Foolin'

Part 19

Eddie was holding a fairly large present bag. The only thing sticking out of it was what looked to be a bouquet of roses. Kat could barely process that he was even standing in front of her, nevermind what he was holding. She only stared at him, her face expressionless. A few seconds later, her earlier anger towards him came back full force. Her face contorted into a scowl.

"Anyone ever tell you, you're a real fucking asshole?"

"I know, I know. I'm a piece of shit for forgetting, but some shit came up and I had to take care of it. Please, I can explain. I– I'm sorry."

"Aw, you're sorry? Great! All better!" Her voice exuded sarcasm with a fake grin before turning right back to a grimace.

"No, sorry isn't gonna make this better. I know that. Please, you gotta let me explain. I didn't do it on purpose. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you."

"Oh, well, clearly you've been busy doing everything else on that list today!"

"Kat, will you just hear me out?!" He pleaded, his voice verging on the edge of desperation.

"Why? Why should I? As far as I can tell, you're really starting to turn out like almost everyone else around me. But you know what? If it wasn't for you also bailing on Dustin, I would have been completely alone for the whole fucking day. So I guess I can thank you for at least doing something for me!"

"Really? You're really not gonna at least try to listen to anything I have to say?"

"Hmm, nope! Doesn't look like it! You've barely followed through with a single goddamn thing you've told me you would have. So, again, why the hell should I?!"

"Kat–" was all he could manage to say before she slammed the door in his face. Eddie, however, wasn't about to let this go – to let her go. He knew she was hurt. He knew that's where her anger was coming from. Before, there were so many times the ones she needed close to her left her high and dry. The guilt was ripping him apart inside knowing he accidentally did the same to her, on her birthday no less. There was no way he was heading home without explaining everything to her, without trying to get her to understand. So he opened the door, letting himself in.

She made it halfway up the stairs before she froze and slowly turned around when she heard the door open and shut. There was no hiding the tears that were spilling down her face.

"Kat. The guy I get all my shit from got busted yesterday, okay? I had to go there and deal with it. My ass was on the line. Everything was on the line yesterday. I didn't even get back til, I don't even know, seven tonight? I had to haul ass and harvest whatever shit could be saved, secure the greenhouse – look, the details don't matter. I just– It was the difference between me ending up just like my old man and living up to the Munson family name. I had to cover my own ass. It's not that I don't care about you. It's quite the opposite, in fact. I couldn't– There was nothing else I could do. Don't think I don't feel so fucking guilty and like a goddamn asshole and a piece of shit. It's like... the more I try not to end up like my folks, the more I'm sucked into it. I fucked up. Completely. But it had nothing to do with you." His voice started out forceful, commanding as he demanded her attention. The more he went on, the more his voice started to falter before dropping to almost a whisper. "Please, Kat. You gotta believe me."

She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to keep her composure and to keep from bawling. Carefully going back down the stairs, she walked right up to him, only inches away from him. "You were the only one I wanted to be there today. And you weren't!" She shoved him, making him take a couple steps backwards. He let her bag of presents slide off his arm and onto the floor.