Page 69 of Maybe This Christmas
“I feel ridiculous carrying those around.”
She slammed the flowers onto the bar top.Petals scattered to the floor.“I would’ve thought you would feel ridiculous driving all this way.You had several hours to think this over on the way here.I was clear in my last text, Davis.We’re done.”
He started to roll his eyes but stopped.“You can’t be serious, Em.What are you going to do?You have nowhere to live and no job.What are you going to do, stay around here with these hillbillies?”
He knew all the soft spots to poke at.He’d told her once before that no one else could ever give her the stable, comfortable life that he could provide for her.Knowing her upbringing as he did, it made the whole charade seem that much more cruel.
She narrowed her eyes.“So what if I am?It’s none of your concern.”
To that, he only shook his head.“Fine.I didn’t want to do this, but you’re not exactly giving me a choice.”
She had no time to consider that thought.He reached into his jacket pocket and produced an envelope.“Here.”
The envelope was pale pink, with a floral motif in the corners.“Did you take that from my office?”
“Where else am I supposed to find an envelope?You have an abundance of all that paper crap.”
Paper crap.In those two words, he showed how little he cared about her.
She snapped the envelope out of his hands.She tugged it open with her index finger.Inside, she found a two-page invoice.Printed on both sides, it was a monthly record of their time together and the expenses he’d paid for.
“What the hell is this?A bill?”
He shrugged halfheartedly.“I did cover most of the expenses.If you want to break the engagement, I’ll be expecting repayment.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Davis.Are you serious?Charges for gas for picking me up from work?I paid my share of the expenses.”
It was true that he had paid the mortgage, but she had also paid for utilities, parking—for a car she didn’t even drive—and other miscellaneous expenses.His income was nearly double hers.
Of course, they’d never put anything in writing because why would they?They were in a serious relationship.
Emma’s cheeks burned in shame.“I thought we agreed—”
“Well, it was never in writing, was it?I can and will sue you, Emma.There are legal precedents for this type of arrangement, even in the absence of a formal contract.You should know I keep immaculate records.It won’t be hard to prove.”
She slammed the papers onto the nearest table.“Do you even hear yourself?This is bonkers.”
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t come back.I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.Even though I doubted you would come to your senses in this garish Christmas wonderland.And if you said no, which you have—at least I could serve you with notice.I’ll send you an updated invoice with just those charges.Because hey, I’m nothing if not a nice guy, huh?”
She flipped to the second page to see the total.Even removing the ridiculous fees, she was still looking at a bill of over ten thousand dollars.A third of her savings—already accounted for to start Yours Truly.Dread sank in her stomach like a stone.
“What about the utilities and expenses I paid?Or that I returned your stupid ring?”
He reached over her shoulder to tap a line on the printed spreadsheet.“Factored that into the equation.The ring was a gift, so that was not factored at all.This is what you would owe after considering those figures, with minimal interest.”
She folded the paper up and shoved it back into the envelope.“Sue me if you want.I don’t care.It’s a he said/she said claim for small claims court anyway.”
“It’ll be a hassle, though, won’t it?Coming back and forth to the city, paying an attorney… It’s just easier if you pay now.”
This smug fucker.He didn’t need the money.This was punishment for her being the one to end things.
“I’ll be back the first week of January to get my stuff.Don’t think I won’t be doing inventories of my own.”
“Whatever you say.”He turned toward the door.“Hey, you know what?I’ll give you a fifty percent discount if you pay me by the new year.It’ll be good for both of us, huh?Start the new year fresh?”
She reached for a heavy marble coaster and debated throwing it at his head as he made his way to the door.That would accomplish nothing, so she settled for crumpling up his stupid invoice.
A string of expletives slipped out of her.She slammed her hand against the edge of the bar.She’d been so sure about starting a new life in Falling Leaves.She’d spent long enough with Davis to know he wasn’t the type to be slighted.It wasn’t about the money for him.It was about reminding her who was really in charge.
