“I’m not sure how something that has been around since 2000 and has millions of participants can be considered a fad.”
“I just hate all of those people who act like CrossFit is the best thing that’s ever been invented. Like anyone really cares how many burpees you can do or how much weight you can jerk.”
“Speaking of jerks, I thought I told you not to be an asshole.”
“You told me to try not to be one.”
“What’s your problem? You tell me you want to meet up so you can apologize, and I agree only to show up and have you be a complete dick for no reason?” Her face flushed as anger started to flood into her. Now we were on a level playing field.
“I’m being a dick for voicing my opinions? Aren’t you a teacher? Shouldn’t you be encouraging people to speak their minds?”
“Oh, you want us to speak our minds? No problem, playboy. Just let me order a drink, and maybe dinner and dessert, since I’ll probably be here a while. I have plenty to say to you.” She motioned to the bartender and ordered a gin and tonic.
What a bitch! She’d ordered that drink on purpose; I knew she had.
When the bartender set it down in front of her, she brought it up to her lips, but turned toward me before taking a sip. “What’s the matter, Max? Bring back memories?”
I was immediately transported back to the plane. Back to how good it had felt to touch her, hear her breathing quicken, watch her chest rise and fall. I had even been turned on when she’d told the flight attendant to ignore the drink I’d ordered for her and to bring a gin and tonic instead. She’d been so pigheaded. I knew right away that I had to have her. It was this memory that reminded me of how much I had loved her once. But the way she threw this memory in my face made me hate her in that moment. “No good ones,” I retorted bitterly.
Lily’s face showed no sign that my comment had stung her, but I knew it had. Because I knew her. Better than anyone.
“So, what did you tell loverboy you were doing tonight? Since I’m sure you haven't suddenly developed a penchant for truth-telling in the past five months, I bet you came up with something interesting.” I hadn’t even thought about Adam until this moment. I was sure they had worked things out, but I hadn’t dwelled on it. And I’d been so consumed with thoughts of her for the past couple of weeks, that he hadn’t sparked a single moment of brain activity. Until now. Because now, I was bordering on rage, and the thought of him with Lily amplified it. I was starting to feel like Carrie at the prom, capable of wiping out every living being in this bar if it would make me feel better.
She drew back a little at my comment, and stared at me as though she were trying to figure something out. “Why would I tell him anything?” I could hear the caution in her voice.
She’s probably worried I’m having us filmed so that I can send him the footage. Damn. That actually would’ve been a good idea. “I guess you wouldn’t. Lying by omission is probably preferable to lying outright.”
“He doesn’t care where I am, Max. I have no reason to lie. I haven’t even spoken to him since April.”
Wait . . . What did she just say? “You’re not with Adam?” My question had sounded more eager than I’d meant for it to.
She shook her head slowly as her eyes bore into me.
“Oh,” I said flippantly. “I guess I just assumed you were still together.” I didn’t want her to know how thrown I was by this information. I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt about it, but I definitely felt something. Relief maybe?
“Why the hell would you assume that? After the shit you pulled, what would ever make you think that he’d want to see me again?” She leaned slightly toward me, making it clear that she had no intention of backing down.
“The shit that I pulled?” My voice was louder and strained as I tried to resist the urge to scream at her. “You’re fucking delusional, you know that? Everything that happened was shit you set in motion. He doesn’t want to talk to you because he isn't interested in associating with deceitful liars who fuck people over for the fun of it.” I knew that calling her a liar again would piss her off even more, but I didn’t care.
I waited for her to run away sobbing like a typical girl would have. But as she looked me up and down in disgust, I remembered why I had always been so drawn to Lily. She wasn’t like typical girls.