Page 9 of Faking It With the Single Dad

I push past him, heading down the stairs and out the door. “I’m not sleeping with you, Glenn. I’ll find a way to pay the rent.”

But Glenn isn’t the type to back off, especially now that he’s managed to corner me after I’ve spent weeks dodging him.

He follows close behind me, his slimy grin making my stomach turn. “What about just a few favors?”

“I said no,” I snap, my voice low but firm. I despise him more than ever, especially since he has no problem saying this out loud in the middle of the street.

“You’re acting like men are lining up for you!” he sneers. “You’re pathetic!”

I stop and glare at him, my patience gone. “Listen, Glenn, pick a lane. I can’t be both a prude and whatever else you think I am. Either way, it’s not happening. You’re disgusting, and the thought of you makes my skin crawl.”

I walk away, hoping Glenn will finally take the hint, but he’s like a stubborn leech.

“Two months’ rent if you suck me off. Promise!” he calls after me.

I’m about to snap at him when another voice cuts in.

“So that’s how you’re paying rent. No wonder you got left at the altar.”

I whip my head around and spot a group of teenagers standing nearby, watching me with sneers on their faces.

I’m not even shocked. They’ve been making it their mission to mess with anyone they see as weak.

“What do you want?” I ask sharply. I’m not in the mood for this.

They’re all pretty in that overly polished, mean-girl kind of way-perfect hair, red lips, flawless skin. Or maybe they just appear that way to me because I find them annoying.

The women exchange glances and smirk before their leader steps forward, her voice dripping with mockery.

“Not really. We were passing by when Tiana mentioned we should confirm why your fiancée ditched you on your wedding day.” She laughs lightly, covering her mouth in a fake show of modesty, her eyes sharp and cruel. “I mean, there had to be something wrong with you. Something missing. But now I get it—it’s not just your looks fading.”

The others laugh at her words while I stay quiet, my lips pressed into a tight line.

“Are you finished?” I ask flatly.

She shrugs casually. “Not really. Who knew the real reason he left was because you’re a whore? Sleeping with your landlord to save on rent? That’s just pathetic.”

The group erupts into laughter. I stare at them, unflinching.

Do they think this will hurt me? After five years of hearing the same tired insults?

I notice the flicker of irritation in their eyes when I don’t take the bait.

I take a deep breath and step closer to the group, and then I start with a calm but firm tone. “You know, it’s funny. You stand here, throwing insults at me like it’s a sport, but has it ever occurred to you to look at your own lives? To focus on your insecurities instead of trying to make everyone else feel as miserable as you clearly do?”

Their laughter dies down and is immediately replaced by defensive frowns.

The leader narrows her eyes. “Excuse me?”

“No, you don’t get to excuse yourself from this,” I say sharply. “It’s not just today. You’ve made it a habit to prey on anyone who doesn’t live up to your shallow standards. Why? Does it make you feel better about your boring, unfulfilled lives? Or are you terrified of people seeing through the perfect little act you’ve got going on?”

They exchange uneasy glances. It’s a little awkward exchanging words with silly teenagers. I know how it looks, but I won’t back down.

“I’m not ashamed of who I am, and no amount of your childish insults will change that. Do you think my life is easy? Go ahead, laugh it up. But here’s what you don’t know. You’d crumble under half the pressure I face every day. So instead of standing here, wasting time trying to hurt me—and failing, of course—why don’t you try working on yourselves for once?”

The leader steps back slightly, clearly rattled, but she rolls her eyes to cover it up. “Whatever,” she scoffs, and motions to her posse. “Let’s get out of here.”

They strut away. I see them trying to maintain their superiority, but I catch the tension in their steps. I can’t help but smirk as I watch them leave.

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