Page 115 of Keep My Heart
‘Yeah? So let him come over. I’m not afraid of him.’ She sticksher chest out and holds her head up higher. She’s drunk, which isn’t a good frame of mind to be in when confronting her ex-husband.
‘Shit, he saw us,’ Diane says.
We all watch as Chris makes his way over to us. Nobody else seems to notice him. I don’t think they recognize him. I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t seen Diane staring at him. I could tell by the look on her face it was him.
He smiles as he approaches our table. ‘How’s everyone doing?’
‘Great, until you showed up,’ Diane mutters.
‘Hey, Chris.’ I turn to him. ‘It’s been awhile.’
He looks at me, squinting a little. ‘Do I know you?’
‘Nick. Nick Kanfield.’
‘No shit?’ He stands back, looking me up and down. ‘Damn, I never would’ve guessed. You were so scrawny back in high school.’
‘He wasn’t scrawny,’ Lyndsay says, putting her arm around mine. ‘He just didn’t have all these muscles back then.’ She smiles at me.
Is she trying to piss off Chris? I don’t care if he knows I’m dating Lyndsay, but I’m not going to rub it in his face. I’m not looking to get into a fight tonight, but if I did fight him, I’d definitely win. I’m taller than him and I’ve got a lot more strength. He’s so fat and flabby, it wouldn’t even be a fair fight. Why didn’t Lyndsay tell me he looked like this? Was she too embarrassed?
‘What’s going on here?’ Chris says to Lyndsay. ‘You trying to get with Nick? You really that desperate?’
Okay, that’s it. I was trying to be nice, trying to remain calm, trying to be a gentleman, but I’m not letting him insult me.
I take my arm from Lyndsay’s and step up to Chris. ‘You want to say that again or should we step outside?’
‘Nick, don’t,’ Lyndsay says, coming up behind me. ‘Let’s just go.’
‘You two are leaving together?’ Chris looks past me to Diane. ‘Help me out here, Diane. Tell me why the fuck my wife is with Nick.’
Diane gets up. ‘She’s not your wife anymore, and what she does or who she does it with is none of your business.’
‘Like hell it isn’t!’ Chris looks at Lyndsay. ‘We got divorced last week, and you’re telling me you’re already with someone else?’ He points to me. ‘Have you been fucking him behind my back? Is that why you asked for a divorce?’
‘No! You really think I’d cheat on you?’
‘Okay, this is getting out of hand,’ Tom says, coming around the table to Chris. ‘Why don’t we go get a drink? What do you like?’
Chris rears back. ‘Who the fuck are you?’
‘He’s my husband,’ Diane says. ‘And he was trying to be nice, but obviously, that doesn’t work with you. Just get out of here, Chris.’
‘I’m not leaving until I know what’s going on here. Why is Kanfield with my wife?’
‘She’s not your wife,’ I say. ‘And if you don’t—’
‘Nick and I are dating,’ Lyndsay blurts out. She steps up to Chris. ‘You and I are divorced. It’s final. I can be with whoever I want.’
‘And you’re choosinghim? Kanfield? The nerd who tutored you in math? Seriously?’
‘I am, and I don’t care what you think of him. It doesn’t matter. You don’t get to have a say in my life anymore. We’re over, and I’m asking you to please, just leave me alone.’
Chris looks at me, then back at Lyndsay. ‘I don’t even knowwho the fuck you are anymore.’ He storms off to the bar to get a drink.
‘Are you okay?’ Diane asks, holding Lyndsay’s arm.
‘I’m fine. I just can’t believe he showed up.’
