‘Did you or did you not slap Dylan’s face yesterday?’ She had her hands at her hips, trying to look as menacing as her short body allowed her.
‘Oh God, that little sissy went to you?!’
She threw her arms to the sky, this was always part of her angry act. ‘You did! I knew it!’
‘So he snitched on me as the sissy he is!’
‘Of course not stupid, Marc told me Dylan had a mark on his face. He thought it came from a rough night with a hooker. But I learned by Spence that you were having lunch with him so I did the math Kate! I know you that well!’
I dismissively sat on one of the kitchen stools, I was not going to give any credit to this bullshit. ‘So what Michelle? I slapped him, I didn’t even hit him with a closed fist.’
‘Why Katherine? He told you you’re beautiful?! He asked you out?! Why?! You can’t keep throwing guys away just because they are interested in you!’
On purpose I kept my reasons veiled, I knew that she would want us to get married if she learned about that kiss. ‘No one is interested in me Chelle!’ I raised my voice for the first time.
‘Oh God not this “he’s not interested in me” thing again. I’ve known you since kindergarten and you have always done this!’
‘I just can’t stand the guy and I am not ever seeing him again so there’s no problem.’
‘Oh, it is you stupid! I love you Kate, you know that, but I can’t have this. Marc is a real thing in my life and I want to go all the way with him; and he can’t leave Dylan, he and Spence are his only family. I don’t know how, but you are going to play nice with him because I want you to stay in my life, ok?’
Michelle wasn’t giving me an ultimatum, she knew better than that, but it was clear that this was an important thing for her, so I nodded. ‘I am sorry Chelle, I didn’t know this was messing with your relationship with Marc.’
After our brief argument she started talking to me about every single detail of her relationship, even about things I would have never wanted to know. I was going to need to avoid Marc from now on if I didn’t want to imagine him naked.
The chat ended with a dreadful announcement. Michelle and Marc were giving a dinner to gather their NY friends and Mr. Bastard was going to be there. I had three days to make myself accept the idea that we would have to “play nice” for my best friend’s relationship sake. Chelle was one of the very few people I liked and loved and I wasn’t up to lose her.
Those three days happened more quickly than I would have liked; no Blue Jerk Eyes encounters before that day. I tried not to think about him, things were about to change and I wanted him out of my head before he had to be something more permanent than what I had expected in first place. One night Kevin came home really tired after work but wanted to know what had happened since our last chat about Blue Eyes.
‘So what has happened with operation Mr. Jerk.’ He undid his tie and threw himself to the couch while I was putting the pizza on plates for us.
‘Mr. Bastard, and I think there has been a plot change.’
‘Elaborate Ms. Bianchi.’ He was using a funny serious voice.
‘Ok, here we go. I slept at his place the day I got sick during Michelle’s birthday. He was kind and nice so in return I had lunch with him.’
Kevin was already eating and laying on the couch, and I sat on the opposite sofa so I could see his face. ‘That’s nice, continue.’
‘I got angry again, he followed me around.’ I hesitated a little, but Kevin was my best friend and I could tell him everything. ‘He kissed me, I slapped him. Michelle is angry and she says I need to be his friend because Marc is “the one”.’
‘Whoa! The plot definitely changed.’ He left his pizza on the table to give me all of his attention. ‘First, elaborate on the kiss.’
‘No, I won’t, kinky jerk, it was just a kiss. I didn’t even participate. I just slapped him because I felt he violated my personal space.’
‘Ok, and now you have to be nice to him. How are you feeling about it?’
‘I don’t want to, but you know I love Michelle. I have to try and now I feel bad because I have been a bitch to the guy and I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t even know why he puts up with me. I’ve been terrible Kevin.’
Kevin thought about my question for a second. ‘I’ve already told you he likes you. He stands all your crazy ways just to see those legs.’ He was laughing. ‘Michelle told me about the legs fascination.’
‘Shut up and I am not pretty enough for him to tolerate all my shit.’
‘He wants to prove he’s always right, that he can have you and that you are not as unapproachable as everyone thinks.’ He switched from laughing to serious in one beat. His answer was disturbing but so right. That made me feel a little disappointed. This was not about me, this was about the challenge I represented. ‘You are a wise man, Kevin Hurley.’ What are you going to do!
The dreadful day came. Michelle explained to me that some of our friends and Marc’s friends were going to their dinner, so I just wore a plain black dress, black pumps and pearls. You can never go wrong with pearls. I looked nice, but I had that Margaret Thatcher vibe, professional, menacing but warm. Ok, I know, I hadn’t ever had a warm bone on my body, but I tried.
I helped Michelle with the dinner and plating, everything was perfect. She and Marc looked amazing, so grown up and so, so happy. I was incredibly proud of my best friend. Apparently Marc’s friends in town were just Spence and Dylan, so Michelle provided the entire attendance, only 20 of her closest friends. I tried to be nice with most of them but they knew that I couldn’t stand them, so they avoided me. Well played, dumbasses!
My stomach was killing me with nervousness, I was about to confront that jerk. I knew I had to try to be nice, I’ve always hated faking and now I was about to swallow my pride. As soon as he entered to the room I took him by his arm and pulled him to the kitchen. I almost didn’t even notice his dark slacks and navy blue blazer over a beige light sweater, almost.
‘I need a word with you Dylan.’ My professional face was on. He followed me, with no other option, I was pulling him hard; and everyone was staring. As soon as we entered the kitchen I started in with my rehearsed speech. ‘Shhh, don’t talk. I hate this, but I adore Michelle, she’s the only girl I can stand and love in the world; and me hating you is killing her. Basically if I want to be friends with her I need to be polite to you. So even when I think you are a pretentious bastard, we are going to fake nice in front of her and Marc. Ok?’
Grinning as if he had won a damn battle, he came closer to me. ‘Bossy tonight, Ms. Bianchi?’
‘It is taking all my strength not to kick your ass right now, so change that tone jackass.’
‘Don’t worry Katherine, I don’t have to “fake nice”, I am as polite as I can be to you.’
‘Oh that’s a shame to the world that you are such a rude bastard that this is being polite. This means no more sex comments ok?’
‘And no more spoiled ice princess bitch ok?’ He laughed a little, but I was determined. We did a handshake; the energy was there, again, so I removed my hand as fast as I could and noticed that we were alone. I didn’t want to be alone with him anymore, I could only think about that mouth on my mouth and it was too dangerous for me to allow that kind of thoughts. I started walking to the door.
‘So I assume you received my flowers.’
I didn’t even turn to him. ‘We’re not doing this Dylan so back the fuck off.’
‘What are we not doing Katherine? And watch that pretty fucking mouth of yours!’
‘We are not discussing something that didn’t happen. So let’s get this show started asshole.’
We went out with no other word. I mingled with the guests and flirted a little with Spencer. Of course casual non dangerous flirting, he was taken, but I had always been more comfortable flirting with taken men, they represented harmless interaction. I was acting nice, even letting some of those stupid bitches approach us. I had
n’t seen Dylan for a while, so for Michelle’s record we were “playing nice”.
‘So Katherine, was that hottie you assaulted in the kitchen Dylan Berkeley? I am dying to meet him.’ Stupid Meredith, a girl Michelle and I knew from school, came to Spencer and me, with her sidekick April. I couldn’t stand either of them, but Michelle’s dinner was not the right place to make a scene.
I hate this stupid bimbo! Spencer was laughing. ‘What’s so funny Spence?’ I turned to him with a suspicious look.
‘The idea of you assaulting Dylan.’
‘Why would that be so funny, Spence?’ Meredith touched Spencer’s arm casually.
He flinched and put some distance between them. ‘Spencer, and that’s because Katherine and Berkeley can’t stand each other, not even for an entire lunch if I can recall.’
‘Oh, that’s not a surprise, Katherine is well known for being a little…mmm…difficult.’ Meredith turned to April and they both laughed annoying the hell out of me.
My face was impassive and I was about to tear off those cheap hair extensions this slut was wearing. ‘As discreet as always Mer, and no, it’s not about me this time. I don’t know what’s with your friend Spence, but he should remove that stick from his ass!’
Spencer and I laughed at my, I thought, good joke. It was a pretty accurate description of Mr. Bastard. But neither Meredith or April were laughing, they were glowing and batting their lashes.
‘I can assure you, Katherine, that my ass is in perfect shape, but if you want to corroborate for yourself, you are always welcome.’
Thank God for the “play nice” policy! I could see the anger in his eyes and his tense jaw. But instead of yelling at me, he was making a joke and he was getting closer, closer, until he put his arm around my waist. ‘I haven’t had the pleasure, I am Dylan Berkeley, nice to meet you.’
I swear their knickers were on the floor. Both girls grabbed his hand and stupid Meredith even leaned for a kiss. I hate that bitch!
‘Oh, please Dy, don’t be angry with our little Katie, she just loves to be a bitch.’ Meredith repeated her “casually lay your hand over his arm” movement.
Punch her, punch her, punch her!
‘What’s your name again? Never mind, no, I am not angry, Katherine is not a bitch, she was just kidding. She’s like that and I know what she thinks about me, so no; I feel many things for Katherine but none of them includes anger.’
He saved me, the sexy Blue Eyed Bastard saved me from killing this slut. This “play nice” policy was working delightfully. By then Michelle and Marc had arrived by our little group. Chelle smiled when she saw Dylan’s arm around me, his arm was there in a casual way, but for her it meant the world.
My sweet friend felt the need to intervene. ‘Mer, Kate was with me when I met Marc and the guys. And even though she and Dylan have dated a couple of times, they are still getting to know each other.’
I choked on the water I was drinking. Dating? I knew Michelle’s game, she felt Meredith was flirting with Dylan and she was marking MY territory. But I didn’t have any business with his territory! Mr. Bastard was laughing, but I knew better, he felt tense too. He didn’t like that dating part, I was right since the beginning, he was not into me at all.
‘Yes, Michelle is right, and about that, I was wondering if you and Marc would like to come on a double date with us to the Rangers game next week.’ Blue Eyes made the distance between us even shorter.
Marc turned to Michelle really excited. ‘Yeah baby, hockey is some kind of a tradition for us, please come! Kate has already said yes!’
Kate hadn’t said a word, Kate didn’t want to go on a “double date”. We were not fucking dating!
‘Sure!’ Michelle turned and winked at me.
Spencer was insulted for not being taken into consideration for this double date craziness. ‘I am coming too even if I am not invited, you know that, right guys?’
‘April and I can come with you Spence!’ Meredith apparently had no problem switching from Dylan to Spencer when flirting.
‘Spencer, and I am sorry, but my fiancée doesn’t appreciate me taking other girls on “dates”.’
‘Oh, I see…’ That bitch face was not happy, not a little.
Spencer was the best girlfriend I had found since Michelle, he was being nasty to these girls.
‘I am going to bring more chips, be right back.’ I turned around, anger scouring my entire body. Even a thousand anger management sessions would never erase that feeling. I needed to kick something, or someone, to leave a blue eye turning purple maybe. I entered the kitchen and felt him right behind me.
I put my finger in his face, menacingly. ‘Don’t act like I didn’t know what you were doing bastard!’
‘Oh no Katherine, I am fully aware you know.’ That stupid smirk was on his face again.
‘We are not dating!’
‘I didn’t say we were, Michelle did, and I am making this clear right now, I don’t date, not you, not anyone. I’ve already told you this.’
‘I don’t date either! I told you so too. So no, I am not coming to that hockey game with you, I guess you will be Spencer’s partner.’
He remained calm, but his voice was a little nicer. ‘We never take women to hockey, it is our thing, but as you’ve said Marc and Michelle have grown into each other, so I want my friend happy. We are “acting nice” don’t you remember?’ This “play nice” thing was backfiring at me.
‘First and last time you make me accept, in public, something that we hadn’t discussed in private, do you hear me?’ I gave up, he had a point, but that didn’t mean I was being nice, in fact, I was kind of shouting at him.
‘Watch your tone with me little girl, against what you have come to believe, you can’t boss me around. Do you understand?’ This was even worse than I had thought, he was as much of a bully as I and this would be a tale with no end, I knew it since the beginning.
‘Fuck off Berkeley, you are not at your stupid company, I am coming, but only because I promised Michelle. We do not have a thing together. I am not ordering you around but you cannot order me around either.’
I left the kitchen and he followed me putting his hand on the small of my back and pushing me forward. I spent the rest of the night moving around, never giving Dylan the chance to approach me again. I was forced to be with him next week, not today, but I felt his eyes on me the whole night.
My life kept as uneventful as always, until Wednesday night, Rangers vs. Capitals. I really, really liked hockey, but the idea of having to “play nice” for an entire game was killing me. We decided to meet at my house and by “we” I mean Michelle decided we all were going to meet at my place and then head to Madison Square Garden as a big happy family. Marc and Michelle arrived first. I was just changing my outfit from professional to jeans, sneakers and a Rangers shirt; don’t even ask! Yes, I own a Rangers long sleeved, long jersey, whatever!
‘There you are Katie!’ Michelle greeted me with the biggest smile ever, she really was enjoying this.
‘Hey guys!’
Marc hugged me for longer than I would have liked. ‘Are you ready for the best night of your life?’
‘Oh God Marc, that’s sad. Hockey night with the girls is the best night of your life?’ This guy was sweet and he made my friend really happy so I was just playing with him.
‘Hockey nights are the best nights!’
‘So what’s the big deal with hockey nights?’ Marc’s enthusiasm made me curious.
‘When we were young, really young, Dylan’s dad took us to every game. We always had the time of our lives, so when the time came, Dylan did that for us. So be nice to the guy Katie, hockey means a lot to us.’
‘I will keep that in mind, I promise.’
The bell rang and my knees started shaking. There was no way I would allow myself these kind of reactions every time I saw him. Spence made his big noisy entrance. ‘Let’s go guys! It’s game time!’
Spencer kissed my cheek br
iefly which apparently bothered Blue Hottie. He was as handsome as ever, but even more. Jeans that fit his legs so tight, black shirt, and a black sport jacket with a little Rangers Logo on it. He discretely moved Spence out of the way and kissed my cheek, as always, longer than necessary. ‘Ranger girl Katherine?’
I whispered in his ear. ‘Kiss my ass, Berkeley.’
‘Gladly.’
Michelle overheard us. ‘What would you do gladly, Dylan?’
‘He’s buying me a hotdog Chelle, you want one?’
‘Sure! I bet this girl can eat more than any of you guys!’
‘Her? Ms. Katie?’ Spencer was surprised by Michelle’s statement.
‘Yes, she eats like a fat man, you’ll see Spence!’
With Michelle’s publication of my terrible masculine habits, the five of us left. One of those black SUVs was waiting for us, Max and Joe were both working for the night. Our seats were ELS 1-5, if you know something about seating you would know those are the kind of places where you would get blood on your clothes if there’s a fight during the game. They were that good; and of course I wasn’t surprised. I needed to tease Dylan about this! ‘Just behind the team? Oh Berkeley I thought we were going to touch the ice!’
He turned a little more confronting than I would have expected. ‘Do you want to do that now or after the game Katherine?’
‘How about during? I could kick some of these guys’ asses!’ I pushed him with my shoulder playfully trying to make his mood lighter.
‘Let me see what I can do.’ He said that and winked, he winked to me! Melting, knickers on my knees! Oh he looked so absolutely delicious, and he was winking! Ok, I might accept he was absolutely handsome, even being a jerk.
The game was a little boring, but I was completely lost watching Dylan. This was my time to stare at him as he had done the day we met. He looked happy and a little relaxed; as relaxed as a tight ass could be. He was investing so much concentration into the game, that it was only broken to celebrate with his friends. Almost as if he wasn’t thinking he put his hand on my knee, without even looking at me. So I didn’t react, if it wasn’t a big deal for him, it was not a big deal for me.
BLUE ICE (ICE SERIES) Page 8