Page 48 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
“Don’t use that tone. Aren’t you happy to see me?”
Nic lifts her gaze slowly, clearly stunned by his audacity, while Lauren is hiding her face behind her hand, looking at him as if she doesn't know whether to laugh at him or jump at his throat.
“No. No, I can’t say I am happy to see you. What do you want?” The coolness in her voice could turn our coffees into frappés, but Mr. Asshole remains unfazed.
“Listen, I know things got messy. But I’ve been thinking a lot about all this. We don’t have to make it worse. You know, we could talk about a settlement, come to a fair agreement. We’ve been through too much for you to walk away without us sorting this out.”
“Settlement?”
Lauren almost spits out her coffee.
“Oh my God, this is gold,” Lauren wheezes, but I can’t help but remain tense.
There is something off about his whole demeanor, how he demands her money the way a duck takes to water. Like he deserves it for the gift of his existence, like he’s the one who’s been wronged. He can’t be serious. Right?
“We weren’t married, Jay. You’re not getting a settlement. I don’t know where you got this idea from, but it’s the most delusional shit I’ve ever heard.”
Jay clenches his jaw, flexing his hands as if he’s about to turn violent. Kieran and I shoot each other a glance, getting ready to interfere if necessary.
“This is all your fault, you know?” Jay spits. “You got me accustomed to a certain lifestyle, and it’smy rightto continue that.” By now, half the café is listening in on him making an ass of himself.
“Then I suggest finding a higher paying job, or a rich lover, and going for it.” Nic shrugs. “Because that lifestyle came with certain conditions you didn’t meet. Like monogamy and not being an asshole.”
“Don’t make this so hard on me. You’re putting me under a lot of stress—did all those years together mean nothing to you?”
Kieran and Lauren can’t hold back anymore. They’re giggling messes on the other side of the table. I’d join them if his demeanor wasn’t making me want to jump up and introduce my fist to his face in a quick and abrupt manner. Repeatedly.
“Hard onyou?” Nic climbs out of her seat, storming closer to him. “Under stress? Oh, sure. You’ve been ‘under stress’ while you were opening credit cards in my name and siphoning off money from my accounts? You’re right, that sounds extremely stressful.”
“I had to! We were supposed to be a team. You don’t know what I’m going through. You’re the one who left me, and now you’re—”
“Let me try to make this clear to you.” She steps closer, jabbing her finger into his chest. “We’re done. That means you have no right to anything. Not me, not my money, not my fucking time. I’m done with letting you manipulate me. I’m done with being your bank and doormat, and frankly, I’m done dealing with you. Now, here’s what you’re going to do. You’re goingto walk out that door, and you’re never going to contact me again. No phone calls, no emails, no attempts to get any more money from me. Ever. This is your last chance, to leave me alone and just walk away, Jay.”
“But—”
“You need to leave.” Caleb is suddenly there, stepping between Nic and her ex, staring him down. He’s almost a head taller than him—hell, even I would be intimidated if he ever stared me down with that much venom in his eyes.
“We enjoy our town without drama. I suggest you try to blend in and shut up. I’m not in the mood to deal with dickheads, so I’m banning you from this café. You can find the door yourself within the next ten seconds, or I can assist you while making use of my right to forcibly remove you. Which will it be?”
He lifts his eyebrow, daring Jay to retort, but sadly, for once, Nic’s ex is doing the smart thing.
“I’m not done, Nic,” he says over his shoulder as he storms toward the door. “I will get what’s rightfully mine.”
“A kick in the ass?” she asks in a whisper, making the whole table burst into laughter, the tension falling from us as soon as that fucker leaves the café. “Thank you, Caleb.”
“Of course,” he mumbles as he stares after the guy, making sure he walks away from the café.
“Do you want to leave?” I ask her softly once she sits back down, but she shakes her head. “He’s probably still lurking outside. Let’s drink our coffee in peace. I’m not about to let him ruin a nice afternoon any more than he already has.” She takes a deep breath and shoots Lauren a look. They hold a conversation with only their eyes. I leave them to it and scan the room, wondering if he will pop up again like a ghost, when I meet Caleb’s worried stare.
Notworried because he’s afraid patrons will leave because of the drama. Worried because, as little as he may talk, I know he has accepted the two of them as our own.
They’re part of the Wayward Hollow family now. And there’s nothing we won’t do for our people.
Chapter 18
Nic
“What do you need?” Lauren asks me as we step out of Caleb’s café and gives my arm a reassuring squeeze. I stare at her, not quite understanding the question. “A friend? Your boyfriend? To be left alone?” she elaborates, and that’s when I get it.
