Page 95 of Jilted

“Josh, your ex?”

I nodded. “He just stopped by. I had no idea he was coming.”

Wilder’s jaw flexed.

The crowd that had just come in was rowdy. I needed to go helpDad. “Could you—would you give me two minutes? I need to help behind the bar.”

Wilder nodded and pointed to the seating area with booths, where Josh was seated. “I’ll wait over there.”

I hesitated, but he couldn’t possibly mean he was going to waitwithJosh. He meant the seating area in general…

“Go help your dad,” he said. “I’ll be fine.”

I nodded, but by the time I’d made my way across the room and taken my position behind the bar, Wilder was sliding into the seat across from Josh.“Oh shit.”

Dad heard me and looked over. He grinned. “Guess I won’t have to take out the trash after all. Wilder will do it for me.”

A heavy, sinking dread formed in the pit of my stomach as I took orders and mixed drinks. I poured half a beer from the tap onto my hand, because I couldn’t stop looking over at the two men in the booth long enough to see what I was doing. Wilder’s face was stern as he spoke. I couldn’t see Josh, but I knew I needed to get back over there. A few minutes later, everyone who’d just come in had their first drink.

Dad looked at me. “Go. I got it.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

As I approached the table, Josh stood. He looked like someone had run over his dog. The smile he attempted failed miserably, and his eyes went briefly to Wilder before returning to me. “I’m going to head out. Call me if you want to talk, okay?”

I nodded, feeling bad, though I knew I shouldn’t at all. “Take care, Josh.” My mind was jumbled, my nerves still a tangled mess as I slid into the seat my ex-fiancé had vacated.

Wilder studied me for a moment. “He came to tell you he wants you back.”

The words were a statement, not a question, though I felt the need to confirm and nodded. “I had no idea he was coming.”

“He’s been calling and texting you, and you never answered.”

“That’s because I’m not interested in what he has to say.”

Wilder took a deep breath before looking into my eyes. “You sure of that?”

“Very.” I reached across the table and held out my hand. I was grateful Wilder didn’t hesitate to take it. “I’m sorry about this morning,” I said. “I called you and left a message, but even if you already listened to it, I want to say it again in person. I’d like to spend time with you and your dad.”

“You don’t have to, if you’re not ready.”

“I am, and I want to. This morning had nothing to do with how I feel about you and our relationship, and everything to do with my own insecurities, which was wrong. Again.”

Wilder smiled and squeezed my hand. “Okay.”

“Are we good? You believe me that I had no idea Josh was going to show up, right?”

“Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?”

“I thought I was going to have a heart attack when you sat down across from him. What were you guys talking about anyway?”

“I told him politely that I’d break every bone in his body if you didn’t want to talk to him and he harassed you.”

“Oh boy. What did Josh say?”

“I have to give him credit, the guy has balls. He asked what I would do if you did want to talk.”

Wow, yeah. That was ballsy. Josh wasn’t small, but he was no match for Wilder. “How did you respond do that?”

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