Chapter Thirty-Three
My life is like a box of chocolates with bites out of each piece.
—Tensanne’s inner thoughts
Tensanne
“KOHL,” I MUTTER. Seeing those sea blue orbs, it all comes crashing back. The pain, the anguish, the humiliation. Everything the fairy locked away comes flourishing to the forefront of my brain, stealing my breath, filling my eyes with tears.
He steps toward me, I hold my hand up stopping his progression. My eyes on the ground, I force the emotion down, pasting my well-practiced faked smile in place. I smooth my skirt brushing off some invisible lint attempting to give myself a second to pull myself together. Crossing my arms across my chest to keep my insides from falling out I let my eyes meet his once again, “Hello, Kohl. How are you?”
Shoving his hands in his pocket’s eyeing me up and down his eyes heating, doing slow perusal that I feel in my soul, “Pretty good, now,” he replies, giving me that signature smile that melts panties.
Damn it, I will not let him get to me. I must get out of here, I need to get away.
“Great. Well, it was good to see you. Come on, Ron, we need to get going. We have that thing to get to,” I say, compelling her with my eyes to go along with my ruse.
“Oh, that thing. Well, Hun, that thing is standing right in front of you and it’s time you cleared the air,” she replies grabbing my hand and secretly slipping that little red potion bottle into it. Leaning in to kiss my cheek, she whispers “Use it. Get the closure you need.”
Gripping the bottle so tight I fear it may shatter, cursing my best friend in my mind, “Fine. Kohl, would you like to grab a cup of coffee?” I grit through a clenched jaw.
“I would love to,” he nods, giving me a wink.
Why, why does he still have to be perfect after all these years? Why can’t he have a huge beer gut and a balding head? Why can’t I will my body to forget what he feels like inside me? Why am I putting myself through this hell once again? I think while we walk silently to a coffee shop a few doors down.
Entering the little coffee café, I turn to him looking anywhere but at his eyes, “What do you want?” I snap.
“I’ll go order, Ten,” he replies.
“No,” I exclaim, still gripping the potion bottle in my hand. “I’ll get it, you go get us a seat,” I command, nodding my head to the lounge. He needs to walk away so I can dose his coffee to get the truth I need.
“Fine, I’ll take a vanilla chai,” he grumbles turning to find our seats.
At the counter, I place his order and mine. “Tensanne Craig? Do my eyes deceive me?” I hear from behind the counter.
Turning my eyes, Archer Boyd stands in front of me with his face lit up in a cheeky grin.
“Archer?” I squeal.
Coming around the counter, he embraces me in a hug. “I heard a rumor you were coming back to town. It’s great to see you.”
“What are you doing here, Archer? I just watched a movie with you in it on the Lifetime channel.”
“My dad’s not feeling so great and I had some time off; I told him I would fill in for a while,” he says giving me his megawatt actor smile. Archer had gone on to live his dream, I followed him in the magazines. He was married to a wonderful man, had adopted two children and had a great acting career.
“I would love to stay and chat, but Kohl is waiting for me,” I say when the barista places my order on the counter.
“Kohl, huh? Need me to supervise?” he broods.
Lifting the lid to Kohl’s chai I put several drops of the potion inside and give it a little stir.
Winking, “I think I have this one under control. But I’ll come back and maybe we can get all caught up?” I ask, giving him a hug.
Laughing, “Yes, definitely come back. I want to know all about what you put in that man’s coffee from that scary old bottle.”
Nodding in agreement I grab our order and find Kohl sitting at a table by the windows.
Placing our cups on the table, my anxiety goes through the roof when he takes his first sip.
“Do you know that elephants like to chew tobacco, love to drink beer, and are the only animals—other than us—that can be taught to stand on their heads?” I babble.
Laughing, he spews coffee on the table. “Still rattling off random facts when you’re nervous, huh?”
Frowning, “I haven’t done that for years,” I reply, angry at myself for reverting to that insecure little girl.
“You look amazing, Tennie Girl.”
“Don’t fucking call me that,” I seethe.
“Sorry, sorry,” he says with his hands up in surrender.
“Let’s cut to the chase, Kohl. Why did you fucking play me like that? What sick thrill did you get out of making the fat girl fall in love with you? Did you cohort with Chase Masters and decide to bring down the smart girl? Did you make a bet about who would be the one to fuck me?” I blurt out feeling my face flush and my blood boil.
“What? No,” he answers rubbing the back of his neck. “Did you read my letter, Ten?”
“Hell no, I didn’t read your letter. Why would I? I wasn’t interested in any more of your soul crushing lies. You got what you wanted. I left school.”
Leaning forward, he reaches for my hands. I pull them back, placing them in my lap.
I feel a breeze ruffle my hair, chimes ring in my ears and he glows briefly surrounded in a white light.
Slumping his shoulders, “I didn’t have anything to do with the video. I love you, Tensanne. I mean, I loved you,” he says back pedaling his words. “I
