Chapter 32
Just Part Of The Game
I stand behind the of crowd little people, leaning on a concession trailer, watching Adrian get situated on the unstable, toddler-sized, seat of the tank. He changed into swim trunks, but unfortunately he’s wearing a shirt. I was looking forward to ogling him without a shirt.
The first kid, who looks like he's about eight years old, nails the target with his first throw. Adrian wasn't paying attention, so his fall is extremely ungraceful. Everyone erupts in laughter, but of course, Adrian is not embarrassed. No, instead he makes the whole event into the Adrian Show. He strikes a new pose for each student, looking more ridiculous each time. Within minutes, half of the carnival attendees are either in line to dunk him, or nearby watching. I have to admit, he is entertaining.
I laugh at one of the kids taunting him, at the same time a man next to me does the same. I hadn't realized he was there and my automatic response is to turn and smile in greeting.
He returns the smile, his face crinkling under his rough stubble. His deep brown eyes meet mine, as he lifts his chin in the universal man speak for hello. I smile again before I take in the rest of him. His T-shirt fits snugly around his muscular biceps, his black hair is cut short and he has an industrial piercing in his right ear.
When I realize he's speaking, I ask, "I'm sorry, what?"
He smiles again. "I asked if you're a parent?"
"Oh hell no," I answer, wrinkling my nose. I snap my mouth closed, realizing he may be a parent and I’ve offended him. "I'm sorry. I meant that I'm not ready to have kids," I say, not adding that I never will be.
He chuckles. "Don't apologize. I used to say I would never have kids, then she came along."
He dips his chin in the direction of a girl standing in line for the bounce house. She's wearing a blue and white striped cotton dress over black leggings, and she looks about six or seven.
He reaches out his hand. "I'm Brian."
I return the handshake. "Keegan." I nod toward the now dripping wet and shivering Adrian. "I'm here with him."
"Mr. Elliott?" He sounds surprised.
I don't answer because I notice Adrian is practically glaring at Brian. He looks ridiculous in his soggy clothes, sitting on a tiny seat, hovering over three feet of water, trying to look intimidating. He shifts his gaze to me, and waves for me to come over to him, but I ignore him, turning back to Brian. I can tell, by the look in his eyes, he’s flipped to jealous Adrian. I’m only making small talk with this guy, plus this is no place for Adrian to act like a fool.
Brian begins to ask me a question, but he’s interrupted by Adrian, who is now yelling for me… over a crowd of a hundred people. I slowly turn, narrowing my eyes at him, but my threatening glare does nothing to deter him. He waves once, then points down in front of the dunk tank, beckoning me. I close my eyes and rub my face. This is going to be humiliating. Maybe I should turn and find my way back to the car, to avoid the entire scene. When I hear Adrian yell my name again, I know I need to get him in check before he loses his student teaching position.
I give Brian a tight smile. “I need to go see what he needs,” then whirl around to start walking in Adrian’s direction.
I’m stopped by Adrian yelling at me again. “Bring your new friend. We need another volunteer for the tank. The next guy is a no-show.”
There’s a guy standing beside the tank who says something to Adrian, but Adrian waves him off and gives him a shut-the-hell-up look. Everyone—teachers, parents, and students—within hearing distance, go quiet, listening to the idiot on the tiny seat, yelling across the crowd.
Honest to God, honest to God, I’m gonna drag him outta here by his nipple. I’ve had to socialize with catty cougars, was called a witch by a five-year-old, and now he’s making me the center of attention.
I turn to tell Brian he doesn’t have to go, but he’s already started walking toward the scene of the future nipple attack. I drop my head, hoping to get through this without too much humiliation.
When I get close, Adrian gestures toward me, then begins his latest show. “Hey everyone, this is my fiancé, Keegan.”
Everyone in the crowd twists their necks to check out the girl who must be insane if she agreed to marry the crazy man.
Adrian, wearing a challenging smile, gestures toward Brian. “Come on up, we need another volunteer.”
Brian holds up a hand, declining the offer. “I didn’t bring a suit.”
I watch as Adrian climbs down from his perch and takes a towel off the table next to him. He rubs the towel over his head, then begins drying himself as he’s walking toward me. I can see that angry Adrian has replaced jealous Adrian. He wraps his arm around my waist and throws the towel over his shoulder. "Hey baby, sorry that took so long.”
His voice is stiff, sounding anything but apologetic.
I nudge him with my elbow to get his attention because he’s staring at Brian, looking extremely possessive.
“This is Brian,” I say nodding at the attractive man who is now on the receiving end of my pretend boyfriend's death glare. "He has a daughter who goes to school here." I need him to remember he’s at the school, where he student teaches, and he should not start a pissing match with a parent.
Adrian continues to stare at Brian.
"Actually, she's in your class. Madison?" Brian says, offering his hand to Adrian.
With a tight smile and a nod, Adrian replies without shaking his hand. "She's a good kid." Then he transitions quickly into, "Did Keegan mention that were engaged?"
Forget nudging him, this time I elbow him right in the stomach. He grunts and covers his side with his hand that's not wrapped around my waist.
He coughs once but manages to quickly regain his fake affection. “She's got a bit of a violent side, but we’re in counseling to work through that."
I look from my pretend boyfriend to Brian. "I'm sorry, can you excuse us?"
I can tell Brian is trying to hide his amusement, so I assume he realizes I’m dealing with an overgrown teenager here, and I'm not some abusive woman… although… I kind of am. In all fairness, Adrian brings it out in me. Most people I merely threaten to hurt, but with him, I skip the threat and go straight for the pain.
"What the hell is your problem?" I hiss at Adrian as I spin on my heel and begin walking toward the car.
Several people are still watching us, probably hoping for more of a show.
"Me?” he asks, sounding pissed. “You're the one who’s over here making out with a complete stranger while your fiancé was being tortured by a bunch of small children."
"I swear Adrian, you have more of an imagination than… well, a bunch of kindergarteners," I say, choosing the obvious comparison.
Still wet, wearing his swim trunks, and a towel over his shoulder, Adrian begins to stomp past me. I grab his arm and wave in the general direction of his wet clothes. He mutters, “Shit,” then goes to get his clothes.
I lean on the car, waiting for him, stewing in my anger. When we’re both in the car, I twist in my seat to face him. “Don’t do that again,” I snap. “Even if I were your real girlfriend, I wasn’t doing anything wrong, and you know it. Don’t make me look like an ass because you think it’s a fun part of this little game.”
Adrian stares at me, jaw muscle twitching. “Right, just part of the game,” he bites out.
***
Adrian
I clench my jaw and grip the steering wheel hard. I force myself to stare ahead at the road, knowing if I look at Keegan right now, I’ll tell her every goddamn feeling I have for her. I understand she’s not able to admit how she feels. Having her dad leave, brother die, and boyfriend walk away, has definitely left scars for her to cope with.
Of course, she doesn’t know I know about the boyfriend… or the baby. No, that’s info the investigator found, and now that I know, I wish I didn’t.
We’ve been doing this ridiculous dance for over a month now, and it’s time she admits to herself, and me, that this is more than some fucking game. Yeah, I probably overreacted when I saw her talking to that douche. If she’d give me something, some reason to believe she’s not gonna run from this, then maybe I wouldn’t be so jealous… maybe.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, sorting through my warring emotions. Do I come out and tell her how I feel, or would that be the signature on the death certificate of this relationship?
Keegan starts to say something, but the ringing of my phone cuts her off. It’s lying face down, on the console. When I pick it up to check the caller I.D., I see it’s my dad. My body tenses, and I drop the phone back down, ignoring the call. I don’t fucking need his shit right now. I’m assuming it’s his weekly call, to remind me of his stipulations. His ass can wait.
A few seconds after the ringing stops, it begins again.
I mutter, “Fuck,” and slap the wheel. Never looking at Keegan, I answer the call.
“Hello,” I say, grinding my teeth.
I turn onto our street as my father slurs in my ear. I glance at the clock. It’s four o’clock on a Saturday, and he’s drunk. Yet another reminder why my brothers can never go back to live with him.