“How’s it going, Olivia?” Avoiding eye contact so she can’t see the boredom in my gaze, I look up at the menu, even though I know exactly what I want. Coping Mechanisms 101.
“All good for me.” She leans in closer, not overtly flirting but giving me clear vibes that she wouldn’t mind riding my dickagain. “I haven’t heard from you, thought maybe we could go out or something?”
Giving myself a little pat on the back for not turning into a complete asshole, I purse my lips and look down at her with soft eyes.
“Sorry, I’m seeing someone.” As soon as the words spew from between my lips, I realize two things.
First…what the fuck did I just say? Since when am I seeing someone?
The image of Berkleigh’s cunt spread open for my cock and taking a good, hard fuck like she was made for me pops into my mind. The thought of having only her pussy for the rest of my life doesn’t even piss me off or make me want to volunteer for a year-long mission. Huh…
My second realization is that I just voiced it out loud in the biggest rumor mill this side of the Mason Dixon with saidsomeonesitting in the passenger seat of my truck.
By tomorrow at noon, we’ll be married with three kids if these gossip addicts have their way.
Fuck it, it’s no skin off my back and I’m sure Berkleigh would prefer the townfolk talking about who she’s fucking rather than what happened to her the other night.
And since we’re about to bring justice for her, it’s better to make sure no one ever hears about it so that when their bodies disappear, she won’t be on anyone’s radar.
As if on cue, Olivia’s eyes dart over my shoulder and I don’t need to follow her line of sight to know she’s staring straight at Berkleigh.
“Oh. I thought you two hated each other?" It sounds like a question but I don’t miss the accusatory tone lacing her words.
I shrug, then give her my best boyish smile—one I practiced for hours in front of a mirror to make sure I looked approachable.
“We used to but we’re adults now.” And the asshole is back.
“Oh my God! You’re like a romance novel. You know, enemies to lovers?” Fuck my life, I have no idea what she’s talking about but decide it’s best that I go along with it.
“Something like that.” Fuck, I just want my coffee. It should be pretty elementary given we’re in a fuckingcoffeeshop.
Olivia visibly melts, her eye lashes honest to fuck fluttering, and I’m half expecting little cartoon hearts to bubble up and float around her head. “That’s so sweet.”
I don’t respond, just in case more word vomit spews out, and I definitely ignore the unfamiliar need to turn around and look at Berkleigh for the sole reason that I want to.
The bell over the door rings and Olivia springs into action. “I got you both!”
Three minutes later—two years in mental exhaustion time—I’m walking out with two coffees. Well, one coffee. The other is some kind of concoction that smells like sugar and milk. That shit’s gonna put her in an early grave.
Just as I walk out, I see Cameron, who used to bully Berkleigh thinking she was pleasing me, talking through the open passenger window. My spine stiffens and my eyes narrow.
My growl must have its intended effect, because Cameron takes one look at me and gives Berkleigh a quick wave before speed walking away.
When I slide into my truck, I hold out the cup to Berkleigh and wait for her to look at me. I won’t forbid her to speak to that hypocrite, that’s crazy talk, but I will make sure Cameron never fucking comes near Berkleigh again.
“Enjoy it. That’s your last one.”
Berkleigh chuckles but it dies on her delicious pink lips when she realizes I’m serious.
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”
“We’ll see.”
For the next fifteen minutes, we drive in silence as she downs her poor excuse for caffeine.
When I turn onto a dirt track road, she stiffens in the passenger seat as her head swivels from side to side trying to figure out where we are.
“Wh—” I cut her off with atsk, reminding her that questions are unnecessary.
