Page 28 of Broken Clocks
I flashed him a fake smile. “No thanks.”
Inside, I stripped out of that ugly yellow dress. Tossed it in the trash. Lit my last bit of blunt, dropped onto the couch, and letInsecurerun in the background while I stared at nothing.
3:07 a.m.
Donte knocked lightly on my front door like he was scared to wake the guilt up.
Fuck him.For once, I didn’t answer.
“I’ll be back after my honeymoon,” his voice seeped through the wood. “We’ll talk.”
I exhaled a cloud of smoke. Laughed around the ache in my chest.
I had thirty days to fix my life.
Not a single tear fell.
Chapter ten- Eshe
“You’re the only man on my roster,” Isaid, sipping my wine. “Temporarily.”
“That sounds like a challenge,” Westreplied, leaning in. Hehadthese warm brown eyes Iliked. Clean-cut and collegiate, mixed-race, with dark brown curls, a sharp jaw, and dimples deep enough to make my panties raise an eyebrow. Hesmelledlike five-figure cologne, and I’dbethe could fuck. And Ineededa little stress relief.
Wewere seatedon the rooftop of a cute little bistro off Franklin—soft music, warm breeze, string lights dancing above us like theyapprovedof this vibe. Iwasactually having fun. The foodwasgood. I’dmetWest at work a few months ago. Iwasa clerk for the Pinellas County District Attorney’s office, and hewasa lawyer from Pasco County who’dhada case in my city. Hesawme sitting in the cafeteria on his way out,backtracked, andaskedme out. Isaidno.
Hewaspersistent. Tall, body like a track star—itwashard to keep denying him. Plus, the best way to get over one manwasto get under another. At least that’s what Storm, a girl Iused to workwith,toldme. Sheditchedher headache andfoundthe love of her life. ShesaidIhadto be open.
I was giving it a try.
The waitressdroppedoff the dessert menu, interrupting us. Iglanceddown at the options just as a voice Iknewentirely toowellslicedthrough the air andruinedmy fucking night on the spot.
“Eshe?”
I looked up, and my stomach dropped.
Sinica.
Of course.
Standing less than ten feet from my table in a flowy cream jumpsuit with a fake Barbie smile, her skin still bronzed from her honeymoon in St. Lucia.
And right next to her?
Donte. In a suit, haircut fresh, smelling good. My heartkickedinto overdrive.
His liptwitched, jawclenchedso tight itlookedlike smoke might actually start pouring out of his nose. His fistsballedat his sides before heforceda stiff nod in West’s direction.
“Hi,” Sinicasaid. “We just got back in town and decided to grab something to eat. Small world, huh?”
“Yeah,” I said flatly. “Real small.”
Donte didn’t say a word. Just stared at me like I stole his last breath.
Iwavedthem off before this shitturnedinto a scene. “You two enjoy your meal,” Isaid, dismissing them like a fly off my plate.
Sinica hesitated, like she wanted to linger. I gave her a look that saiddon’t try me, and she finally linked arms with her little husband and disappeared into the dining area.
Westglancedat me sideways. “Damn. That was... tense.”
