Tuckamore Bay

night cap

Matty grabbed Bill's arm again.

"Now what are you doing? For fuck sake."

Bill gently pulled away from her grasp.

"Matty just let me go."

"Go where?"

Bill turned to her, completely frustrated.

"I am going to go to bed and then in the morning I am going to pack up and get the fuck out of here. I've had enough of this shit."

"WHAT? WHY?"

Bill bent down to pick up Jarge.

"If I have to explain, then ..."

He let out a long exaggerated sigh.

"Never mind."

As he stood up, Matty grabbed Jarge from his arms.

Jarge squawked at her.

"Shut the fuck up bird, or I'll stuff you for Sunday dinner."

Jarge jumped from her arms and hid under the chair, covering his head with his good wing.

Matty grabbed both of Bill's arms.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Didn't you just tell me you don't want to lead me on?"

"Yes, but ..."

"And you do that while hugging me and holding my hand and ..."

Bill kicked the railing that surrounded the lighthouse veranda. He was not used to having to deal with the confusion that came with being attracted to a woman and Matty wasn't making it any easier.

"Fuck. If I wanted to be this fucking pissed off and upset, I could have stayed in Mexico with Mario and Maria."

He grabbed the railing and shook it, screaming.

"Fuck. I knew I should have just bought a condo in Jamaica."

"WHY ARE YOU SO MAD?" Matty screamed back at him.

He stared at Matty.

"You stop me from leaving.

You tell me you wanted me to stay.

You ... you ... kiss me like you ...

Like you like me or something.

And now ...

and now you hold my hand and tell me you don't want to lead me on."

"And I don't."

Bill screamed again. It echoed across the water.

"Then why the fuck do you want me to stay? Why the fuck am I still here?"

Matty just stared at him.