Great. What’s going to be the problem now?
With nothing more than a curt nod, he continued cleaning up his tools. If she had something to say, he’d listen, but he certainly wasn’t going to stand still while she balled him out.
He heard her clear her throat and figured she was just gearing up.
“So um…listen,” she began, her voice softer and a lot calmer than their last conversation, “I…this is all looking great. Really. And I can already feel that it’s sturdier than it was before.”
He gave her another nod as he picked up his gear. When he started to walk away, she spoke again.
“I don’t appreciate you taunting me,” she stated firmly, but he heard the slight tremor in her voice.
Placing his tools back down, he slowly straightened and looked at her. “Excuse me?”
Now her arms were folded across her chest, her hip was cocked, and she was definitely on the defensive. “The nickname. Say it one more time and your ass will be fired. Do we understand each other?”
The nickname? What…?
Oh, shit.
Pixie.
“Wait, that’s what you’re all pissed off about? A nickname? Seriously?”
She nodded. “I am.”
Kyle took a step toward her and then another. With each movement, her eyes went a little wider. It wasn’t until there was barely a foot between them that he spoke. “What is the big deal?”
He knew it was the wrong thing to say even before her eyes narrowed at him and her spine stiffened.
“The big deal,” she mocked, “is it’s unprofessional.”
So many thoughts swirled around in his head and he knew it was time to just say what they were really dancing around.
“I don’t think that’s the real reason you’re pissed off at me,” he began carefully.
“Oh really?” And as much as she tried to sound bored, the tremor was still there.
“Yeah, really.”
Just say it!
“You’re pissed because I’m the one here doing the work and you’d like nothing more than to have never seen me again,” he stated, proud of the fact his own voice didn’t tremble. “And me calling you by your nickname was just a bold reminder of a time in your life you’d clearly rather forget.”
“I’d rather forget?” she asked incredulously. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you.”
“Rich? Rich?” he repeated. “Although, I guess with your snooty college degree, that’s the way you talk now.” With a huff, he took a step back and frowned. “Personally, I don’t see what the big deal is. The name slipped out. It’s not a big deal. At least…not to me.”
“That’s it! I knew I should have just called Jake and not even bothered trying to talk to you. Guys like you are too damn cocky and arrogant to even think about anyone else’s feelings!” When she turned to go back inside, Kyle reached out and grasped her arm and spun her around. “Take your damn hands off me!”
He immediately released her, his hands going up in surrender. “Okay, I get it! I won’t use the nickname again. Can you just…you know…relax?”
Again…wrong thing to say.
“You know what? You are the worst,” she hissed. “The absolute worst. It’s like you don’t even care how offensive you are or what you even say!”
Kyle knew he shouldn’t get angry; after all, she was telling the truth—partially. He knew he tended to speak first and think later, but there was something about this entire situation that just pushed all his buttons.
It had been years since they talked to each other. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew this day would come, but he didn’t expect it to be…like this.
Not even close.
“You know what,” he snapped. “Maybe I don’t always say the right thing, but at least I’m not walking around passing judgment like someone who does.” He aimed a hard glare at her. “Now I’m sorry that the whole nickname thing is a sore spot for you, but how the hell would I even know that, huh? There was a time when it didn’t. It slipped out, and believe me, it won’t happen again!”
“Kyle…”
“And I’ll tell you something else, Ms. Albright,” Because clearly he was on a roll now, “you’re not doing such a great job on how you talk or caring about anyone else’s feelings, and that makes you a hypocrite! I would have thought after all this time we’d be able to handle working together like adults but obviously I was wrong about you. Again.”
He was feeling pretty damn smug, like he officially put an end to this ridiculous conversation when…
Sydney’s entire expression fell and her big blue eyes welled up with tears.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit…
He went to reach for her when she just sort of gracefully lowered herself to the floor and began to cry.
“Uh…hey,” he said softly, carefully. “I…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
“Oh, I think we both know you meant exactly what you said,” she said between sobs. “And you know what? I meant what I said. How dare you try to turn this around like I’m the one at fault here! And to say I don’t care about anyone else’s feelings? Do you realize how ludicrous that is? I’m here…I’m back in Magnolia Sound to raise my niece, for crying out loud! I’m doing it because it’s what my sister wanted! So screw you if you think that I don’t care because let me tell you something, Kyle Jones, I care a whole damn lot! Not that I’d expect you to understand. You’re the one who walks through life not giving a damn about anyone but yourself! It’s all about you and what makes you feel good and you don’t even care about the people you walk away from!”
“Hey!” he cried, now completely ticked off. “You and I both know it wasn’t like that!”
Sydney was back on her feet. “It was exactly like that! You didn’t get your way—I didn’t fall in line with what you wanted, and you didn’t give a damn about what I wanted or needed!” She took a step back and pulled on her hair and let out a growl of frustration. “This is getting us nowhere. It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s ancient history and clearly for the best—you know, the way things all worked out.”
He wanted to argue, but…he was going to control himself.
“After all, I’ve heard you pretty much date anything with boobs and act like some sort of frat boy who refuses to grow up, so I guess I made the right decision.”
Or not.
Kyle leaned in until they were practically nose-to-nose. “I don’t owe you an explanation for the way I live my life, just like you don’t owe me one about yours. You don’t have to like me, but dammit, I’m here to do a job, and I’m going to do it. And you want to know why?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “Because I’m the best damn person to do it. I know it and Jake knows it. So let’s agree right now to forget about the past and that we are never going to be friends, but at least agree to call a truce while I’m here working!” He was a little breathless and almost a little ashamed and how he was letting this slip of a woman get to him. He was the first to admit that he usually enjoyed a good fight, but never with a woman.