Page 23 of Chosen By Love

“I don’t believe this!” Her brown gaze looked over my shoulder in surprise. “Guess who just walked in the door?” she asked.

“Who?” I asked turning my head in that direction.

Shawn, my ex-boyfriend stood at the entrance of the restaurant with another gentleman. They were waiting to be seated by the hostess. Our gazes met and I hurriedly glanced away.

“Damn it, he’s walking this way,” Tracee warned.

“I don’t want to talk to him. I hope he keeps walking. I—”

I was immediately disappointed when I heard the familiar gravelly voice. The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention.

“Hello Becca.”

A knot formed in my throat, and I could feel a trickle of sweat slide between my breast. Words… not even a reply greeting seemed lodged in my chest.

“Shawn what are you doing here?” Tracee asked saving me from speaking. “I thought you were living in Washington working for that big law firm.”

“I’m back. Transferred here about a month ago. How are you doing Becca?” Shawn asked, and I forced myself to look up at him. Shawn no longer had the power to hurt me. He meant nothing to me, and I could force myself to remain cordial to him in a public place. Couldn’t I?

I put down my fork and dabbed at my mouth with the cloth napkin. “I’m doing great, Shawn.” I noticed Shawn was as intimidating, more handsome than ever. His clean-shaven head added to his sex appeal, but I breathed a sigh of relief to feel that he nor his looks did nothing for me. I was truly over him.

“Did your family move here as well?” Tracee asked.

“No. I’m divorced.”

Tracee’s right brow arched. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she replied, but she didn’t really sound sorry at all.

“Ahem, Becca, can we talk? I have a business lunch I have to attend but can we talk later this evening?”

I could feel the awkward tension in the air between us.

“We don’t have anything to talk about, Shawn.”

“I think we do,” he said tearing his light brown eyes away from me and glancing down at his watch. “Are you still living at the same apartment?”

I sighed. “It doesn’t matter where I live, we said all we had to say to one another a long time ago.”

“I need to get going. We will finish this conversation later,” he said as if I hadn’t spoken. “Tracee it was good seeing you. Becca until next time,” he said and strolled away.

“That arrogant no good fucker! Who the hell does he think he is?” Tracee spat.

“Tracee watch your language. You have special cargo you’re carrying I warned,” feeling anger rising in me from Shawn’s high handedness.

My appetite was ruined for the rest of my dessert. Tracee said she understood if I was ready to leave.

That’s the good thing about having a friend like Tracee. She knew me without me having to say a word. So I paid the bill as quickly as possible and we left.

We hugged once we were in the parking lot, said our goodbyes and promised to call each other soon. I promised myself that I wouldn’t allow running into Shawn to ruin the rest of my day. I wouldn’t give him the power to hurt me ever again.

* * *

Later That Evening

I smiled when I heard a knock on my door. Brett was coming over to watch a movie with me and promised to bring pizza. I whistled under my breath. “Hey!” I said pulling the door open without checking the peephole.

A frown instantly creeped between my brows when I saw Shawn standing in the doorway. I attempted to slam the door in his face but he caught it with the flat of his palm.

“Rebecca, please! I just want to talk. Allow me to say what I need to say, and then I’ll leave. I promise to never bother you again if that’s what you want.”

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