“Liar, liar, lying freaking liar,” I yelled, stabbing a finger at him. “I saw the tabloids. I saw the picture. I saw the Instagram posts.”
“I can’t believe you’re dumb enough to believe that,” he scoffed.
Oh, so we were going to play like he didn’t know what was going on?
Okay fine. Bring it.
“I’m not stupid! You’re stupid,” I screamed at him. “You can’t see that Hensley doesn’t care about you. I cared about you. Why? Who the fuck knows, considering that you were never intending to sell your estate. You were always going to marry Hensley on Christmas. I know you’re going on your honeymoon. I have evidence; I have proof. I’m not crazy. You’re crazy.”
Matt’s mouth quirked. “Actually, I think you may be a little crazy because only an insane person would open a Christmas tree ornament shop in a small town.”
“Screw. You.”
“Merrie,” Matt said, his voice softening. “I think there’s been a severe misunderstanding.”
“There has?” I said in a small voice.
“Oh, yes.” He reached for me, love in his eyes.
But before his fingers could stroke my face, a man yelled, “Merrie, my love! I brought your firewood.”
Matt turned like a whip.
Brody gave him a lazy salute.
“Kicking him to the curb, Merrie?” Brody asked me.
“What? I—no!” I sputtered. “What are you doing here?”
“You said come over,” Brody said, frowning.
“No, I didn’t. I—achoo!” I couldn’t get the rest of my explanation out because of the sneezing fit.
Matt’s lip curled up. The warmth that was there a minute ago was extinguished.
“Apparently, I am the stupid one,” he said.
“What? No, this isn’t—achoo!Brody, go away.”
“Guess my timing was off,” Brody said. “Get lost, Matt. She’s done with you.”
“No, I’m not,” I insisted. “I’m not.Matt.”
“I came over to make sweet love to her in her bakery.” Brody smirked. “Don’t feel bad for me, though, mate. I don’t mind your sloppy seconds. I show these women what being with a real man is like.”
“You fucking piece of shit.” Matt’s voice was dangerously soft.
The wind howled. Snow and sleet whipped around me, tearing at my clothes. Matt stood furious in the center of the maelstrom, feeding the storm with his anger. Several of the Christmas wreaths on the light poles came loose and tumbled down the street to screams from the onlookers.
Brody stepped back from me in concern.
I shivered. “Matt,” I begged, “this isn’t—”
“I don’t care,” he said, voice so cold it burned. “I already knew. I hope he uses you and tosses you aside. You deserve it. You deserve to have your heart broken.”
“I’m not with Brody,” I cried over the raging winter wind. Matt backed away from me. I fought through the snow to try to reach him.
“I saw the picture,” he said, still walking backward. A trash can toppled over, and the elf started blaring an off-key Christmas tune. “I saw you kissing him.”
