“Becca,” Izzy said, like her name still tasted good.
Becca’s gaze moved past him—settled on the girl.
“What do you want?” Becca asked evenly.
The girl smiled first.
“So this is the shop,” she said, looking around like she was assessing property. “Cute.”
Izzy smirked. “Told you she was dramatic.”
The girl stepped forward, heels clicking softly against the floor. “You’re quieter than I imagined.”
Becca didn’t move. “You’re trespassing.”
The girl laughed. Light. Unbothered. “Relax. We’re just curious.”
“About what?” Becca asked.
“About the woman who couldn’t keep her man,” the girl replied sweetly.
Izzy chuckled under hisbreath.
Becca felt the insult hit—but she didn’t react.
Instead, she said calmly, “You’re standing in my place of business. You have five seconds to decide if you want to leave politely.”
The girl tilted her head, studying her. “You always talk like that?”
Izzy leaned closer to the girl. “See? I told you.”
Becca’s eyes locked on him. “You brought her here to provoke me.”
The girl waved a dismissive hand. “Please. If I wanted to provoke you, you’d already know.”
That was when Becca felt it.
The shift.
Not jealousy.
Threat.
“You should be careful,” Becca said quietly. “This town isn’t kind to mess.”
The girl smiled wider. “Oh sweetheart. My family owns mess.”
Izzy stiffened.
That told Becca everything.
The girl stepped closer, voice low now. “You were never the problem. You were just… in the way.”
Becca straightened, calm but unyielding. “Then you picked the wrong place to remind me.”
For a moment, the shop held its breath.
Then the girl laughed softly and turned away. “Come on, Izzy. She’s not worth the effort.”
