“Good. Busy.” I smiled, trying, once again, to be nice for Thea’s sake. All our pleasantries were forced—even back then. “What brings you to the shore?”
“My family has a rental near Wildwood, so I thought I’d stop by to see Thea on my way over there. I found a nice seafood spot not too far from here. You know how she gets around a pile of shrimp.” He chuckled, and I forced the most natural smile I could muster.
“I remember.” I nodded, a sour taste in my mouth thinking of him as a constant in her life after I’d left. I had no right to feel that way, but being in his presence made us pick up the same pissing contest when it came to Thea. “I took her to City Island in the Bronx all the time for a seafood fix.”
His smirk twisted into a scowl. “When we were engaged, I’d offer to take her there, but she’d refuse. I guess that explains why she never wanted to go.” He laughed without humor but full of intent.
Engaged. Adam was who she’d been engaged to? Rage ran hot in my veins, but I forced myself to reel it in, because what right did I have to be angry? I’d left her, so she could marry him or any other jerk who crossed her path, and I had no say or right to slam any of them into my new, shiny wooden walls.
But, fuck if I didn’t want to.
“Something you’d like to say?” I stepped toward him.
“Nope.” The slow shake of his head coiled around my already frayed nerves. “I saw the way the two of you were when I walked in.”
“Well, if you’re not engaged anymore, I don’t think that’s any of your business—”
I trailed off when he stepped closer, almost chest to chest with his defiant eyes thinned to slits.
“That you’re probably stringing her along again and hurting her?”
His nostrils flared as the rest of his features hardened.
“I won’t hurt her again. You have my word.”
He opened his mouth to speak but stopped as the click of Thea’s heels came closer. The vacant space amplified all the sounds in and around it.
“I’m ready to go. Everything okay?” Her brow furrowed as she glanced between us.
“Fine. Just catching up. Let’s go.” He held out his arm and I fought a wave of nausea when she slid her hand inside the crook of his elbow.
“Will you be here when I get back?” she asked, and I could almost hear Adam’s teeth grinding.
“No, I’m heading out now, but I’ll be back tomorrow. Enjoy your lunch.” I nodded goodbye and headed out and into the parking lot without looking back.
After I got into my truck, I stilled before turning on the engine. Adam’s dig cut so deep because he was right. No matter what still lingered between us, I’d hurt her enough. I wasn’t worthy of taking anything more from her than I already had.
16
Thea
“When are you heading back home?”Adam asked after our drinks came.
I was never one to drink at lunch during a workday, but Violet wouldn’t mind as long as I didn’t return tipsy. And after whatever that was with Dominic and me earlier, I needed something to calm the conflicting emotions flooding my system.
“My boss said she’d like me here until the opening, so probably late September. I actually don’t mind. The area is nice.” I poked the fruit in my glass of white sangria with my thin straw.
“Are you sure? You look about a thousand miles away.”
My eyes flickered to Adam. His scrutinizing stare wasn’t helping my general discomfort.
“I’m fine. Just a lot of work to be done, a lot of daily reports and whatever. Sorry if I seem distracted to you.” I smiled, but he didn’t return it.
Adam and I should have stayed friends. I went against my better judgment thinking a relationship with him would help me move forward. But it hadn’t been right to use him like that, even if I hadn’t done it consciously at the time.
I wanted to stay friends, but Adam always wanted more. Once we’d crossed the line, it hadn’t been as easy for him to go back.
“Are you sure Dominic isn’t the one distracting you?” He took a long pull from his beer glass while glaring at me with a raised brow.
