Page 69 of The Kiss Principle

“I’m leaving.”

He opened another drawer, and I took a step back reflexively.

“What do you mean you’re leaving?”

Zé stood in the middle of the room. He glanced around, but I didn’t think he was seeing anything. He zipped the suitcase shut and picked it up.

“What the fuck is going on?”

In the next room, Igz’s sobs sounded uncontrollable.

His voice was thready as he repeated, “I am not going to do this again. I’m not. I will not, Fernando.”

“Do what?”

“Get out of my way.”

“Don’t listen to her. She’s being a bitch.”

“Move.”

“I didn’t say you had to leave. I said you’re staying. Hey, did you hear me?”

“I heard you.” He nodded. “I heard you, Fernando.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means get out of my way, or—or I’m going to call the police.”

I stared at him.

“Move!”

I took a step back, and Zé pushed past me into the hall. He was limping worse than ever. He needed to get off his knee for a while. He needed his cane. I was still holding it, and I went after him.

When I caught up to him at the door, I grabbed his arm. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

He looked at me. He had those dark eyes that made me think again of that final band of brown on a hawk’s wing. “You know, Fernando, you’re a special person. You’re kind. And you’re loving. And you’re generous. And you deserve so much better than what you let yourself have. And I feel sorry for you.”

Igz was still screaming. She’d take forever to calm down, I thought. She’s terrified.

When I spoke, my voice didn’t sound like mine. “You feel sorry for me?”

“Let go of my arm,” he said in his low voice.

“You feel sorry for me?”

He stared back at me.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“Okay,” Chuy said, his hand closing over mine. He pried my fingers away. “That’s enough.”

“Go fuck yourself with your sorry,” I said. “Fuck off, you lying sack of shit. You have no idea who I am or what I’ve been through or what I’ve done. Fuck yourself with that shit. You’ve got no fucking idea how hard I’ve worked or how much I’ve sacrificed.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I’m proud of who I am. I’m proud of what I’ve done. All of this, my family, everything, that’s me. I did that. And what have you done?” I waited, but he still didn’t speak. “You’re sorry for me? How fucking dare you? Get the fuck out of here.”

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