Smiling at Laney as she pulls herself free, I say, “Well, I think you just ruined her day, so, thanks for that.” Playfully, I bump her with my hip.
“I owed you one,” she says, taking another step away from me.
I watch her move down the aisle, pulling further and further away from me.
It's like I'm seeing my future walk away and I don't like it.
I thought there was something growing between us, but every time I think we're on the same page, she pulls away.
What's gotten into her?11LaneyWhat the hell am I doing?
The second I saw little miss perfect smiling at Anders, in her sleek dress and fancy shoes, something came over me. It filled my belly like one hundred proof alcohol. I could feel the heat as it spread through my chest, causing my fingers to clench and my heart to go stiff.
And then when I realized it was her, the girl that had torn Anders's heart from his chest, stabbing it with her cold dead stiletto, and I couldn't help but be catty.
My heart is still beating from the sudden shot of adrenaline. I've never been so brazen and forward with someone before. It came out of nowhere, hitting me like a bull seeing red. And having just been with the man, my panties still damp from his cum, there wasn’t a chance in hell she was going to get away with insulting him right in front of me.
Woo! That wine I chugged is hitting me hard.
Standing at the check-out, the young girl keeps looking up at Anders with a little smile on her face. Whenever his eyes connect with hers, she practically falls over swooning. Rolling my eyes, I keep my thoughts to myself. She's just a kid, sixteen maybe. She’s not a girl I need to compete with.
What is it with women gawking at this man? Yes, he's gorgeous. Yes, he's tall, dark, handsome, with thick hair I can run my fingers through. . . But can't they see he's mine?
No. Nope. Not true. That's just the wine. Not mine.
The battle in my head distracts me and Anders has to repeat my name twice after he’s paid and the customers behind us are getting antsy to move up in line . I know I'm right; the wine is fucking with my emotions. The jealousy I feel, the anger, the annoyance of people admiring a man who deserves to be admired, that isn't who I am.
And Anders is not mine. These feelings aren't real, they can't be. It's too soon to feel a connection with someone else. I'm only two months out of a long term relationship. This is just rebound sex; it has to be.
Anders pushes the cart through the parking lot, and I'm looking down at my feet as we walk. I know he can tell something is wrong, but I'm not sure what to say to him. Do I even need to say anything? It's not like we owe each other these heartfelt confessions.
“Look who it is.” I hear the familiar voice coming from a car we’re passing.
Looking up, I see the woman from the bar. She's smiling at us, but I don't feel any of the jealousy that had taken me hostage inside the store.
Her smile is different. It's pleasant, friendly, it's welcomed in this moment of confused emotions.
“Candice. Long time no see.”
“Yeah, it is actually. I saw you every day for a week, and then bam! Nothing.” She cups her hips with a teasing grin.
“Well, you know,” he says, wrapping an arm around my side. “I've been helping Laney with some stuff, and just haven't had the chance to get to the Bear Claw.”
Candice grunts lightly as her eyes follow his arm and then lift back up. “It's no wonder Cara was parading through the parking lot like a vicious animal. She lost the best thing in her life, and it looks like her plan to make it so no one else would want you didn't work.” She laughs out loud, slapping her knee. “Looks like that blew up in her face. You deserve a nice woman with a good right hook.”
“Us?” I say, glancing between us wide eyed. “Oh no, we're not together.” Taking a step out of his grasp, I clear my throat. “But you're right, he does deserve someone who is going to treat him right.”
Anders’s eyes stare at the empty space between us, and his hand dangles awkwardly for a moment. “Uh, yeah, thanks, Candice,” he says, taking his hand and running it through his hair. “Well, we got some frozen stuff here, so we should probably get going.”
She says goodbye to us and walks to the store, and the two of us climb into his truck. My hands are in my lap and my eyes are down. I want to look at him, but I can feel the tension radiating off his skin. He's upset, and I know it's my fault.