Page 21 of Pity Present

“We met this afternoon,” Kyle says. “We were both out walking.”

“You told a complete stranger that you left me for another woman?” Well, this is embarrassing. It’s also not something I would have ever thought Kyle would cop to. The man I knew wasn’t particularly keen on taking responsibility for actions that made him look less than stellar. Case in point, he told all of our mutual friends that our breakup was a joint decision.

Addressing Blake, Kyle asks, “Would you mind giving us a minute?”

Apparently, Blake does mind because he stands riveted to his spot. I’m glad too, because I think I might enjoy having a witness while I rail against Kyle for wasting so much of my time. Having an audience will embarrass him more.

Barely controlling my anger, I announce, “I’m not sorry Amelia left you, Kyle. In fact, it’s exactly what you deserve. And while I no longer fantasize about you getting run over by a semi-truck, I really don’t think there’s any point to you and me talking.”

“You wanted to kill me?” He looks appropriately chagrined.

“Not personally,” I tell him. “In my fantasies, I liked to be on the sidelines watching you meet your end.”Your grizzly, untimely, painful demise, you big turd.

Kyle’s complexion turns a dingy sort of grey. “Oh.”

I continue, “I’m not sure how many of these mixers I’m going to attend, but I’d like to make it clear that you are to avoid me like I’m the bubonic plague and you’re a midwife. Because that’s how I see you.”

“You see me as a midwife?” He sounds genuinely confused.

“No, you get to be the bubonic plague.”

“I suppose it’s too late to say I’m sorry then.” If I didn’t hate Kyle quite so much, I’d almost feel some compassion for him.

“Not at all,” I answer. “In fact, I’d very much like to hear your apology.” It won’t do me any good now, but I find I’m quite enjoying my ex’s discomfort.

Taking a deep breath, Kyle says, “I’m so sorry, Molly. From the bottom of my heart, you deserved better than what I did to you, and there’s no excuse that would justify my past behavior.”

Darn if he doesn’t sound sincere. But I’m not about to let him off the hook. “Better late than never, I suppose,” I tell him. Then for good measure, I add, “Now, stay away from me.”

Kyle’s gaze shifts from me to Blake and then back to me. “If that’s what you want.” I nod my head once, which is all the energy I deign to expend on his behalf. I can't believe I let Kyle scare me away from dating, and I'm really starting to resent him for that.

Kyle turns to walk away but Blake does not follow suit. Instead, he steps closer to me. “That was brutal,” he finally says.

I take a giant step to the side to regain my personal space. “What was brutal?”

“Kyle and you. You know, the whole leaving you for another woman thing?”

In attempt to recoup my dignity, I tell him, “It’s over and done. Kyle doesn’t mean anything to me anymore.”

“Yeah, but still. It must have been a shock at the time.”

“A shock?” I ask before saying, “Yeah, it was a shock, but you know what they say, don’t you?” He shakes his head, so I tell him, “All’s fair in love and war.”

“It sounds like you’re defending the guy.” Blake sounds surprised.

“No. I’m not defending him. But Kyle did teach me a valuable lesson.”

“What’s that?”

“He taught me trust is something that needs to be earned. I gave him my trust too easily, and I won’t make that mistake again.”

Blake looks at me questioningly while continuing to stare at me like he’s trying to see inside of my brain. “People do have to earn trust,” he says, “but at some point, you have to take things on faith.”

The first thought that comes to mind is that Blake is simply too good-looking to be here which makes me not trust him. But then again, who’s to say gorgeous men have an easy time dating? Maybe women throw themselves at him and he isn’t finding the quality of person that he’s after.

I remain quiet for long enough that Blake breaks the silence by asking, “So, you still want that double gin with a tequila chaser?”

I snort in response. “No, but I wouldn’t mind a glass of red wine if they have it.”

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