Two reasons I wouldn’t let this random display of girl aggression affect me. Number one, I was with a student, which meant I couldn’t reach into my box of who-the-fuck-do-you-think-you-are. Number two, I teach middle school. If those girls can’t goad me into a cat fight, nobody can.
This person was testing my patience. A smidge.
A young, familiar voice called out from behind Crop-top, and I looked to see Sophia standing there with a wide smile.
“All good, Duchamp, let’s get back to it.” Sophia said, and with an ever-present pep to her step, she turned to head back. Sneery Crop-top seemed to scoff before turning away and heading the opposite direction.
Part of me wished she would have tried something. I was in the mood to finish it.
The rest of my shift was uneventful. The next round of volunteers arrived, but after seeing I had no messages from Carter by the end of it, I decided to stay and hangout during the next shift. I really liked Vicky, so it wasn’t a hardship.
However, I did get hungry, so I went to the little food stand for some grub. The line was packed with people, local and those traveling to check out the bands playing today. When I saw a flash of vibrant red, I knew it meant a certain sneery woman was waiting in line a couple people in front of me.Crop-top.
I rolled my eyes and got my phone out to see if my favorite work-in-progress novel had been updated yet on my go-to reading app.Nada.I decided to go back and read through what was there again when someone called out, “Tay!” I whipped my head up and around so fast I about gave myself whiplash.
There, at the stand where we pick up the food, was Sneery-top.
You have got to be fucking kidding me.
When she reached for the food, the worker asked, “Tay?”
“Yeah, that’s me.” She said with a low raspy voice.
Mother fucking of course.It washer.
I turned back to my phone and stood frozen in indecision. I didn’t know how to play this. Then an achingly familiar voice called from the other side of her, and my heart broke a bit more.
Carter.
I ducked quickly out of line and stood behind a group of girls gabbing about something, and I watched him. Watched them.
He stood close and leaned down even closer when she touched his arm, food in hand, and pressed into him. She tilted her head up and said something almost directly into his ear, and he threw his head back and laughed. Then he reached up and pushed her hair behind her ear. It was gentle, intimate.
She stayed pressed up against him, and helether.
He was having a private moment with a woman in the middle of a town event where people knew us. They especially knew him. Hegrew uphere.
Humiliation burned through me. I needed to go. I was either going to go batshit crazy, or I needed to get out. The asshole remained by Croptop’s side, and I booked it back to the booth.
I gave my goodbyes, got my shit, and left. There was nothing left for me there.
?????
The familiar rumble of his truck filled me with dread. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as the sound died out. The slamming of his door echoed through my mind.Time was running out.I wasn’t going to accuse. I was going to ask. Just a simple question, and possibly some follow up questions. Nothing pointed. Nothing tohint at the turmoil threading through every cell of my body. He was going to bury himself, or maybe have a chance at saving himself.
Carter came through the door and dumped his boots in the middle of the floor. He stood there for a moment, staring at the floor with his hands tucked into his pockets. I watched as his shoulders rose up andfell back down in a deep shaky breath, and I watched as he seemed to paste a smile on his face.
I quickly looked away, and kept typing at my computer. I closed the tab with rentals available.
He dragged himself up to me and dropped a kiss to the top of my head.
“Hey, love. I missed you today.” He said, low and quiet.
“Hmm.” I responded, noncommittal.
First question. Stupidly, painfully, hard first question. “What kept you this time?” A question I’ve asked so often, he had no reason to flinch.
He did.
