Page 39 of Cold as (N)ice

IRENE

Okay,moving officially sucks, but moving across country sucks even worse,Irene thought silently trying to keep her opinions to herself because of Stephen’s obvious excitement – and the pressure Barrett was under. His text messages were telling from yesterday afternoon.

What does a panic attack feel like?

Should I be sweating like this?

Well, this is strangely nice… but weird.

Definitely weird.

I can’t believe this. I’ll call you tonight… oh wait, I can’t. We’re supposed to all have dinner with the owner before he flies out.

I miss you two.

That last text message made her heart skip a beat. It was sweet of him to say something like that and strangely odd not to follow it up with some snarky comment.

She was packing the last of the boxes at her apartment, emptying out the junk drawers, and dismantling some of the items before the movers arrived. Today was the day, and tonight, they would be sleeping in Quebec. In fact, everything had been planned to have them fly out this evening, arrive in their new city around six o’clock tonight, and everything else would arrive tomorrow afternoon.

Do you have your bag packed?She gestured to Stephen.

Yes. I got my socks, toothbrush, charger for my Gameboy, and a T-shirt.

Underwear? Pajamas?

Oops!He signed and ran for his little cubby, which he used to store his things and his toys. Yeah, this was the last time the two of them would be in this cramped apartment. Hesitating, she glanced at her watch, hearing a knock at the door.

Rising, she opened it without bothering to look because the truck was supposed to be here any moment – only to come face to face with her ex-husband.

“Eric,” she gasped, shocked to her core. “What are you doing here?”

“Can’t I come see my wife?”

“Ex-wife,” she corrected pointedly and then blocked the entrance to the apartment, using the door blocked with her foot to hold it closed somewhat. “I’ve moved on. What do you need?”

“Well, I heard you got married… actually, I saw it on the news, so can you imagine my surprise when I’d just had the chance to savor a bit of that sweetness myself a few months ago,” he purred, and she thought she was going to be sick.

Yeah, good riddance,she thought silently, disgusted.What did I ever see in this slimeball?

“So, did ya’ get rid of it yet?” he asked, giving her a sleazy smile. “Ready for another round, or are you getting enough from your ‘guy,’” he mocked, using air quotes. “He looks like a girlwith all that hair. Does he really wear it up in a girly-bun? When you are sick of playing with ‘dolls,’ you let me know, and I can show you how a real man…”

“Enough!” she hissed, utterly disgusted. “I’m done. I don’t know why you are here, but you need to leave. I’m happily married, and what happened with us months ago was a huge mistake.”

“You never answered my question.”

“I don’t intend to either. I don’t owe you anything regarding my life - or Stephen’s since you never bothered to learn to speak with him and signed away your rights. Oh, and FYI – your check bounced. Did I mention that?”

“Yeah – you’ve mentioned it twice now.”

“Once when you knocked me up after using me – and that check you wrote is still bouncing. Let me mention that again, you jerk. I ought to turn you in for writing a hot check or…”

“What you ought to do is remember who was there first,” he said bluntly, reaching out and grabbing her by the jaw, pinching her cheeks hard enough to bring tears to her eyes as he got in her face. “What is it with you anyhow? My friends used to tell me ‘date a redhead’ because she’ll be hot in the sack’… and you were, but man – you are not worth the attitude that having a good time comes with.”

Irene wrenched her face out of his hands, practically pulling a muscle in her neck that made her gasp in pain.That was going to smart later on,she thought, glaring at the man before her. Barrett would never be cruel like this or hurt her. He might make her mad or make some snarky comment, but cruelty?

Never.

“You need to leave, or I’m calling the police,” she hissed angrily, pushing Stephen back behind her the second she felt him touch her back to get her attention. She noticed the moverswere bringing boxes, tow-dollys, and padding down the hallway in her direction as Eric glanced over his shoulder.

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