Page 64 of My Book Boyfriend
“So if Rupert wants to be CEO, he can’t save the garden either.” I stare at Maddie. “I don’t know what to do.”
Is Rupert just dating me for business?
I can’t believe that. But is he not going to even try to save the garden? How can I continue to date him?
I should be able to do that—to compartmentalize. There’s the garden, and there’s Rupert. But I can’t. My feelings are all intertwined and are not going to stay contained in separate boxes. My eyes tear.
“I can’t ask him to save the garden if he might lose the CEO position. But I can’t kiss him and fool around while knowing he will probably destroy the garden.” I put my face in my hands. “And if I was just business to him?”
Maddie hugs me.
My stomach feels like I’m a passenger on some upside-down, spinning ride at a carnival.
I should’ve known.
I take a deep breath.Men.I’m not your Sunday brunch option in case nothing better happens on Friday and Saturday night. And I’m not playing second fiddle to some development that could be built while still saving the garden.
I’m worth more than that. All those trees and flowers I planted in the Oasis Garden, the dirt cool between my fingers, watering them, nurturing them, giving them the space to feel the warmth of the sunlight.
I hug Maddie back and then pull away.
Across the street is a graffitied, brick wall next to a corner deli. The red “OPEN” light blinks on and off. Hot and cold. Truth and lies. Next to it, the graffiti asks, in big, black, scrawling script:Where is the real New York?
Where is real love? Who is the real Rupert? The one who kissed me or the Grinch developer?
I shiver.
You don’t want me to hold back, Mr. Rupert Evans?
Good.
Because I’m not going to hold back.
My blood feels like it is boiling now. Like I’m one large tea kettle about to blow.
“Are you okay?” Maddie asks. “Because you look scary right now.”
“Good,” I say. “I’m done being played.”
“You should probably get his side of the story, though,” Maddie says. “Maybe I was too hasty. I was wrong with the Grinch article.”
“Wait here. I think I’ll do that.” I march back into the bar and right up to Rupert. Rupert’s eyes widen as he sees my face.
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
All innocent.
“No. Maddie just told me that you told thePage Sixreporter you were dating me for business reasons. I’m done here. I liked you, despite the fact that you’re about to destroy my garden and the community I’ve worked so hard to build for the past five years. But it turns out you’re playing me. That’s horrible.”
Rupert pales, looking shell-shocked.
I turn around and race out the door. I don’t want to hear his excuses. Or worse, listen to him admit it.
“Wait,” Rupert says. I turn briefly, but he’s been blocked by the crowd, and he can’t reach me. I keep going.
Maddie stands outside, her hands jammed into her pockets, her face creased in concern. I grab her arm and say, “Let’s get a cab.”
“Wait.” Rupert is next to me. “Wait. I did say that to the reporter, but that was to give you some privacy so she wouldn’t be all over you, trying to figure out who you were and running an exposé on the woman I’m seeing. I’m not dating you for business reasons. Dating you is the absolute last possible thing I should be doing for my career.”
