“Sure. Jess has wrestling shit almost every day now, so that works.” I’m not exactly feeling social. I’d rather wallow in Dare’s rejection and lick my wounds in peace for a day or two. But I’ve always believed in faking it until you make it.
“Perfect.”
The afternoon goes by quickly, and soon my shift is almost over. I’m finishing up with one of my last tables—a family of four on vacation from Sweden—when the door swing
s open. I look up, mid-smile, only to see him. The grin melts off my face and shock has me frozen to this spot.
Tall and tanned with a perpetual five o’clock shadow. Sharp suit, sharp jaw, and an even sharper tongue. Eric. What the hell is he doing here? He spots me, flashing one of his signature smirks my way before taking a seat in the corner booth.
“Enjoy the rest of your vacation,” I say quickly before hightailing it to Jake’s office. He’s at his desk, eyes focused on the laptop in front of him.
“My shift is almost over. Mind if I leave early?” I try to keep my voice even, though my stomach feels anything but. Jake throws me a disbelieving look.
“First, you’re mad about not getting enough hours, and now you’re trying to cut out,” he checks the time on his phone, “forty-five minutes early?” His tone is biting, and if I wasn’t in such a hurry to get out of here, I might take it personally. I’m under no illusion that Eric won’t follow me when I leave. In fact, I want him to follow me. I want him as far away from my friends, my coworkers, my life that I’ve made for myself here.
“Please, Jake. I’ll explain later. I just really need to leave.”
His expression changes as he detects the desperation in my voice, and he stands quickly, coming to my side.
“Are you okay?” He peeks over my shoulder, looking for clues to my sudden shift in demeanor.
“My ex is here.” I wave an unconcerned hand, trying to downplay the situation. “I just really don’t want to see him.” I don’t tell him that Eric lives four hours away and has probably done some serious stalking to find my whereabouts.
“Grab your stuff. I’ll walk you out.”
“Jake, it’s fine, really. I don’t want to bring my drama here.”
“Get your stuff, Lo,” he insists.
Knowing he’s not going to let it go, I do as he says. I wouldn’t put it past Eric to come looking for me. Jake puts a hand on the small of my back, ushering me through the restaurant and I walk faster, away from his touch, not wanting to provoke Eric. We’re halfway across the floor when Eric rises, along with the dread brewing inside me, and smooths his suit with the palm of his hand.
“Lo.” Eric smiles, coming to grab my elbow in a show of ownership. He flicks his eyes at Jake but doesn’t acknowledge him otherwise.
“What are you doing?” I ask through my teeth, not wanting to make a scene.
“Follow me and we’ll talk.” His eyes narrow in warning, and I nod my agreement if only to get him outside before I chew his ass out.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I say to Jake, doing my best to reassure him with my eyes.
“You sure?” Jake’s eyes bore into mine.
“Positive.” I see Sutton looking at us, a mixture of suspicion and concern written all over her face. I smile at her and mouth call me later.
“Let’s go,” Eric says, losing patience. I lead him outside, intent on steering him away from the building, but he jerks my arm, stopping me.
“What the hell are you doing?” I try to tug my arm out of his grasp, but he tightens it painfully. “Ow, Eric. You’re fucking hurting me.”
“Still got that mouth, I see,” he says disapprovingly.
“Let. Me. Go.”
“Why won’t you take my calls, baby?” His voice is that menacingly sweet one. The one that barely conceals his rage lurking beneath his calm façade.
“I left, Eric. It’s over. What don’t you get?”
“It’s not fucking over,” he grits out, yanking me closer. I shove him, but he never loses his grip.
“You’re acting insane!”