Page 34 of Things Good Girls Don't Do (Rock Canyon, Idaho 1)

“No, you little bitch, she means her hat,” Steph said, coming up beside her.

“Who are you calling a bitch?” Selena said loudly.

“You, Selena, and considering what a little brat you used to be, I can’t believe you haven’t heard the term lately,” Steph said, bristling like an angry dog.

Katie wasn’t really listening to Steph and Selena bait each other. She couldn’t look away from Jimmy, whose chocolate-brown eyes had once been able to melt her with a glance, and she just felt humiliated all over again. Fighting over a stupid hat with an obnoxious, high-pitched, tramp. She almost let go of it, but Becca stepped in.

“Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but I’ve had

that hat on hold for Katie for a week,” she said in a friendly but firm tone. Katie wanted to kiss her.

Selena glared at Steph and Katie, whining, “But there’s no hold sign on it.”

Becca reached out and removed the younger woman’s groping fingers. “Come look over here; there are some really cute ones on this side too.”

Selena hesitated, looking at Katie with a sour, pinched look. “Honey bear, are you coming?”

Katie wanted to gag at the sickly-sweet tone. Jimmy kept staring at her like she had horns and a tail, even while addressing his fiancée. “I’ll be right there, sweetie pie, I just want to talk to Katie for a minute.”

The little witch actually pouted and leaned up to kiss Jimmy, right in front of her. Someone grabbed Katie’s hand, probably Steph, trying to comfort her, but it wasn’t that she was jealous of Jimmy; Selena could have him. It was that they both seemed to be oblivious to everyone else’s feelings but their own. They were perfect for each other, that was for sure.

Selena walked to the other side of the stand, completely ignoring them, and Katie got the message loud and clear. Whatever Jimmy had said about her to Selena, she obviously didn’t see Katie as a threat.

“You look great. Different,” he said.

“And you look like the same old stupid asshole you’ve always been, genius,” Steph said.

Jimmy didn’t even flinch. “Nice to see you too, Steph. Can I talk to Katie, please?”

“Not after the way you treated her, you . . .”

“Steph, it’s okay. I’m fine,” Katie said.

Steph kept glaring at Jimmy. “Are you sure? ’Cause you don’t have to talk to him. In fact, I can probably have his ass thrown out, if you so desire.”

“Steph . . .”

“Fine. I need to go check on my husband anyway, but in case I wasn’t clear with my RSVP card, there is no way in hell I would go to your wedding,” Steph said, before giving Katie a hug and whispering, “I’m coming back in a few minutes with reinforcements.”

Shaking her head, Katie watched Steph go for a minute before facing Jimmy again. Her gaze met his, and she noticed how mild his eyes were. Steph’s obvious hatred hadn’t fazed him. But what really got under her skin was that he acted like he had no idea that seeing him here, with the woman he had left her for, would tear her up inside.

“What are you doing here?” she asked a little accusingly.

He looked defensive, something he always did when he knew he was wrong, and said, “This is my hometown. I have a right to be here.”

Her first reaction was to suck down her fury and be nice, keep the peace.

But that was the old Katie. The new Katie didn’t let anyone treat her like she didn’t matter.

And Jimmy was in for seven years of her unfiltered temper.

“Fine. Stay and have a good time. Just stay away from me.” She said it in a cold tone and was pleased when he looked taken aback again.

Which lasted all of three seconds before his face turned red and he snapped, “Oh, real mature, Katie. I thought after six years together you could . . .”

Katie exploded. “We were together for almost seven, jerk, when you started having private peekaboo parties with little Miss DD over there. I don’t owe you anything. And how dare you send me a wedding invitation like we’re just old friends? We’re not friends; we’re not anything anymore, Jimmy.”

Katie realized she had drawn a crowd with her outburst, and she would have turned to run if she hadn’t seen Chase come out of his booth, his expression concerned. He reached her side swiftly, slipping his arm around her waist and said, “Hey, Firecracker, was that you I heard yelling?”

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