Page 11 of A Smooth Operator

I sat at the table and was shunned by Marina and Petal—the usual. David talked to me because he was bored. He, like me, wasn't suited for the "Hey, did you see what so and so was doing" type of conversation.

"Remi, hang with us," Marina pouted.

He leaned to kiss her forehead. It was a gentle, loving kiss, and my heart stuttered. Would a man ever do that to me?

"I can't, babe. I'm workin', remember." He was distracted by one of his employees—a tall blonde man in a dark suit. He was handsome, but obviously not as good-looking as Remi, but…and that's when Marina caught me lusting after her boyfriend.

"Oh, stop making eyes at my man, Poopy Pants. He's not interested."

I gasped and so did everyone else at the table. We were not in high school, and even though it was not okay to talk to me like that then, it was really not okay to speak to me this way now.

"Stop it, Marina," David growled. "It's disgusting to call her that."

"Oh, Petal, be careful, Poopy Pants here is gonna steal your man next," Marina scoffed.

"Stop, Marina," Petal cried out. This was too much even for her.

Remi finally noticed that some drama was playing out at the table. "All okay?"

"Just sayin' that Poopy Pants here—"

"What the fuck, Marina?" Lani lashed out. "Stop it. Alright."

I got up. I was having a really nice and quiet evening at home—and Lani had dragged me here to be insulted. Enough was enough.

I adjusted my crossbody bag and started to walk to the door. Lani ran behind me. "Echo, I'm so sorry."

"Why did you want me to come?" I demanded.

She looked sheepish. "Tommy has a friend over and he's just your type."

"My type?"

"Yeah. He and Tommy work together at his father's place. He's a bit of a…oh, there he is. Jeremy."

I turned and felt my heart slide. The man she was calling out was older than all of us by at least a decade—probably in his late thirties. He was balding. Obese. Now, I have nothing against balding or obese people—but this man was wearing a wedding ring.

"Lani, he's married."

"Divorced," she immediately whispered. "Well, separated. He just wanted a fun evening."

And you called me? I stared at her in disbelief.

"Jer, this is my friend Echo."

Jeremy leaned in to hug me, but I stepped away. What in the hell was going on?

"Hi, babe. Tommy here tells me you're single and ready to mingle."

I had an IQ of 170. I was one of the preeminent scientists working in gene therapy for cervical cancer. I volunteered at a women's shelter two nights a week. I was a good person. I didn't deserve this.

"I think Lani is mistaken, Jer. I'm not ready to mingle," I said softly but firmly.

Tommy guffawed. "Aw, come on, Poopy Pants, how long has it been since you got laid?"

Tears threatened to fill my eyes. I had left high school so many years ago, and yet here I was being bullied again.

I stepped away from the three of them. "Y'all have a nice evening."

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