Now, I’m realizing what a fool I am.
Nonna. I should totally blame her for all of this.
How did she not know?
“Let me grab you that cupcake. Max, do you want something while I’m at it?”
The last thing on earth I want right now is to eat. “No, I’m good.”
If that isn’t the biggest lie I’ve ever told, I don’t know what is.
Fiona walks away, leaving me with the one person in the world I hate the most, but shouldn’t. None of this is Canyon’s fault.
I want to kill him, anyway.
Canyon leans back and relaxes in the chair. “How is Everett? We heard he moved in with your family.”
The urge to snap back at him that my family is none of his business is hard to ignore. “My brother is doing just fine. The family is welcoming him with open arms.”
“Your brother? That sounds like one crazy story. Though when it comes to Everett, I’d expect nothing less, especially after the way he introduced himself here. Has he stolen anything from you yet?”
Why does everyone keep warning me about Everett stealing? “No.”
Canyon glances around the restaurant quickly and then turns back to me. “You’ve been hanging out at the bakery a lot lately, right?”
Does Canyon know I was pursuing Fiona? “Yes. Hope got a job here.”
He glances around again and leans in. “Have you seen anyone bothering Fea lately?”
WHAT? Did she tell him that I was bothering her? She seemed kind of oblivious to me. “No. Why?”
“No reason. I just get this feeling that there’s something off about her. You know how Fea is. She holds her cards close to her chest and lets no one in, yet gives everything to the people around here.”
So it’s not just me she was being standoffish with. Has anyone even spoken rudely to her? “Not that I know of. But I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Thanks, man.”
Fiona walks over, and Canyon gets quiet. “Here’s your cupcake…dear.”
She calls him ‘dear’? A better name would be ‘dead’, but dear sounds like something a grandma would say.
“Thanks, Fea.” He grabs the cupcake off the plate. “Gotta go. See you later, baby.” Canyon walks out of the restaurant.
Baby? Fiona shouldn’t be called baby. It’s demeaning. She’s more of a babe anyway.
Or a sweetheart.
Love.
Maybe Canyon doesn’t love her. He could just be playing a game with the hottest woman around.
My hands ball into fists.
“Max?” Fiona slides back into the seat across from me. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
If you want to ask if Canyon is right for you, the answer is no. Dump him and start dating me. “Sure.”
Her eyes move down to the table, and she starts clenching her fingers together.
