now, and I can’t make myself meet his eyes.
“You want to tell me what’s going on, Ella?” he asks.
When I do look at him, I can feel something burning inside me. My hands are shaking too. This is too much. I’ve had enough.
“Just leave me alone,” I say.
Reed has followed me up the stairs to my apartment.
“Who was that guy and what was he talking about?”
I don’t answer. I open the door and let him follow me in. It’s clear that he wants to have an argument, but I don’t want to do it out there where all my neighbors can hear and see. Besides, I don’t really want him to leave yet. I have some questions of my own too.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” he growls, throwing his arms apart.
“What makes you think you can barge back into my life whenever you want and demand answers? Why should I even talk to you? You are always the one making the rules. You hire me for a job, then dismiss me when you’re done. You make me go with you to Bridgeville. Propose this ridiculous idea where we act like we’re married, and then, when the weekend is over, you’ve forgotten all about it. Then you tell me to stay away from you. What do you want from me? Do you see how confusing this is for me? I can’t do it anymore, Reed. I refuse to do it anymore.”
My shoulders heave. I’m shaking all over. I have been trying so hard to keep it together for the sake of the baby, but I don’t think I can anymore. He is staring at me like he is in disbelief too. He wasn’t expecting this outburst.
“Ella…” he comes towards me, his voice has softened now.
I step away, shaking my head.
“What do you want, Reed? Why are you here?”
He rubs a hand over his face. All of a sudden, he looks like he has aged a decade. He looks like a defeated man. There is nothing I want to do more than throw my arms around him and kiss his neck and smell the warm, comforting scent of him.
But I have to hold strong. I have to change my life around. I’m done having my future decided by someone else.
“I don’t know why I’m here. I honestly don’t know. I just wanted to see you, and I guess I shouldn’t have turned up here like this,” he continues.
“No, you shouldn’t have. I am not a part of your life