Page 53 of Good Luck Charm for the Wolf

“Sorry, we’re closed!” I call out automatically, wiping my hands on a towel as I round the counter.

But when I step into view, my stomach sinks straight to my toes.

Because standing there, bold as ever, is Eric, my ex, who seems to be hard of hearing.

And not just Eric.

Eric and two of his frat-boy rejects, all laughing and swaggering like they own the place.

Drunk. Great.

I hate unruly people under the influence. It’s one of my biggest icks.

Oh, fuck me. Not tonight.

I just don’t think I have the mental bandwidth to deal with his crap right now. Pandering to egos was never my thing. And Eric’s ego is already the size of the Washington Monument, for fuck’s sake.

I believed in straight talk, and I’d been just about as forward as a person could be when a relationship ended.

He just didn’t seem to get the hint. It’d been months since we were together, but I guess I wasn’t firm enough.

“Eric,” I say, plastering on my best I am so done with your shit face. “We’re closed. You need to leave.”

He grins, and it’s every bit as slimy and smug as I remember.

“I’m not here for pizza.”

“Even better. Now, leave.”

“Aw, come on, Deen. That’s no way to treat an old flame.”

I cross my arms tightly.

“There’s no flame. No smoke. Nothing. Just yesterday’s trash.”

His buddies snicker like I didn’t just verbally roast him alive, which figures.

Eric steps closer, ignoring every ounce of nope radiating off me. Like he can’t see how disgusted I am by him.

He sniffs the air deeply.

“Looks like you’ve been hanging out with a dog.”

“What?”

My heart starts pounding. The hair on the back of my neck rises.

Warning. Warning.

“Relax, Deen. We’re old friends here. I just wanted to hang out. Maybe talk about us... you know, like adults.”

“There is no us,” I say firmly, backing up toward the counter, closer to my phone, and the knife I was using. Just in case.

“And I need you and your pals to leave. Now.”

But he doesn’t listen.

Of course he doesn’t.

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