Nothing left to discuss? What did that mean? My heart beat a little faster from the mounting tension growing thicker by the second.
“You can’t just—” Bernard’s volume climbed with each word. A woman at a nearby table gathered her things and moved. “You can’t just end things and expect me to accept it. We were together for four months, Elijah. Four goddamn months.”
End things?
My brain glitched. They’d broken up? When? Why hadn’t Elijah told me? We talked about everything…mostly.
Michael and Fraser exchanged uncomfortable looks. The coffee shop had gone quieter, conversations dying as people tuned into the brewing confrontation.
“This isn’t the place,” Elijah said quietly.
“Then where? You won’t answer my calls. You won’t respond to my texts.” Bernard’s voice rose even higher, drawing glances from nearby tables. “You owe me an explanation.”
“I gave you one. An honest one. You didn’t like it.”
“Bullshit.” Bernard’s laugh was ugly, wet with something that might have been tears. Might have been performance. Hard to tell with him.
His gaze swung to me.
Oh no.
“It’s about him, isn’t it?” Bernard pointed. “It’s always been about him. Your precious Sammy.”
“Leave him out of this.” Something dangerous flickered in Elijah’s eyes.
“Why? He’s the reason you’re doing this!” Bernard’s voice cracked, and suddenly his eyes were wet. “We were happy until he started poisoning you against me.”
I had? When? It was the opposite. I hadn’t said anything against Bernard, despite having plenty of reasons to. But the accusation was already out of his mouth, and other customers were definitely watching now, making me want to crawl under the table, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Bernard.” Elijah’s jaw clenched. “I’m not going to argue with you here.”
My gaze bounced between them like this was a tennis match. Everyone in the shop was silently watching. It wouldn’t have surprised me if popcorn started circulating.
“Of course not. You never argue. You just shut down and walk away, and I’m supposed to be fine with that?” Bernard’s voice cracked. “How could you do this to me?”
Elijah’s jaw clenched. He said nothing.
“Admit why you broke up with me!” Bernard jabbed a finger in my direction. My head snapped up. Huh? “Your best friend who you spend every waking moment with.”
I wasn’t comfortable being the topic of their argument…or breakup. I might’ve been secretly in love with Elijah, but I’d never acted on my feelings. Never dipped a toe into territory it had no business being in. If it wouldn’t draw everyone’s attention, I would’ve gotten up and walked out. I didn’t like how a few eyes cut toward me, like I was some kind of homewrecker.
“Just admit you’re in love with him!”
“Enough!” Elijah glanced away, nostrils flaring.
What? My eyebrows shot up. Part of me wanted to disappear, to sink through the floor and never resurface. Another part, smaller, uglier, wondered if any of it was true.
“Bernard.” Elijah stood slowly, his movements controlled.
Bernard stepped closer, his face contorting. “I’m not going to let you pretend I don’t exist.”
He was giving off hella Fatal Attraction vibes. I just hope he didn’t—Bernard lunged toward me, hands outstretched like he meant to grab my collar or shove me. Chair legs scraped against the floor. Someone gasped.
I gasped right along with them. This couldn’t be happening. It was insane.
But Elijah was faster. He caught Bernard’s wrist mid-motion, stopping him cold. No violence in the movement. Just an immovable body of leashed fury.
“Don’t.” The word was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of something dangerous. Elijah’s eyes had gone flat, his expression carved from stone. “Don’t you ever fucking try to touch him.”
