Page 22 of Break Me Gently

Zach

The shopping centre didn’t play any cheesy festive music, and I was grateful for that, since I should only let one thing at a time piss me off. The food court was crowded with hungry people who needed refuelling before they dove back in for the winter sales.

After this there would be the January sales, then Valentine’s Day, and then—I wondered what Amber would like for Valentine’s Day.

I moved the plastic branch to one side when I saw Nolan approach Amber’s table. I grinned when I saw how happy he looked to see her. This would be so satisfying to watch. I wanted her to pulverise him. Freeze-dry his heart and crush it into a fine powder.

Why was she hugging him? Consoling the enemy?

I stood up, but the fake plant no longer covered me, so I sat back down. I moved the leaves out of the way and watched. Amber talked, moving her hands around like she did when she was nervous.

His smile slowly faded, and I watched the moment land before glancing at Amber. She looked as if she was apologising. Shouldn’t she be happy? She’d got an upgrade.

They sat and chatted for a while. I stared between them and the time on my phone. Why would he want to hang around after getting dumped? The boy had no self-respect.

Seventeen minutes later, they stood up. I waited until they reached the escalator before following them. Amber walked him to the main exit and waved him off.

No hug.

The boundaries were now in place.

She fixed her scarf as she turned to see me through the glass door.

She shook her head at me, but it was the smile lighting up her entire face that had me moving toward her.

The automatic door opened, and a gust of icy wind hit my face.

“What took you so long? I’ve met someone better, bye Felicia, was all that was needed,” I said, hooking my arm around her waist.

“Oh my god. Did you watch us?” she said, turning to look at me.

“It was for your safety,” I said, guiding her down the main street to the exhibition she wanted to see.

“That’s so fucking creepy, Zach,” she muttered, but I didn’t take much notice, since she tucked her arm beneath my jacket and held onto me.

She was young and trainable.

❧ ❧ ❧

Luke had finally fucked off to his own house, the freeloading bastard. Isabella was back at work for a few days, which left me alone with Amber.

“You’re doing the dishes,” she said, placing the neatly cut sandwiches on a plate.

I loved that she didn’t use separate plates for our food, although it wasn’t something I’d noticed with my previous girlfriends.

“Sure,” I said, taking our drinks and glasses to the dining table. “When is Isabella due back?”

She lifted her phone and began tapping away.

“Around four today,” she said, putting the phone back. “Ugh. Mum said to make you feel welcome.”

Her mum messaged her back straight away, unlike mine. But then her bio dad was a dickhead, like my mum. Mark and Zoe would have made a perfect childless couple. I wondered if Amber regretted having genes contributed from a deadbeat.

I could never walk away from my kid. If my ex-wife was a bitch and tried to stop me, then I’d hire someone to take care of her. Let her catch me in a wheelchair.

Amber sat next to me.

She was too sweet to try that kind of shit on me.