“Well. Whatever,” he huffs. “You were nobody then, and you’re nobody now.”
With an exaggerated frown, I rest my hand over my heart. “Your words cut me real deep.”
He glares at me as my patience runs out.
“If that’s all you want, get out. I got a lot of orders to fill.”
“That’s not all I want. That bitch had this sent to my work,” he gripes. “Everybody saw it. My boss. My team. The girls in HR. You know how that makes me look?”
“Like the dick that you are?” I offer, and his face reddens.
“You got a big fucking mouth for a guy who used to eat lunch in the art room so he wouldn’t get his ass kicked.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve also got about sixty pounds of solid muscle on the kid you remember from high school, Bobby. And I don’t have time for your bullshit. So unless you’re here to buy something, get the fuck out.”
“Or what?” he scoffs.
Before I can respond, the bell over the door jingles again, and a familiar voice fills the small space.
“Hey, you. I brought?—”
Jenna stops dead when she sees him. The cardboard drink carrier in her hand tilts, the two iced coffees sloshing dangerously. Her other hand tightens around the strap of her bag. For a second, she goes pale. Then the color rushes back to her cheeks, furious and hot.
“Why areyouhere?” Disgust drips from her tone. As she sets the beverages on the counter, she sees the confectionary box and puts two and two together. “Oh. I see you got your gift. Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart.” She feigns a saccharine-sweet smile.
“Your name wasn’t on it, but I knew it was you who sent this garbage.”
“Well, it made it to the right trash can, so I guess it all worked out.”
Bobby’s shoulders tense as he clenches his jaw. “That’s rich, you calling me trash. At least I traded up with someone younger and prettier.”
That’s it. I’ve heard enough from this loser. “You didn’t trade. You lost. Now, you’re just a pathetic, grown-ass man who’s so threatened by his ex’s happiness that he storms into a chocolate shop waving dick-shaped candy like a toddler having a tantrum.”
Jenna muffles her giggle behind her hand.
“You think you’re funny, huh?” He puffs his chest like a boozy, arrogant peacock.
“I think I’m honest,” I reply. “You had your chance with her. Ten years of chances. You used her, lied to her, disrespected her, and expected her to stay quiet and grateful. That’s over now.”
He shifts his attention back to Jenna, ignoring me. “You’re crazy if you think this guy is better than me.”
She cooly crosses her arms over her chest and juts out her hip. “Oh, I know he is. The number of orgasms he gave me last night is enough to prove it. Especially whenyou…” She jabs a finger at him. “…could never give me one.”
Fuck, I love seeing her confident like this.
“You lyin’ whore.”
The words are barely out of his mouth before I jump the counter and get in his face. “I told you to watch how you talk about her,” I warn. “You were lucky she stayed with you past your expiration date.” At my full height, I tower over Bobby, and it’s obvious he hasn’t seen a gym in years. But he’s too dumb to back down. “You never deserved her.”
“And who does?” he sneers. “You?”
He takes a step forward, the top of his head just reaching my chin. Stupidity makes him brave. Too bad it’s also about to get his ass beat. From the corner of my eye, I see Jenna shifting her weight with a furrowed brow. I don’t like seeing her upset, and it tempers my anger, if only marginally.
“Bobby…” She releases a loud exhale. “Just go. You’ve done enough. The least you can do is let me be happy for once.”
He ignores her, his focus narrowing on me. “You want me to walk away? You think you’re tough now without your braces and glasses?”
He looks away with a mocking laugh, but I see it coming from a mile away. Every tell telegraphed in the bunching of his shoulders, the shift of his weight, the change in his expression. He cocks his arm back in the most obvious windup I’ve ever seen. I’d laugh if it weren’t so pitiful.
