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| NEVER AGAIN BY TIMA |
CHAPTER 25 |
NEVER AGAIN
chapter 25:
[Tea haphazardly fastens the buttons on her blouse as she follows Todd out of the bedroom. She's not following his path to be with him, but rather to escape him. In the moments it's taken her to recover from the shock of his abandonment of her on his bed, she has been internally berating herself for falling for his mind games again.
Tea knows that Todd is in the room with her but she ignores his presence as she searches in the dark for the purse she doesn't even recall dropping just a few minutes earlier when Todd greeted her at the door of his hotel suite with a kiss and led her immediately into the bedroom. She knew it was a mistake not to stop him but it had been too long without the feeling of his body against hers.
Tea mutters in Spanish, upset with herself for not being able to control her passionate need for him.
Todd listens to her tirade, certain that she's cursing at him, and feeling that he deserves ever vulgar word she could possibly aim at him.
As Tea finally recovers her purse, she quickly moves toward the door. As she swings it open, he finally speaks to her.]
Todd: Delgado...
[Tea spins her body in his direction, anger overcoming her.]
Tea: I needed a man tonight and all I got was a little boy who would rather play juvenile games with me than have the best night of his life. Your mind games won't work on me anymore, Todd Manning. I've become immune. I've been immune for a long time now. I know you thought you were manipulating me when we were stuck on that stupid island together. News flash! I was manipulating you! I was stuck on a deserted island. I had no intention of going without some semblance of satisfaction for as long as I knew it would take for us to be rescued. That's all it was.
Todd: You could have used jungle boy, if that's all you wanted.
Tea: What makes you think I didn't?
Todd: You did that scum just to get back at me?
Tea: Revenge is your style, not mine.
Todd: Tell me the truth. How far did you go with him?
Tea: Why do you even care? I've never been more than a temporary distraction for you. I'm just some insignificant nobody that you use to sharpen your skill at playing mind games on. I never meant anything to you.
Todd: You don't know, Tea.
Tea: What don't I know? Don't answer that. I already have the answer. I don't know your love. I don't know your respect.
Todd: I respect you. You're the best damn lawyer I know, even if you are only a chick.
Tea: Am I supposed to be awed by your praise?
Todd: You're supposed to run for your life.
Tea: I intend to. This time I won't be stupid enough to ever run back to you. I'm finally moving forward...without you.
Todd: Good!
[Tea looks across the darkened room at her ex-husband. She wonders, as she always has, why he's pushing her away. Pushing her away after they've had sex, she could understand. Why he would push her away before he's achieved his own satisfaction, she can't fathom. He certainly seemed intent on having sex with her just a few minutes earlier. Why did he walk out so abruptly? Why is he so anxious for her to leave now?
After more than a minute of agonizing wait, Todd feels relief as Tea finally gives up on him again and silently turns and begins to leave his hotel room. His relief immediately disintegrates as the door closes behind the woman he loves. He fears, as he always has, that this time he may have pushed her further away than he'll ever be able to reach again.
In the hallway, Tea is entering the elevator as she hears a door open. She turns to find Todd barreling toward her, determination on his face.]
Todd: Get out of that elevator!
[Tea's own determination strengthens as his demanding tone infuriates her.]
Tea: No!
Todd: I'm serious, Tea!
Tea: So am I! Never again will you tell me what to do. I'm through allowing my life to be turned upside down by your whims.
[Todd reaches into the elevator and takes hold of her arm.]
Todd: You're staying with me.
Tea: No, I'm not. You had your chance. You had so many chance. You've made your choice. Now, you have to live with it.
Todd: I can't live without you.
Tea: If you're lonely, find someone else to distract you. I'm no longer available for that pointless job.
Todd: You split from that loser because of me.
Tea: My world does not revolve solely around you.
Todd: Sure it does.
Tea: It's late. I'm not in the mood to deal with your over-inflated ego right now.
Todd: Why'd you come here?
Tea: I don't know.
Todd: You know, just like I know.
Tea: What do you think you know?
Todd: You belong with me.
[Tea laughs at her ex-husband's assertion.]
Todd: Don't you think I'd rather trim my toe nails with a chainsaw than admit that to you?
Tea: What have you admitted? That I belong with you? That's a curse, not a reward. But, I do find the way you worded that interesting.
Todd: See, this is why I hate talking. You always read stuff into whatever I say.
Tea: You view me as your possession. I belong to you. That's the only reason you want me to stay right now, because you hate losing your possessions.
Todd: I hate losing you. I hate waking up and finding out that another chick I thought gave a damn about me, never really did.
[Todd removes his grip on Tea's arm. He stares into her eyes a few seconds longer before exiting the elevator and returning to his hotel suite.]
to be continued...
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2003 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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