I whip back around “Home.” Where does he think I’m going? For a slight jog on the beach? Maybe somewhere to get myself shot.
“Anessa, you can’t go home. It’s not safe.”
His words stop me in my tracks. He has a point. I did have a gun held my head this evening.
“Fine, but I’m sleeping in the guestroom. And in the morning you take me back to the bakery and then leave me alone.”
Not waiting for him to show me the way — I’ve slept in the guestroom before, after all — I half sprint my way up the steps. Doing my best not to actually stomp on them and make noise that might wake up Liam but with enough power he realizes how upset I am. It’s a delicate balance.
“Anessa,” he calls from the living room and I turn before I realize. “Just so you know, we’re not done here.”
Pfts. Men.
We’re definitely done here.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Bennett’s truck slows at the curb to my building and I have the front door open before he completely stops.
“There will be someone stationed out front all day and Spencer’s eye in the sky if you need help,” Bennett rushes the words out probably fearful I’ll close the door before he can finish.
It was my plan. “Whatever.” I jump out from the truck and yell a quick thanks before shutting the door. I may be pissed, but I have manners.
I stomp to the store, my boots from last night too high heeled to make much noise especially with Bennett’s door closed, but I don’t care. There’s no way he doesn’t realize I’m pissed. Yet, he does nothing about it.
He lets me walk to the bakery door.
He lets me unlock the front door.
He lets me walk into the store.
He lets me close the door behind me.
Half-way to the kitchen his truck drives away from the curb and I look back scowling, but he’s too far away to notice.
The bell jingles from my hard slam. The loud noise is too annoying so early in the morning. My first few steps into the bakery are stompy from anger, but by the time I reach the back they’ve softened. I’ve turned the oven on to warm up and pulled out racks of premade dough before I question my decisions over the last few hours.
I can’t believe I broke up with Bennett.
I can’t believe I was actually dating Bennett.
Stupid.
Stupid.
Stupid.
I’m not sure if he’s being stubborn or if he doesn’t care I’m pissed off. He didn’t say anything to me all morning long. I was downstairs in the living room getting ready to leave and walk to the bakery when he came down the steps with Liam in his arms. He put Liam in the truck and then he put me in the truck, the SUV from last night parked beside it. There were a few short grunts and one stern don’t-give-me-any-crap look, but he didn’t say more than a sentence to me.
I don’t know what that means.
Why are men so frustrating?
An hour later I’m still banging around pots and pans with more force than necessary. There’s no one around to hear my ruckus and it makes me feel better, so I don’t plan to end the practice anytime soon. The alarm on the back door pings and I tense waiting for it open, but Tabitha sticks her head around the edge.
“Can you believe that man?” she says stabbing in the numbers of the alarm to silence it.
I drop the bowl of frosting I was mixing. “No, isn’t it ridiculous?”
