Page 76 of Heart Match

‘So you’ve got a new boyfriend,’ he says, completely ignoring what I just said. Typical Josh.

‘Please, leave,’ I beg.

I’ve played different scenarios in my head over and over again of what I’d say if I ever saw him again, but now everything seems to have disappeared from my mind.

‘Do you have a beer, or something?’

I sigh. How long is it going to take until he leaves?

‘I don’t,’ I say, crossing my arms over my chest, as if creating a shield against him. But today, there is no right lingerie or strong enough armour to wear against him.

Josh is manipulative, he knows what to say and how, he knows how to make something complex turn into water and sugar. Everyone who meets him falls for it. I did, my family and friends too. Not anymore.

Now he sits across from me, his red hair darker than I remember. His blue eyes trying to meet mine, but I avoid the contact as much as possible.

‘Do you think your tennis player will love you like I do?’

I don’t answer him. I know where this is going. He wants me to answer, but no matter what I say, it will be the wrong answer. He will use it against me.

‘He won’t, love bug. No one will ever love you like I do.’

Now I let out my sarcastic laugh. He used to hate it, too.

‘I’m also pretty sure he won’t fuck you like I did,’ he says, now standing up.

I clench my hands, digging my nails deep into the skin of my palms.

‘That, I’m pretty sure too. No one will ever fuck up my life like you did,’ I say, anger taking over me. Courage is showing up.

He laughs hard. His sarcasm drives me crazy.

‘I’m not that girl anymore.’

‘Oh, I know. You’re a woman now, successful, and apparently famous too,’ he mocks.

‘Does it bother you?’

He smirks.

‘Looking at you now, looking like a loser, unable to get over me after three years, I don’t know why I didn’t press charges against you,’ I say, now with clenched teeth.

‘Maybe you should have, but I always knew you didn’t have the courage to do it. It was never something I worried about,’ he says, his eyes darkening like a thunderstorm about to begin as he walks toward me.

‘Get the fuck out, Josh,’ I shout at him as he gets closer to me. I try to walk away, but he grabs my arm, his grip strong and tight. He shakes me hard. My instinct is to close my eyes and wait for the punch.

‘Shut up, Olivia,’ he raises his voice, squeezing my arm even harder. Veins are popping across his forehead, his face has reddened with rage.

‘Why is it so hard for you to accept defeat? You lost me, get over it and leave me alone.’

‘Get out.’

When I hear the familiar voice coming from behind me, I know everything will be fine, no matter what.

‘You must be the boyfriend,’ says Josh, letting go of my arm, yanking it in a way I almost fall backwards.

‘And you must be the jerk ex,’ says Luc firmly. The door must have been open, and I’m so glad.

Luc’s wearing an expression I’ve never seen before. It’s as if he transformed himself, now prepared for a cold war. He gets to me and wraps an arm around my waist, holding me in place. Then he takes my hand and uses his thumb to apply pressure to my palm, just like he did when I had my déjà vu on the street.

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