Page 30 of Menace in Vegas

Jealousy overwhelmed me inside the diner when the waitress flirted with Connor.

I expected him to flirt back, not appear uncomfortable at her advances.

Something sharp sparked to life.

From an ember to an inferno, it consumed rational thought.

When she looked at him like he was a piece of meat, I snapped.

I sprang out of my seat and inserted myself between them.

Pressing my palm against his sculpted chest, I batted my lashes and gave that skinny tramp a fake smile laced with ferocity.

Then I said the words that would haunt me to my grave.

“Sorry, sugar. He’s taken."

She raised her brows and looked at my curvy body with disgust,

as though there was no way in hell someone like me — a fat girl — could land a hotter-than-hell, sculpted Greek god of a boyfriend like him.

All my insecurities rose up, and I snapped.

I was bullied in school about my weight, with high school being the worst of it.

I was bullied at home, too.

My father controlled what I ate, denying me desserts, limiting my portion sizes.

So when a mean girl eyed me with disdain, I went all in.

"Come on, babe,"I said, flashing her a fake, venomous smile.

I curled my fingers into the fabric of his shirt and dragged him out of the diner to the ridiculous station wagon I’d named Wanda.

Then I shoved him into the car and stomped to the driver’s side.

I slammed the door, gripping the steering wheel like I was choking the bitchy diner waitress.

Connor sat in the passenger seat, staring at me with a look that made it very clear just how badly I fucked up.

Not only did he look like he was two seconds away from jumping my bones, but the goddamn smirk and raised eyebrows told me exactly who was in control.

Spoiler alert: It wasn’t me.

I grabbed my coffee, taking a long, angry sip, hoping it would extinguish my anger.

I froze when the asshole said, "You okay there, sweetheart?"

I squeezed the cup like it was a lifeline, forcing my voice to sound normal. "Peachy."

I prayed he’d believe me.

Hoped he’d drop it.

But oh no.

The fucker kept going.

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