Page 27 of Don't You Want Me, Baby?

‘How long, Bradley?’

‘Let me?—’

‘Were you ever going to tell me? I mean, we broke up, so you don’t owe me anything, right?’

His face was bloodless at this point, and her stomach lurched.

‘Right,’ she nodded, a grim realisation crystallising in her brain. ‘Thought so. You weren’t going to ’fess up. That’s why you were so distant, blowing me off. You wanted your ducks in a row. I justforced your hand with my little ultimatum.’ Her lip curled in disgust. ‘I can’t believe I ever saw any good in you. You really are a selfish, slimy little pig, aren’t you?’

He went quiet. As had the rest of the pub. Looking around, Amber could see most of the regulars were pretending not to be listening. Sharon was suspiciously nowhere to be seen. Probably telling Tyler, which meant Bradley’s time on Earth was going to be short. Bradley had noticed the attention too; she could tell from the awkward foot shuffling.

‘You’re wrong about this, babe.’

‘Don’t. Call. Me. Babe,’ she snarled. ‘I’m not wrong, Sloane. I found out about the planning application. That’s why you’re here. Because you were found out. Nothing else. You strung me along and knew exactly what you were doing.’

‘It’s not like that. The eatery would have been for us, b— Amber. I was struggling to find premises. My investor and I got chatting one night, and I mentioned your plans for the Arms.’

‘Bet you did,’ she fumed, folding her arms to stop herself from launching herself at him like a cornered cat.

‘It just kind of snowballed from there. The location’s perfect, and the layout wouldn’t need much renovation. You weren’t doing anything about it, and?—’

‘I was waiting for you! For your plans to happen first.’ She covered her face with trembling hands, giving herself a minute to let that truth sink in. She’d been so… weak. She’d waited for a man, instead of blazing her own trail like she’d planned. And now, she might just have lost everything. Taking a deep breath, she levelled him with a death-willing stare. ‘I hate you for this, and I’m not going down without a fight either. That stupid girl you knew, that waited for you to give her attention? She’s gone, and I am going to fight you on this every step of the way. Now get the hell out of my pub, and don’t come back.’ She poked him in the chest, hard. ‘I wish I’d never set eyes on you.’

He cast a sheepish look behind him, aware of all the ears listening to his every word. ‘Listen, I know you’re mad, but…’

‘Hah!’ she barked at him. ‘I was way past mad hours ago.’

He dropped his head. ‘Look.’ He side-eyed the hostile crowd. ‘I know I fucked up, and this looks terrible, but if we could just go somewhere, talk.’

‘Why? So you can explain why you fucked over the woman you supposedly loved, for a business deal?’ She felt herself get emotional and bunched her fists together to quell it. ‘I got it. Now leave, and good luck getting Hebblestone to eat in your poncy little place, because people around here know a snake when they see one.’

Bill hissed from somewhere behind, another regular shouting, ‘You tell him, love.’

‘I know, it looks bad, but it’s the investors! I promise, it’s like I said. Sloane’s is sunk without the money they’re offering. I’ll be wiped out. Done. I was going to tell you; I rang to talk the other day, remember? I will make this right, I promise. Now you know, maybe we can sort this all out. Run the place together, like I was going to tell you! You could run the bar!’

Amber snorted. ‘Are you kidding me? I would rather burn the place to the ground!’

Bradley’s shoulders dropped another inch. ‘I know, I’m sorry. I just got caught up; I have so much to lose. If you just give me ten minutes, I have my car outside. Let me take you out for lunch. For your birthday. I’ll explain everything. Please.’

‘She’s not going anywhere with you,’ came a growly voice from behind her. ‘Get out now, Sloane.’

For the first time since he walked in, Bradley’s expression changed from weak and contrite. Amber watched him glare atTyler, who had taken his chef’s hat off and looked like he was about to jump over the bar.

‘This is none of your business, mate.’ Bradley spat. ‘It’s between me and Amber. Get back to your microwave.’

Amber felt Tyler move closer, his arm snake around her waist, and she leaned into his warmth. Brad’s eyes flicked down, narrowing at what he saw. ‘You’re making a scene in my place of work, Brad, and after what I just heard, you have a nerve even showing up. She doesn’t want you here. Leave. Now.’

‘I’m trying to have a conversation, actually. And, after what I’ve just seen, you have more than a job at stake here. Stop trying to get in between us, Ty. I’ve had just about enough of you being her shadow.’ Bradley huffed, turning to Amber and dismissing him entirely. ‘My car’s in the car park; how long do you need?’

‘Are you deaf?’ Tyler shouted, coming to stand in front of Amber. As if the thick wooden bar wasn’t enough of a barrier between them. She tutted, pushing him out of the way. Or tried to. The man was built like a side of beef. He hooked his arm around her, locking her into place at his side. This made Bradley’s nostrils flare like a hippo in a water hole. ‘Leave, before I make you.’

‘Here, here,’ Bill’s table chorused. ‘You’re not welcome here. Upsetting our Amber.’

‘Yeah, bugger off,’ and, ‘Sling your hook’ came from other tables, making Amber stand that little bit taller. The whole place knew what was going on. The whole community now knew that, not only had she been dumped, but played too. Hebblestone was a close-knit place, and she felt that love now as her regulars grew restless. Bill looked positively fatherly, foot tapping on the carpet while he sat glaring a hole in the back of Bradley’s coiffed head. Their clear support made her feel that bit stronger. Muted that sting of shame that fizzed in the pit of her stomach when she saw him.

‘You heard them,’ she told him firmly. She felt Tyler’s arm squeeze her tighter. Brad’s narrowed eyes tracked the movement. ‘You’re upsetting my customers.’ Leaning forward, she added, ‘You’re also barred.’

A few whoops and scattered clapping rose up around her, and when Bradley’s shoulders sagged, she knew he was beaten.

---