A Life More Complete(76)
“Gotta pass the time somehow, right? Jessica, her name’s Jessica. She’s playing bags with some of Jon’s friends. I’ll introduce you to her later.”
We talk and the conversation comes easily. I ask how Roxy is doing because I miss her as much as I miss Ben. He also fills me in on his job and all his employees. We talk about his recent trip down to Baja to surf, something we’re both interested in, and so the conversation flows. He asks about Trini and I give him the condensed version and he admits he’s been following it, but only because it concerns me, and as he says it, I blush. I realize we’ve been talking for at least thirty minutes and there’s been no sign of Tyler.
“It’s been great catching up with you. I’m glad we still have the kind of relationship where we can be friends.” I say, smiling and he hugs me a little tighter.
“I told you once a long time ago that you didn’t have to be my girlfriend to be in my life. I enjoy being around you and I’ll take what I can get.” He pulls away and smiles weakly.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I can feel the tears forming. I know he’s still hurt, but there is no way he would ever let on.
Tyler strolls up seconds later with two beers in his hand. Giving me a Bud Light again, he smirks at me with a pissed off look on his face. “So you gonna introduce me?”
I breathe in deeply, “Tyler this is Ben Torres and Ben, this is my fiancé, Tyler McCarthy.” I emphasize the word fiancé hoping it will subdue Tyler’s ill-mannered behavior. I should know better by now. He’s about to bait Ben into fighting with him. The thing that Tyler doesn’t know is that Ben won’t buy into it. He just won’t. It’s not in him to fight, especially publicly.
“So I hear you’re a day laborer or is it a migrant worker?” Tyler says with that smirk still on his face.
“Tyler! What is wrong with you?” My eyes widen and I can’t seem to make him budge as I push him with both hands.
“Krissy, it’s okay,” Ben say completely composed. “I think you’re misinformed...” Before Ben can finish his thought Tyler jumps in again.
“My apologies, I just assumed you are since you’re Mexican. Don’t they all work in the trade?” The appalled look on my face is only getting bigger. I can’t believe this is happening.
“Tyler! Please stop.” I look over at Ben who doesn’t seem to be phased by this debacle. “Look Ben. I’m sorry, but we obviously need to be leaving. I’ll see you around.” Ben gives me a slight nod to acknowledge my apology. I shove Tyler again and this time he moves, but he begins laughing as he grabs my wrist and tugs me toward the car. I will not have this argument with Tyler in front of Bob’s house.
I climb into the driver’s side of the car and start the engine, while Tyler seats himself with a thump in the passenger seat. Before backing out I text Bob and apologize for leaving without a good-bye. Melinda hasn’t even arrived, so I leave that one to a later conversation. I put the car in reverse and floor the pedal. Being this close to Tyler is nearly impossible right now. He opens his mouth to speak and before even a syllable is uttered I lay into him.
“I swear to God Tyler if you open your f*cking mouth it will not be pretty. Don’t even test me. Right now I’m so angry with you I can’t even...” My words fail me at that moment while we are flying down the 405 at an obscene rate of speed. I have turned into an extra from Fast and the Furious as I pass cars, cutting them off and weaving. I need out of this car. I can feel my anger building inside and a new and recent development are the tears that seem, to come when anger hits me. (If I’m being honest I seem to be crying at nearly everything lately.) They pool in my eyes and fall silently down my cheeks. The humiliation and the frustration are taking its toll on me when a stifled sob escapes my lips.
My little car jumps the curb with great force when I pull into the driveway. I storm out of the car, up the stairs and into the house. Slamming the door behind me, but it flies open as Tyler smacks it with his palm. It hits the wall behind it and placing a small circular knob shaped hole where it bounces off.
“How dare you!” I scream.
“How dare you!” he screams back. “I had to watch you press your tits up against some other guy’s body, laugh at his jokes. Do you have any idea what you looked like?”
“Grow up, Tyler. Grow the f*ck up! I know exactly what it looked like. It looked like someone talking to a friend. It’s you who sees it for what it’s not.” I run my fingers through my hair completely exasperated by this. I can’t take it any longer. “We’re done. I need you out.” My tone is suddenly controlled. I pull the ring from my finger setting it down as I walk past him into my bedroom. I climb into the shower and cry.