Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“It doesn’t matter anyway.” I shrug. He made that clear last night, face full of regret.
“Keep telling yourself that.” Sutton laughs, shaking her head. “Speaking of bosses…”
She spends the drive filling me in about work. Apparently, the new girl isn’t new. She’s the co-owner’s niece, and rumor has it, she and Jake spent all summer hooking up when she worked there. Things went south and now, for some reason, she’s back. That would explain his saltiness about her being there. Gone is the laid-back, flirty manager who made us pancakes, and in his place is Grumpy Jake.
When we get to Blackbear, I fight the urge to catch a glimpse of Dare in the window, going straight to the back to stash my stuff instead. We’re in the middle of the lunch rush, so we don’t waste any time. I grab my apron and almost collide with Jake when I turn to leave. He’s wearing a white polo with the Blackbear logo, and his usually floppy hair is pushed off his forehead, styled to perfection.
“Hey.” I give him a bright smile, and he distractedly mutters a greeting before moving past me. Okay, then.
“Told you he’s different.” She shrugs, tying her apron around her waist as she passes me. “You think he’s okay?”
“He’ll get over it. My bet is that she’ll be gone in a month. She’s not the best server. Hey, you want to get a drink after work tomorrow?”
“Sure. Jess has wrestling shit almost every day now, so that works.” I’m not exactly feeling social. I’d rather wallow in Dare’s rejection and lick my wounds in peace for a day or two. But I’ve always believed in faking it until you make it.
“Perfect.”
The afternoon goes by quickly, and soon my shift is almost over. I’m finishing up with one of my last tables—a family of four on vacation from Sweden—when the door swings open. I look up, mid-smile, only to see him. The grin melts off my face and shock has me frozen to this spot.
Tall and tanned with a perpetual five o’clock shadow. Sharp suit, sharp jaw, and an even sharper tongue. Eric. What the hell is he doing here? He spots me, flashing one of his signature smirks my way before taking a seat in the corner booth.
“Enjoy the rest of your vacation,” I say quickly before hightailing it to Jake’s office. He’s at his desk, eyes focused on the laptop in front of him.
“My shift is almost over. Mind if I leave early?” I try to keep my voice even, though my stomach feels anything but. Jake throws me a disbelieving look.
“First, you’re mad about not getting enough hours, and now you’re trying to cut out,” he checks the time on his phone, “forty-five minutes early?” His tone is biting, and if I wasn’t in such a hurry to get out of here, I might take it personally. I’m under no illusion that Eric won’t follow me when I leave. In fact, I want him to follow me. I want him as far away from my friends, my coworkers, my life that I’ve made for myself here.
“Please, Jake. I’ll explain later. I just really need to leave.”
His expression changes as he detects the desperation in my voice, and he stands quickly, coming to my side.
“Are you okay?” He peeks over my shoulder, looking for clues to my sudden shift in demeanor.
“My ex is here.” I wave an unconcerned hand, trying to downplay the situation. “I just really don’t want to see him.” I don’t tell him that Eric lives four hours away and has probably done some serious stalking to find my whereabouts.
“Grab your stuff. I’ll walk you out.”
“Jake, it’s fine, really. I don’t want to bring my drama here.”
“Get your stuff, Lo,” he insists.
Knowing he’s not going to let it go, I do as he says. I wouldn’t put it past Eric to come looking for me. Jake puts a hand on the small of my back, ushering me through the restaurant and I walk faster, away from his touch, not wanting to provoke Eric. We’re halfway across the floor when Eric rises, along with the dread brewing inside me, and smooths his suit with the palm of his hand.
“Lo.” Eric smiles, coming to grab my elbow in a show of ownership. He flicks his eyes at Jake but doesn’t acknowledge him otherwise.
“What are you doing?” I ask through my teeth, not wanting to make a scene.
“Follow me and we’ll talk.” His eyes narrow in warning, and I nod my agreement if only to get him outside before I chew his ass out.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I say to Jake, doing my best to reassure him with my eyes.
“You sure?” Jake’s eyes bore into mine.
“Positive.” I see Sutton looking at us, a mixture of suspicion and concern written all over her face. I smile at her and mouth call me later.