This “chance encounter” was so reminiscent of the dozen other times the exact thing had happened that I started to second-guess myself if I’d actually deleted the tracking app he’d used.
He shrugged, either unbothered by or indifferent to my tone. “Pure luck. I just figured if you were going to be out anywhere on a Saturday night, it would be on Main Street. Looks like I was right.”
I inhaled deeply and clutched my purse tighter, my fight-or-flight instinct getting a workout. “Why exactly are you here?”
He finally seemed to read the sharpness in my tone, and a small crack formed in his facade. “Your pillow. I told you, I have it.”
“And I told you I didn’t want it.”
“But it’s your favorite. I didn’t want you to be without it.”
“Are you joking?” I breathed out an incredulous laugh and shook my head. “This is crossing so many lines, it’s unreal.”
“What lines? I’m just being nice. I know how much you love that thing, so I wanted to give it back.”
“You know what I love even more? My privacy. And for people to respect my boundaries. I thought my not responding to your texts was a pretty clear sign to stop contacting me. It sure as hell wasn’t an invitation to follow me here.”
“But—”
“No.” I held up my hand and shook my head, taking another step away from him. “Keep the pillow. Or don’t. Throw it away for all I care. We aren’t a couple anymore, and this behavior is not okay.”
“C’mon, Sutton. We were good together, weren’t we? I thought we could give the long-distance thing a try. I miss you.”
“It’s not going to happen.” When he opened his mouth, no doubt to argue, I said, “And I’m involved with someone.” Never mind that that someone was called thePussy Destroyer, and I’d purchased it from the town’s sex toy dealer. Doug did not need to know the details. “Now, it’s time for you to leave.”
Without waiting for him to respond, I turned around and strode into One Night Stan’s, exhaling a sigh of relief when the door shut behind me. It was loud and busy inside the bar, but I spotted Quinn almost immediately as she waved me over to a booth in the back.
I tossed my purse into the seat before sliding in across from her. “Sorry I’m late. It’s been a hell of a night, and it’s only gotten started.”
“Good thing I already ordered you a lemon drop, then, isn’t it?” she said, sliding the drink closer to me.
“I love you so much. Have I told you that today?”
She laughed and took a sip of her drink. “So, why’s it been a hell of a night?”
I really didn’t want to get into my abysmal dating history, but I also didn’t have anyone else to talk to about it. Laurel didn’t need to concern herself with this. Plus, I could use a friend’s outlook.
“My ex is turning out to be more of a creep than I gave him credit for.”
She raised her brows. “Did he mail you a package filled with doll heads or something?”
“I’d actually welcome that. Unfortunately, he brought me something himself. He just cornered me outside.”
Quinn’s smile dropped, and she glanced toward the front door before returning her attention to me. “He followed you here? FromAtlanta?”
“See?” I leaned toward her over the table. “That’s weird, right?”
“Yes, that’s weird! What reason did he give you?”
“He wanted to return my pillow.”
“Yourwhat?”
“You heard me.”
“I’ve heard of a lot of excuses, but that is—oh my god…” Quinn’s wide eyes were caught on something behind me, but I knew better than to spin around in my seat right away.
“Is this a look or don’t-look situation?” I asked.
