I hoped Derrek believed Vann becauseI did.
Derrek held up his hands. “I’m nottrying to start trouble. I would just like to talk to my girlfriend.”
“Ex.”
Both men turned to me. “What?”Derrek asked.
“Ex-girlfriend. I’m yourex-girlfriend.”
He shrugged. “That’s what I meant.”
That wasn’t what he meant. He’dalready started his manipulation game. I didn’t even think he noticed. It wassuch a part of who he was that he couldn’t stop it.
When I didn’t make a move or openthe conversation further, he pushed forward with his agenda. “Will you talk tome, Vera? I drove all the way here. I closed my kitchen for tonight. For you. Ijust want the chance to talk. That’s all.”
I stared at him, taking in his worthwith a glance. This man that I had once been so enamored with, that had wowedme with his talent, smooth compliments and good looks was so lacking now. So…unimpressive.
A flush of embarrassment washed overme. I couldn’t believe I’d fallen for him… gotten sucked into something sotoxicwith him.
I surprised myself by saying, “Yes.”
Vann swung to face me, his eyesbugging out of his head. “Vera, you can’t be serious.”
“We can talk,” I told Derrek. “Butthat’s it.”
Derrek glanced at Vann. “Can we go somewhere?”
I pointed to the side of the truck.“We can go right there. I’m not closing my kitchen for you. Ever.”
A sour look of disappointmentcrossed his face, but he quickly hid it behind penitent remorse. “Fine.”
He stepped back, moving to the placewhere my customers usually stood around eating their orders. Orders I made forthem. Out of my truck. From the safety and success of my new life.
“Are you sure?” Vann asked in a lowvoice as I moved to walk past him.
I held his gaze. “If he touches meat all, you have my permission to beat him to a bloody pulp.”
Vann grinned at me. “You’re notgoing out there to make up with him?”
“I’m going out there to tell him toleave me alone and never, ever come back.”
My brother pressed his hands to thesides of my head, squeezing like only big brothers did and kissed my forehead.“Proud of you, Vere.”
I ducked under his arm. “Even ifit’s just like a finger, Vann, beat his ass.”
Vann’s chuckle followed me out thedoor to where Derrek waited for me. I approached with wariness, butdetermination too. This needed to happen. He wasn’t going to leave me aloneuntil he realized I was no longer scared of him. Till he understood that wewere never, ever going to happen again.
Derrek’s sneer reminded me of somany bad nights with him. And yet this time it couldn’t touch me. Even if itstill turned my stomach. “Vann’s playing bodyguard now?”
“Well, I need one when you’rearound. So, yeah. I guess he is.”
“Vera,” he groaned. “You’re notserious.”
“Derrek, I realize that you areliving in some delusional alternate reality where you’ve convinced yourselfthat you didn’t do anything wrong and that I’m at fault for all that happenedbetween us. But the truth is, you’re a horrible person. The way you treated meis completely unacceptable. I am lucky to have gotten away from you, and that’swhere I’m going to stay.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked, and heshoved his hands in his pockets, probably restraining them from what he wantedto do. “What happened to you?” He leaned forward, getting in my face. “Did youjoin some kind of cult I don’t know about? You’re a completely differentperson.”
I looked at the sky, hoping to findpatience, but then my glare returned to Derrek’s face because even if I’d foundmyself, I still knew exactly who he was and I didn’t trust the slimy bastard.“The problem is not that I’m a different person, but that you’re the sameperson. I can’t be with you, Derrek. Frankly, I don’t want to be with you. Burnmy things or give them to charity or whatever, but we are so over.”
