You’ve got to be kidding me. Three years, I’d been so careful for three years, making sure not to go to places remotely near him. I watched as he stood as frozen as I was.
His eyes reflected hope as mine probably reflected fear. I quickly pick up the dented ice cream and rush to the counter. I decide to do self-checkout so I can get the hell out of here.
I am swiping groceries as quickly as possible, putting them in bags. I hear thundering footsteps; I know he’s getting closer. I try to pay quickly but I drop my wallet, cursing under my breath, “damn it.”
I pick it up to see shoes in front of me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before grabbing cash and paying at the register, not looking at Kade. I put the bags of groceries in my cart and continue to the door.
I know he’s following me, I feel his presence the same way you feel like something is about to jump out at you from a horror film.
I walk through the doors but feel the panic when the sensor goes off. I look back at the woman who isn’t looking at me but at him.
“Sir, may I see your receipt please? And step over here, please,” the woman orders while Kade glances at her and then at me, totally distracted.
I turn around and will myself not to look at him before walking out the door, before trying to remember where I parked my car. “Sir,” I heard faintly. I look back to the woman for a moment.
“Here, I don’t want them, it was an accident,” he shoves the cold fries to her chest before stalking out of the store. I instantly feel the panic rush through my veins, making me jolt into action.
I rush past the door and down what I am hoping is the right aisle. I sigh in relief when I see my car. I open the trunk and put my groceries in it.
I look to the end of the aisle back where I came from and start to rush, putting my groceries in the trunk when I see Kade heading for me.
My eyes widen and I get in the car and start it. I lock my doors as Kade gets closer. He puts his hands on my window like he did three years ago, tears prick my eyes as he says one six-letter word that breaks my heart in two.
“Please,” he begs and I almost stop. But I can’t. “Come on,” he whispers. I look away from him, backing my car up. He gets out of the way only to stand in the middle of the road. I roll my eyes and roll down my window.
“Move,” is all I say, revving my engine.
“No, not until you agree to go somewhere and talk,” he says firmly, crossing his tattooed arms that cover his skin.
“Oh, come on!” I shout. “You can’t stand there forever!” I shout at him. People looking at us as they pass.
“I can and I will,” he affirms and I huff. I take a slow breath and glance in my rearview mirror. Empty, perfect.
I let a smirk take over my face as I give Kade a venomous look.
“Why are you smirking? The only way out is my way. You won’t run me over...” he says cockily and I let out a half laugh, half scoff.
I look behind me once more to see the aisle still empty. “That may be, Kade, but I don’t have to drive forward; there is another way out,” I say, and his face falls.
I kick my car into reverse and drive backward through the aisle before turning at the end. Before I drive off, I look back at him one last time and sigh as I see his head hung low in defeat, fighting with myself not to go back and run to him.
I drive off towards my apartment as a single tear falls down my cheek. Even after all these years, no one affects me like he does. No one can move me like he does, but we would never work.
Because in the end, ‘we’re the problem.’
