Total lie. The entire upstairs, all four bedrooms, are just fine. But I am not about to correct him. Ty turns to him again. “Wow. You know a lot about your neighbors. Are you a fucking stalker or something?”
Holden chuffs. “I’m the contractor. It’s my renovation project.”
“Contractor and neighbor?”
Holden gives him the coldest, darkest smirk I’ve ever seen. It says Fuck you, douchebag better than words ever could. “I’m a lot of things. Most importantly, I’m the guy who isn’t going to leave until you do. And you are leaving. Willingly or not.”
“Jesus, enough with the threats, asshole,” Ty snaps and turns back to me. “I’m going to find a motel, but I will be back. I deserve more than this from you, Win.”
He turns and Holden gracefully steps aside as Ty storms out of the house. A few seconds later he’s in his rental speeding down the street. I stare at his taillights until they’re gone, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Did he hurt you?” Holden asks and reaches up and stills my hand. I didn’t realize I was still rubbing my arm where Ty had gripped it.
“No. Not really,” I say softly. “I think I’m just in shock. He’s never done that before.”
Holden stares at me intently. I can see some kind of war being waged behind those spectacular eyes that are more sky blue than silver in the yellow light shining down on us. He sighs and rubs his beard pensively as he breaks the eye contact, looking out toward his trailer. “Look, I know I’m the last person you want to get advice from and, trust me, I’m usually the last one to give it. But any guy who would do that, at any point in a relationship, isn’t a good guy.”
“I know.”
He looks at me again. I can tell there’s more he wants to say, but all he responds with is a nod. “Good.”
Before I can thank him for stepping in and for not pounding Ty into oblivion, which would have only made everything worse, he swings open the screen door and disappears down the stairs, across the lawn and into his trailer.
I barely sleep all night and the next morning just before seven, I text Ty to see if he’s awake. He is. He’s at a motel a half mile away in Old Orchard Beach. I ask him to meet me at a small diner near there and then I shower quickly, get dressed, throw my wet hair in a bun and head out the door. Holden’s trailer is still dark. The one time I wish he was up early, he’s not. Of course. I really want to see him and thank him. I sigh and walk toward Old Orchard Beach.
As I open the door to the diner, I see Ty in a booth at the back. He seems far less angry and much more resigned. And exhausted. He looks absolutely spent. I know, as our eyes meet, that he’s accepted this. Finally.
We spend about an hour holding coffees we don’t drink, talking out everything. The good, the bad and the ugly. He’s still upset. I’m still sorry. But we both know it’s over. A few hours later when we’re ready to leave, it’s started raining lightly. More of a mist really, but Ty offers to drive me home and I really don’t want to walk.
When he pulls to stop in front of the cottage I start to unclip my seatbelt, but he stops me, placing a gentle hand over mine. I look up at him. “I’m sorry. For yesterday. For everything.”
“I know. I believe you,” I tell him. “I’m sorry too.”
“I hope things work out for you,” he says quietly.
“I hope they do for you too,” I reply and then, as he lets go of my hand and I release my seatbelt, I reach across the seat and hug him lightly. “Bye, Ty.”
“If you change your mind…,” he says, but he doesn’t finish the sentence and I don’t reply. I simply get out of the car. I hear him pulling away as I climb the porch stairs. As soon as I open the screen door, I’m shocked to see Holden standing there, staring at me with a scowl on his face.
“Hey,” I say.
“You’re with him again?” Holden asks, clearly not happy with it. “After last night?”
“I was just—”
He storms by me. “Forget it. I don’t care. You had self-esteem issues when you were a kid and clearly you still do if you think that type of guy is the best you can get. But whatever. Not my business.”
He marches out the door and stomps down the steps. I walk up to the screen and call through it. “You’re right. It’s not your business! So do your job and leave me alone.”
He slams his trailer door. I turn, march into the house and slam the front door. Who the hell does he think he is? Yes, I had self-esteem issues when I was a kid. Who doesn’t? I was too tall, too skinny, with bad skin and bad hair. Big deal. Who is he to judge me? Maybe if he hadn’t picked on all my weaknesses, I wouldn’t have had so many self-esteem issues. Fuck that jerk. I could march over there and explain to him I was simply saying good-bye to the only real boyfriend I’ve ever had and that civilized people do that, but he doesn’t deserve to know the truth. He probably wouldn’t understand it anyway.
I glance through the window toward the trailer.
Neanderthal. I hope this renovation goes smoothly so I can rid myself of this asshole as soon as possible.
7
Holden
