She laughs, and I can’t help but shake my head at her antics.
“Just keep in mind,” she adds as she plays with her menu. “Elijah fucked you, not him. So you’re winning either way. Don’t let him get to you.”
“I’m not letting anyone—”
“Here you go,” Bennett interrupts, placing a mug full of coffee and a bowl of creamers in front of Marissa and a glass of water in front of me. “Sugar is on the condiment rack. Y’all know what you want to eat?”
Marissa orders her breakfast smoothly, smiling generously at my mortal enemy the entire time. And when she’s done, she sends me a small smirk that tells me she has every intention of making me suffer under the awkwardness this situation brings.
“I’ll take the breakfast sampler with sausage and over medium eggs,” I say, placing the menu back in its place behind the condiments.
“Sure,” Bennett says emotionlessly. “I’ll have that right out.” Then he disappears again without ever sparing me a glance.
“I’m sorry, but this is hilarious,” Marissa grins, and I give her a blank stare.
“Can you find it hilarious on your own time? This topic is boring me.”
She puts her hands up in surrender, sliding out of her booth.“Fine! But when I return from the bathroom, we’re making a game plan for how you’ll grovel to your man when he returns.”
“Whatever,” I grunt, staring out the window as she scurries away.
As much as I complain, I’m happy Marissa forced me out of the house. I would have sat on my bed, staring at pictures of Elijah and secretly crying all morning if she hadn’t.
Plus, I enjoy spending time with her. I’d rather be here for the first time bickering by her side than here for the first time alone.
“Hey.”
My head snaps to the right at the sound of Bennett’s annoyed tone, and I stare at him where he stands before me. His arms are crossed over his chest, giving the illusion that he is bigger than he actually is.
The glare he’s leveling me with would probably scare a more timid man. But instead, I find it kind of funny.
“Can I help you?” I ask him, and those big blue eyes narrow in on me.
“You can, actually.”
“Did you forget my order?”
Bennett snarls at the question, his hip popping with the new wave of attitude overcoming him.
This alone is a perfect example as to why he and Elijah could never work out: there would be far too much sass between the two of them.
“No, I did not forget your order. I wanted to say something to you.”
When he doesn’t continue, I raise a brow.
“So say it,” I deadpan, taking a drink of my water.
He glares even harder as he says,“Stay away from Eli.”
I choke on the cool liquid that’s traveling down my throat, my eyes widening as I cough. Bennett smiles smugly, as if he’s won something.
“Sorry?” I question, staring up at him incredulously.
“You heard me. He’s new to this town and doesn’t know you the way everyone else does. He sees the best in people. Even theworstof people.”
At this, I can’t help but laugh. “Theworstof people? Are you talking about me?”
Bennett shrugs.“I am. I know who you are, Rowan, and I refuse to watch you hurt that boy.”
