Tyler
Istare in confusion at Brooklyn before leaving the stage.
What the hell is she doing?
I don’t wait for her to find me after the auction. I change out of this ridiculous outfit and grab my bag, heading out to the parking lot.
“So when do I get to collect my date?”
Her voice stops me in my tracks and I turn around to see her batting her eyelashes at me. She has a curl wrapped around one finger and a hip cocked to the side.
Normally, I’d say something back about how nice her tits look, but right now I can feel my anger about to boil over.
“The fuck was that in there?”
She’s clearly taken aback by my abrupt tone.
“Uh, it’s for a charity, so doesn’t really matter who won. The money is going to a good cause.”
I shake my head. “Then why didn’t you bid on anyone else?”
“What? I just thought—”
“Thought what? That this is how you’d get me?”
“Get you? What are you talking about?”
“Is this why you convinced me to do this? So you could bet on me and win so you could date me?”
She scoffs. “Seriously? You really do think highly of yourself, don’t you?” She rolls her eyes. “You’ve made it abundantly clear that—”
“Then why didn’t you bid on anyone else?” I say the words slowly and deliberately.
She stares at me, blinking a few times.
“That’s what I thought. Like you said, I’ve made it clear, but I’m gonna make it crystal this time: I’m not your man, your boyfriend, or your friend.”
“Why are you such a fucking dick?” she spits the words at me as a stray tear falls down her cheek.
“Because I’m not just some fun pastime for you. I won’t be a cowboy fantasy you get out of your system before you run back to Chicago and act like I never existed. I told you from the jump that this was nothing—just fucking.”
I turn and grab the handle of my truck door and yank it open harder than necessary.
“You’re just scared. Who broke your heart, Tyler? Was it the redhead?”
I slowly turn back around to face her.
“Yeah, I know about her. Selma.” She juts her chin out and crosses her arms like she’s caught me in a lie.
“Yeah and . . . ? There’s no secret there. I never hid her or anyone from you. It’s none of your fucking business anyway.”
“It’s my business if you’re still sleeping with her. Especially since we are.”
“Well, we aren’t anymore. I don’t want a relationship with you and you need to stop trying to fix me or change my mind.”
She crinkles the ticket she received for winning my auction and throws it at my feet, her eyes now swimming in tears.
“Oh, I’m aware you don’t want anything with me. I was just your little—what’d you call it—fuck toy? Go to hell, Tyler.”