“What did you want?” I asked. “I just got in. I didn’t have time to do anything.”
“Darius paid me a visit,” he said, sounding calm. “When he first walked in, I thought it was because you had told him what was going on between Shay and me.”
I shook my head, wishing I had my phone on me. There was a powerful urge to message Darius and Shay, though I didn’t know what to say to Darius about it. “I wouldn’t tell him,” I finally admitted. “If I did, it would be like shooting myself in the foot. Regardless of how I feel about you, I care about him. I don’t want to piss him off more than I already have.”
Kyle blinked rapidly at me, then he folded his arms over his chest. “I didn’t say he knew. I just want to know why you didn’t.”
I shrugged at first, then leaned back against the office door. “He’s pissed because of all of this. They thought I called you to come crashing in and ruin everything.” I took a breath. “At one point, Shay wanted something real with you. After our fight, I thought that might be over. But I guess she had a change of heart with the position you were put in. It’s not up to me to tell Darius. If she wants him to know, she’ll tell him.”
Kyle nodded, looking away from me. “What happens now? Between you and,” he paused and waved a hand, “them.”
“It’s not your business,” I said without hesitation. “What I do with other people isn’t your business.” I took a breath and continued before he could protest. “Just like with what you and Shay do isn’t my business.”
“Then why did you threaten to inform Darius about it?” he asked. He rotated a shoulder. “Or was that just more of your bullshit?”
I swallowed, struggling for an answer. Finally, I just told the truth. “That and jealousy,” I said uncomfortably. “When we first decided it, I wasn’t bothered by the prospect of Shay being with you. But seeing how fast she was falling and knowing what an asshole you are, I got caught up in my feelings.” I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I didn’t expect you to snap and be the reason shit between you stopped. I didn’t think Shay would be fazed by it.” I eyed him. “I guess I was wrong. But I don’t know what’s going on between you now. And I’m in a position where I can’t put my nose in your business either.”
He looked away from me, rubbing his chin. “And you swear this isn’t a game? It’s not more bullshit?” He pulled out his phone again. “I’ve been trying to flirt, put it back to what it was before all of your shit.” He shook his head. “She either shuts it down or she ignores it.”
“That’s why you brought me in here?” I asked. “To talk about Shay?”
“George makes the dealership a lot of money,” he said without looking away from the phone. “People are loyal to him. I don’t know if Dad said anything to you about it, but I wanted to make sure you were aware of it.” He shot a look at me. “Do not fuck things up with George.”
“He’s old enough to be my dad, don’t be gross,” I huffed out. The fact that he felt like he had to say that made me feel disgusted. I turned around to open the door. “Fuck off with that kind of accusation. I’m not doing shit with him. He’s married.”
“Then tell her I want to go back to the way things were before you fucked it up,” he said before I could step out of his office. “You want me to take you seriously? Get Shay to give me another chance.”
“What?” I asked, surprised.
“Tell her to stop dodging me and give me a second chance,” he said, pushing off the desk. He put his hand to his chest. “I’m not the abusive type. I’m not gonna hurt her.”
I blinked at him. “You brought me in here to twist my arm into getting Shay to be in a relationship with you?”
Kyle stopped, an irritated expression crossing his features for a beat before he raised both hands. “I’m not twisting your arm. I’m just asking you to take a step to help me.” He stepped closer a step. “Consider it this way. You owe me. After all this shit, you owe me a lot.”
“Not arguing with that,” I said evenly, “but I need to point out the reason she’s not giving you a second chance.” I held up a hand, trying to think of the gentlest way to put it to him. “She called you. You were at a bar picking up chicks.” I shook my head. “She’s not gonna be interested in anything more than a friendship if your first reaction to any hard situation is to go stick it in someone else.”
He rolled his eyes and turned away. “I didn’t get laid. Shay shot me down, so I gave her a taste of how I felt.”
“And how does that sound right?” I asked. “Think of it like this,” I said, trying to keep my tone even. “You saw Shay smack around one of your friends. That’s not gonna be a red flag for you?”
“I didn’t smack you around,” he shouted at me. “I pushed you so I could get my hands on your phone. I didn’t even hurt you.”
“But you’re not seeing my point here,” I said back, not letting up. “I get you probably don’t think a man can be abused, but it can happen. There’s a reason to be leery when you see someone get aggressive with someone that’s the same sex as you.” I threw up my hands, not sure why he couldn’t grasp it. “You want a relationship with someone after doing that shit? You’ve got to put all your cards on the table and be as transparent as possible.”
Kyle started to speak, but the door behind me opened, knocking me forward. I stumbled to see dad standing in the doorway. He looked between us with a frustrated look on his face. “Are you two fighting again?” he demanded.
“No,” I huffed out. “I’m just trying to get your man-child to see sense.”
“You think you can call me a child?” Kyle protested.
“That’s enough,” Dad snapped. “Clock out. Both of you.” He looked between us. “Get out of here. I’m not paying you two to fight like you’re not adults.”
“We weren’t fighting,” I protested.
“We were just trying to have a serious discussion,” Kyle said, stepping up behind me. “I wasn’t listening to her, and her voice raised. That’s it. Making me go home is gonna cut into my bottom line, Dad.” That was what he was worried about. Money.
I edged out of the way, not really sure I could protest more. Sure, leaving early would hurt financially if I weren’t working asecond job. But if I went home now, I could go back to bed until I had to work at the bar.