Page 25 of Breaking the Ice

“I don't care. I'm fed up. Let's go play pool.”

“Pool sounds good. Let's get out of here.” I don't even try to fight my way through to Jess, who is still occupied by guests. Instead, I send her a text message:

*I'm out, see you later.

Then we make our exit. Parker and I are descending the few steps in front of the brick building when the double doors behind us swing open.

“What's going on here? You're not really making a run for it, are you?” Durand stands at the top of the staircase, a smug grin on his face.

“Get lost,” I say, but the Canadian doesn't back off. He walks alongside us and positions himself in front of me at the foot of the stairs.

“Are you deaf or something? I told you to get lost,” Parker hisses. I can see a muscle in his cheek twitching with anger. Durand remains unfazed, sporting nothing but a mocking grin.

“Poor Jess will be pretty sad when she finds out you've bolted.”

“I didn't bolt,” I reply, unfazed.

“Oh, so you just got tired of her art then? You really have no clue about women.”

That earns him a scoff from me. “You think so? Well, as far as I know, I have a girlfriend, while you recently got shown up by our masseuse.” I know Emma is a sore spot for him, and it's evident in his expression. “Now get out of my way.” With that, I shove him aside with the back of my arm and continue walking with Parker. I can hear Durand emit a contemptuous snort behind us.

“Don't try to play the big shot, Whyler. You'd have gotten shot down just the same by Emma. No one lands that arrogant witch. She doesn't even spread her legs with candy. But hey, you think you're something special, right?”

Candy? I abruptly stop in my tracks. “Whyler, ignore the jerk. Let's go,” Parker urges. But it's too late, all alarms are blaring inside me. Candy – I'm sure that's the Canadian term for drugs. The evening at the Brillant comes to mind when Emma seemed so out of it. I swallow hard, force myself to stay calm as I turn to face him.

“What did you just say?”

“I said that you think you're something special.” Durand struts towards me with swaggering steps. “But let me tell you something, you're not. You…”

“What did you mean by candy?” His furrowed brow shows he has no clue what I'm getting at. “Durand, did you give Emma drugs?” A volcano is about to erupt inside me.

“What?”

“Answer Whyler's question! Did you give Emma drugs?” In the corner of my eye, I see Parker step up beside me. Now he seems to have grasped the situation as well.

“And what if I did? Man, loosen up, you prudes. I just slipped the little one half a pill in her Long Island. A bit of good mood, that's all. What's the big deal? I had a bet to win, after all.” Durand doesn't see my fist coming. He's completely unprepared when it hits him on his damn face. I feel his hard jaw beneath my knuckles, hear it crack. My right is followed by my left, burying itself in his stomach and eliciting a choked squeak from him. Durand's legs give way, folding him like a wet sack.

This miserable piece of shit deserves it! I'm going to finish him!

Parker's voice reaches my ears as if from a distant place. He's calling my name, but I don't care. This bastard here drugged Emma! I lean down to him, claw my fingers into his white polo shirt, ready to deliver the next blow. But before my fist can thunder into his face, I'm yanked back. Slim arms wrap around my upper body from behind, holding me back. I struggle, having only one desire: to beat the shit out of Durand.

“Caleb, calm down. Caleb, damn it!” Parker is trying to soothe me from behind. “Come on, buddy. Stop it, pull yourself together.”

For someone so slender, he's surprisingly strong. He manages to hold me back enough for Durand to scramble to his feet and put some distance between us.

“You goddamn asshole!” I scream at him, ready to throw myself at Durand again, when a voice makes me pause.

“Caleb!” It's Jess. “For heaven's sake, what is going on here?” The horror in her voice makes me calm down. “Caleb, I need to know what's happening!” she urges, as I don't respond but instead glare at Durand with a look full of hatred.

“It's alright. I just gave this loser a beating,” I explain quietly.

“Pah, loser,” Durand taunts and spits blood beside him onto the pavement. “I only see one loser here. And that's you, Whyler.” His hand points up at Jess, who stands at the entrance, while his hateful gaze remains fixed on me. “You can't even be honest with your girlfriend. Playing like you love her, while you chase after Emma.”

“The masseuse?” Jessica's voice sounds panicked.

“That's right, isn't it? The slut completely twisted your mind, didn't she?” As he calls Emma a slut, I try to free myself from Parker's arms once more.

“You're digging your own grave here,” my buddy warns, to which Durand only spits on the ground again.

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