Page 45 of My Curvy Rival

“Yeah, you’d love that,” he spits out. “How does it feel to be so self-important? To get everything handed to you?”

“What did I get, Kai, that I didn’t work for?” I question, rising to stand, and face him head-on.

“You had a father!”

“Are you kidding me? He wasn’t much of one. You were only two when he left, and you built him up in your head to be something he wasn’t. But don’t use the absence of a father to justify your actions. Grow the fuck up. Life throws shit at us sometimes, and we have to figure it out.”

“What have you ever had to figure out?”

That comment boils my blood. “I almost lost everything. Do you fucking remember that? Do you feel any remorse? Or is that what you wanted?”

“Fuck you! I was twenty-one. I made a mistake, it happens. But you bounced back. You’ve got a career. What do I have?”

His deniability infuriates me more, but I work to keep my voice beneath a shout. “You’re so good at letting yourself off the hook, absolving yourself of responsibility, and playing the victim. You blame your actions on me because I had a father and you didn’t. This presentation is just another example. Instead of accepting that Jazz has no romantic feelings for you like an adult should, you’re here taking out your hurt feelings or bruised ego in some pathetic attempt to destroy what she’s built.”

He reels back a step, his eyes hardening. “Who said she doesn’t have romantic feelings for me?”

Damn it! I didn’t want to get into any of this or tell him about Jazz in the heat of an argument. But it’s out now, and both of us will have to deal with it. “Jazz and I are together. We’re seeing each other.”

“What?” He shakes his head as if he must have misheard.

“I was going to tell you this evening.”

“You’re the other guy?” he seethes.

“This isn’t how I wanted to tell you.”

“I just bet. You knew I liked her and went after her.”

“No,” I say, trying to remain calm given his agitation. “I had no idea how you felt about her until dinner on Sunday.”

He smirks without humour. “You must have been laughing inside to hear me say I loved her while you already had her. Brother Grim wins again.”

“It’s not a competition, Kai.”

“You can say that because you always come out on top.”

I heave a sigh. “I think we should continue this conversation outside of work and when we’re not so heated.”

“Oh, Mr. Cool, Calm, and Collected, Mr. Perfect wants to have a nice civilized conversation about stealing the woman I wanted.”

“I didn’t steal her. Jazz was never yours.”

I don’t see it coming until his fist connects with my nose, filling my mouth with the metallic taste of blood. I manage to dodge the next strike and grab his wrist, twisting him around and pinning his arm behind his back. “I don’t want to fight you, Kai. So calm down.”

“I hate you!” he spews, struggling to break free. “I fucking hate you!”

I hold onto him, but loosen my grip. He pulls away and storms out of my office, leaving the gym.

My office is a glass fishbowl that faces the workout area. Thankfully, the only witness to our altercation is Raj, who has just arrived for the evening shift. He brings in a damp towel and an ice pack. “Doesn’t look broken,” he says. “But it’s going to bruise like a bitch.”

CHAPTER 23

Jazz

I’M ABOUT TO BURST! THE Urban Dance Academy of Toronto contacted me about auditioning for a role in their new ballet adaptation of “West Side Story”—one of my all-time favourite musicals. I had sent them a tape over a year ago, before starting up Fab Fitness, and had pretty much given up hope of anything coming from it. But now the possibility is back. If it works out—fingers and toes crossed—I’ll have to juggle my classes and hire another instructor, which I’d been considering anyway. Of course, there’s always the chance of rejection, but at least it won’t be based on my size, since they already knew what I looked like before reaching out.

Eek! The idea of performing on stage again has me so stoked. I immediately shared the news with Zay, and we squealed like kids on Christmas morning. I decided to wait to tell Leo in person. I know he’ll be thrilled for me.

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