ALL THE BYGONES
FORD
The shelves of board games are artfully arranged. The location, just past a record shop in Hayes Valley, is top-notch. The music is, begrudgingly, a good playlist of alt rock and pop.
Ergo, I hate this place and Skylar’s ex even more.
I’m guessing he’s the guy striding over to us with a proud papa look on his bearded face. It’s the stupidest beard I’ve ever seen. There is literally nothing I don’t despise about this man.
“Skylar! You made it,” the guy says, beaming as he eyeballs the redhead at my side. Really eyeballs her.
Sure, she’s hot as fuck in those black shorts. That sexy top. Those heels that make her legs look endless. And all that flesh I want to kiss, suck, bite.
But the dude is a cheater, and his eager eyes say he’d cheat again.
I loathe him to the end of time.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Skylar says, all sugary as she inches closer to me, her bare shoulder bumping my arm. I don’t hate that though—the contact.
Landon holds out his arms, asking her for a hug.
Oh hell no.
As guests mill about, sipping on champagne, checking out Trivial Pursuits and Twisters, I step forward, cutting off the potential hug like it’s a pass to the other team I’m stopping. I thrust the plant at Landon. “Here’s a store-opening gift for you.”
“Wow. A plant. This is amazing,” Landon says, taking it from me while still staring at Skylar.
She points to me. “This is my…date. Landon, this is Ford; Ford, Landon.”
Landon looks my way this time, then does a double take. “Aren’t you?—?”
Skylar never mentioned her ex was a sports fan, but the way he’s gaping at me with fanboy recognition tells me he probably is.
But I’ll wait for him to make the connection.
“Ford Devon,” he says a second later, his eyes sparkling.
Landon sticks out his hand, and I take it, as a man with a well-groomed mustache and an affection for dapper clothes moves behind us, snapping a picture of the handshake. Probably the guy from the local neighborhood site. Skylar said he’d be here.
“That’s me,” I say, crunching Landon’s fingers. I’m a couple inches taller. My handshake is much stronger. I consider squeezing harder. Then I go for it. “Yes. I’m Ford.”
He winces, and a few satisfying seconds later I ease up, then let go.
After he blows out a relieved breath, he blurts out, “Holy shit! I love the Sea Dogs,” he says to Skylar. “You never told me you were dating a hockey star now.”
Not a player, but a star. Don’t hate that either.
“Well, we don’t talk now, Landon,” she says, with a saccharine smile.
“And that should change. I’m all about letting bygones be bygones,” he says like they’re both responsible for the fallout.
And sure, rationally, two people are in a relationship.
But fuck him. Just fuck him.
Before I can sayyou’re the bygone, asshole,a high-pitched gasp lands on my ears. Landon whirls around to meet the gaze of a blonde woman wearing gold-rimmed glasses. With wide, accusatory eyes, she’s pointing to a nearly empty tray of crudités on a table. “Landon, I told you to get more.”
“I told you to get more,” he tosses back.
