Page 47 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
“Does he ever lighten up?” Lauren wonders out loud and pours a hefty amount of the syrup into her coffee, mixing it with her spoon and humming happily when she takes a sip.
“During the autumn fair. Sometimes you can even see the hint of a smile on his face,” I tell her, biting back a grin. “And throughout, the resting bitch face isn’t quite as bitchy. He always pretends to hate it, but don’t let him fool you. Deep down, I know he loves it.”
“Autumn fair?” Nic glances at me curiously, squeezing my thigh before she starts drawing little patterns on my knee with her finger. “That sounds fun! When is it?”
“Usually the last week of October, the weekend before Halloween,” I explain, only now remembering that I’m the only one atthis table who has lived in Wayward Hollow for longer than a year. “The whole town comes together to decorate the town square. There are games, a crafts market, and a stage for entertainment. Then the whole thing ends with a bonfire for us townsfolk in the evening.”
Nic’s eyes widen with every word, her face slowly breaking into a bright smile. “That sounds lovely!”
“You’re so easily excited,” Lauren points out with a sigh and a soft expression.
“You’re the one who said we should, let me quote, ‘romanticize the fuck out of life.’ How better to do that than with an autumn festival?” Nic breaks into a giggle, but it doesn’t sound quite as if her heart is in it.
“Girl, that giggle was creepy as hell. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.” Lauren clears her throat and pushes up her sleeves. “Jay is in town,” she says and Nic immediately tenses. “Any idea what he wants?”
“Probably money.” She shrugs and exhales a sigh so deep it sends a napkin flying across the table. “I mean, you can draw your own conclusions: Anna tells mesomeoneis opening credit cards in my name, and a few hours after freezing them all, he turns up here? That doesn’t sound coincidental to me.”
I glance at her, confused. “Was that the call you took in front of the clinic?” I ask her in a whisper, and she nods slightly.
“I’ll tell you everything later.”
"I'll hold you to that," I whisper back, tracing reassuring patterns on her arms with my thumb. It certainly sounds like a big deal, but she appears relaxed about the whole thing. Maybe I’m overreacting.
“Surprised he had enough money for gas,” Lauren mutters and rolls her eyes. The whole mood at the table has suddenly shifted, both women silently brewing while Kieran and I can only shoot each other confused looks.
“I’m sure he didn’t. Fucker used my credit cards after all. I bet he had enough money withdrawn,” Nic spits, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
“Doesn't he have a job?” asks Kieran, and I can only agree with a curious nod.
“Shortly after we got engaged, he was fired from his finance job,” she admits with a sigh. “Supposedly because he refused to falsify data. But well.” She shrugs. “Who knows if that's really true. I have no idea if he got a new job since then but judging by the way he's apparently spending my money, I doubt it.”
Jensen moves under the table, and before I know it, he has his butt parked on my foot and his chin on Nic’s thigh. Mindlessly, she pets him and draws little patterns over his forehead.
“Oh, I know—let’s ask Amanda to place a curse on him when we’re at the store tomorrow! Maybe one for him to stub his toe every hour. Or one that makes him stink to the heavens.”
“I’d prefer one where he gets the hell away from here,” Nic grumbles annoyed.
“Do you know for sure it’s him?” Kieran wonders and Nic raises her eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” She taps her fingers against the table nervously. “It has to be. There are no other options. Aside from my sister, but him turning up here is evidence enough for me.”
“And we know for sure he’s the weird guy who angered Jensen?”
“Henry’s description was spot on, down to the attitude.”
“Is he that bad?” Kieran tilts his head, and Lauren is already taking a deep breath to tell him all abouthowbad he is, when Nic suddenly tenses beside me.
“Speak of the devil,” I whisper when the door to Caleb’s opens and that same smug, punchable face walks in like he owns the place.
“You’re about to find out firsthand,” she whispers, straightening her back, wriggling off my arm as he approaches. I glanceat her from the corner of my eye, trying not to pout that she shrugged off my arm when her ex is approaching. I’m sure she has her reasons, but damn, it stings.
Her disguise didn’t work as planned, because Jay immediately makes a beeline for our table. He plants himself at its head with his chest puffed and a smarmy grin on his—indeed, very irritating—face.
“I can see it now,” Kieran whispers loudly and Lauren nods.
“You’re not half as hard to track down as you think, Nic,” Jay sneers, and Lauren makes a gagging noise, which he ignores.
“Hello to you, too.” Nic takes a sip of her coffee, trying to pretend she’s not rattled. But I can see her hand trembling slightly as she sets her mug back down. “What do you want?”
