I turned away, leaving him still pinned under Luna. She had never bit anyone, and for some weird reason I hoped she changed her mind about that.
I went back to the display table and picked up the stack of books I’d been arranging, and started placing them on the shelf with the methodical focus I’d spent a year developing.
Behind me, Luna kept growling.
“Camila, please hear me out. You’re …you’re in danger.”
I reached up and turned the music louder.
I crossed to the coffee machine and began the opening sequence — water reservoir, filter, grounds. The familiar routine of it helped. I focused on the smell of the coffee, the sound of the water beginning to heat.
Then I heard a shriek.
Audrey.
I turned around.
She had come through the back door from the café side and had apparently registered the situation in approximately one second — large man on the floor of her bookshop, large dog on large man — and had drawn her conclusions. She was hitting Jason with her sandal with a committed energy, and Jason had both arms up trying to deflect the blows while Luna continued her ground-level supervision.
“Who—”thwack“—do you—”thwack“—think you are—”
“Please stop, please stop—”
I loved it. For some reason, something deep in my chest fluttered. He was finally getting what he deserved. I could have stopped Audrey right away. Told her he was my ex-husband.
But I didn’t.
To my surprise, Jason caught Audrey’s sandals mid-whack. “Camila, are you going to tell her who I am?”
“I couldn’t be bothered to.” I said.
Jason looked at Audrey. “I’m Camila’s ex-husband.”
She looked at him with enormous interest. Then she looked at me.
“Should I keep going then?”
Jason made a small, involuntary sound.
“No,” I said. “Let him up.”
CHAPTER 16
CAMILA
Jason got to his feet slowly, brushing dog hair from his shirt, trying hard to maintain the dignity he lost in my eyes one year ago. He looked at me across the shop.
“Camila, listen to me.” he growled. How dare he even raise his voice? I felt like taking offmysandals this time, and throwing them at him from across the cafe. “You’re in danger. I’ve been looking for you for a year. I only found you yesterday.”
I stared at him.
“Is this some fucking spy movie, Jason? Is that what we’re doing?”
“I know how it sounds—”
“You think you can walk into my life whenever you feel like it and lie to me again.” I picked up my pile of books. “Just go.”
The door opened behind him. Mr. Kamau, my first regular customer every morning, stepped inside, took one look at the atmosphere in the room, and stopped.
