Tamati stops revving the engine as I approach him, and he lowers the window. “Hey,” he says, and smiles.
I’ve come out to talk to him several times before. I liked him a lot, and I was keen to part on good terms, but after the day I’ve had, my patience is paper thin.
“What are you doing?” I snap.
His smile fades. “I just wanted to see you. And I don’t seem to be able to get your attention any other way.”
“You’ve got to stop this.”
“Come and get in,” he says. “We’ll go for a drink and have a chat.”
“I’m in my pajamas!”
He just laughs. “This is New Zealand—no one cares about that.”
“I’m not going to a bar in my PJs. Tam… I’m serious now. We’re done. I’m not going out with you again.”
“Babe… come on.” His lips curve up. He knows his smile undoes me. He’s incredibly good looking, and he has an irresistible charm I can’t resist. I found it so hard to break up with him, but every time I told myself I could put up with his faults, he’d do something that would leave me exasperated and unhappy. He picked holes in the smallest things, and we were always arguing. He seemed to thrive on that; I think it turned him on sometimes. But I’m not like that. I take everything to heart. And what with everything else that’s going on my life, I don’t need the stress. I want him to leave me alone.
And suddenly, I know how to stop him.
“I’ve met someone else,” I blurt out.
He stares at me for a moment. Then his expression turns wry. “Aw, come on…”
“It’s true,” I say calmly, relieved he’s forced my hand. “I’ve been seeing an old friend of mine. We met up for a chat, and he asked me out.”
“Who is it?” he demands.
“His name’s Kingi.”
“Kingi who?”
“Davis.”
His eyes widen. “Kingi Davis.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re dating Kingi Davis?”
“Yes.”
“The one who’s just broken up with Sabrina Pearce?”
“The very same.”
He laughs. “What the fuck does he see in you?”
I don’t reply, and after a second, he sobers and adds hastily, “I didn’t mean that, I mean obviously you’re worth ten of someone like her…”
“Yeah,” I say sarcastically, “nice attempt to backtrack.”
“Shit, Chess…”
“Fuck you,” I tell him heatedly. “He really likes me, and he won’t take kindly to you harassing his girl. He’s fucking huge, and even if he doesn’t want to take you out himself, he’s rich enough to employ a whole fucking hit team, so stop fucking harassing me, and leave me alone!” I end on a yell, turn on my heel, march back into the house, and slam the front door.
I stand there, trembling, both furious and upset as Lisa and Ria come running out.