Page 33 of False Play
I nodded. “I’m going to pick up a few more things, and then we can head out.”
His mouth twitched in doubt. “You don’t look too good. We can do an online order, and I’ll come pick it up later.”
“I’m fine,” I replied through gritted teeth.
I was grateful he was there to be a buffer, but having him witness a moment when I was barely holding on was far from okay. It ate me alive.
He nodded as his hand moved from my cheek, reaching for a piece of my hair and placing it behind my ear. “Your ex-fiancé is kind of adick.”
My laugh was humorless. “Understatement of the century.”
I shifted my gaze to meet his. The world around me grew dim for the briefest moment. The gray around his irises stood out more than usual and created a deeper and darker contrast against his usual blue hues. A light stubble dusted his face, somehow adding more charm to his features.
The realization of everything crashed against me like a car slamming on the brakes just in time, bringing me back to a halting reality.
“What thehellwas that back there?”
“What?” He knitted his brows.
“Baby, there you are,” I said gruffly as I tried to imitate the depth of his voice, but miserably failed.
He rubbed the palm of his hand across his mouth as he tried his damn hardest to erase the smile that was threatening to escape him. “Are you imitating me?”
I hit him in the shoulder. “Stop evading my question.”
“I saw the whole encounter. I knew he was your ex-fiancé, and you looked like you needed help.”
“And now he’s going to think I dumped him for a hockey player,” I snapped.
He crossed his arms and tilted his head, staring at me with curious eyes. “I know it’s none of my business, but why exactly do you care what he thinks?”
“We were engaged for three years, Anderson. It’s not simple to erase all that history.”
“He seems to be erasing it just fine with plastic Barbie over there,” he remarked sarcastically.
And just like that, I was slapped for a second time that day. Frustration took hold of me at the condescending tone in his voice. He had a good point, but what the hell did a girl have to do around here to be left alone?
“Why are you being an asshole?”
“Maybe I’m just being honest?” he countered.
I gaped at him in disbelief. “Honestly, Anderson, you’re being a complete dick when I didn’t even ask for your opinion in the first place,” I blurted, not able to hold back my anger any longer.
I shook my head and left him there standing without so much as a glance back. The last thing I wanted to do was stay there, and the less I had to look at the asshole, the better.
TEN
HENRY
DUMBEST JOCK IN THE WORLD.
Kennedy hadn’t been livingwith me for a full twenty-four hours, and I had already managed to get on her bad side.
Great job, idiot. Fucking A.
I could practically imagine Michael Scott handing me a fucking Dundie Award forDumbest Jock in the World.
I was one stupid motherfucker.
