It’s Isaac.
He’s sitting in his truck, parked across the street from the bakery.His window is down, his arm resting on the door, a cigarette between his fingers, watching us.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“Yeah, fuck is right,” Sloane responds, but her tone is harsh.Anger laces her words.“Want me to go out there and tell him to leave?”
He’s not violating the restraining order, and he knows that.It’s why he’s parked across the street and not in the little parking lot out front.
Telling him to leave will only make him linger longer.That’s what he wants.Confrontation.An argument.He wants me to go out there or for me to call Miles, and then a fight starts.
“No.Just ignore him.He’ll go away,” I tell Sloane, but she lets out a hard sigh, not liking my answer.“He wants us to get pissed.”
“I am pissed,” she spits out, folding her arms across her chest as she stares back at him, tossing up a middle finger a few seconds later.
“Seriously, Sloane, I know he’s a dick, but don’t engage with him.That’s what he wants.”
“That fucker is laughing,” Sloane says, her teeth clenched, and I close my eyes and let out a slow breath.“Laughing after I flipped him off.What a fucking piece of work.”
“Yeah, he is, but we can’t let him see he’s getting to us.He can’t come in here.Honestly, he can’t even cross the street.”
“I know, but ugh…” Sloane says, picking up her sandwich but never taking her eyes off of him.“He hasn’t tried to contact you, right?”
“No, nothing really since the restraining order.I mean, he drives by here.Does shit like this,” I reply, tossing a hand over my shoulder to where he’s parked.“But it’s all just for show.He wants me to know he’s still around, but he’s just an idiot.He’ll go away.”
And when I glance over my shoulder a few seconds later, he’s driving off.
“See, he left,” I tell Sloane, annoyed still but relieved.“It’s all just attention-seeking behavior, and if I don’t give him what he wants, he eventually leaves.”
“You should call the police,” she counters.“He’s bothering you.Intentionally sitting outside your business.He could cause harm to it by bothering customers.”
“But he hasn’t, so I’m not sure the police will do anything.He hasn’t violated the restraining order.Really, he’s just being annoying.The police have real problems to deal with.They don’t need to hear me whining about my immature ex who can’t seem to get over me.”
Sloane nods, but I can tell that she doesn’t agree, but I really don’t think there’s anything I can do unless he breaks the order.
Back in the kitchen, Sloane is pulling a batch of cupcakes out of the oven while I’m frosting some.We’ve been working, chatting about mindless shit, the music playing, and the time passes so quickly.Before we both realize it, it’s starting to get dark.
Sloane’s phone chimes, and she glances down where it lies on the counter.Smiling, I know it’s from Owen.He’s the only person who can make her smile like that.
“What’s going on with Owen?”I ask her, and her cheeks flush pink, embarrassed that I caught her smirking about whatever he sent.
“Oh, nothing.Just being his typical unicorn self,” she jokes.“He’s coming by with Miles in a bit.They’re going to stop and pick up dinner.”
And like clockwork, my phone chimes, and Sloane and I let out a laugh.“These boys.Always checking up on us,” I tease, but I love it.
Since getting back together with Miles, he’s been amazing.Attentive and helpful, sweet and sexy—everything I could ask for.
I left my phone on the table where Sloane and I were eating lunch, so I head through the kitchen and out there to grab it.
But when I get to the counter, I freeze.
Isaac is standing at the front door.Just standing there, staring at me through the double glass doors.A slick and smarmy smile on his face, and my heart begins to race, scared and frozen with fear.
He’s not supposed to be this close to me, even if we are separated by a locked door.My hands are shaking, my words trapped in my throat.
I need to yell for Sloane, tell her to call the police, but I can’t.And when I finally realize what I need to do, making my legs move to where my phone is sitting, it’s too late.
I watch as he lights a match, dropping it, and all I see is flames.My worst nightmare is unfolding right in front of my eyes.
