Page 62 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

The bell jingled behind them, and a snide voice said, “Well, that didn’t take long.”

Ellie looked behind her at Forrest, who had an ugly sneer on his face.

“Move on, Forrest,” Mike said, a clear warning deepening his voice.

“Can’t a guy get some coffee? If I’m a little upset that my girlfriend turned out to be a slut, well, who can blame me?”

Ellie jerked at his harsh words. “I was never your girlfriend.”

Mike started to move around her, his fists clenched, but she stepped in his path. “Don’t.” He didn’t push, but he pointed a finger in Forrest’s direction. “You need to apologize.”

“Make me, Grandpa.”

Mike’s face flushed purple and Ellie wrapped her arms around his waist, determined to be the anchor that slowed down Kung Fu Mike.

“Michael Stevens, not in my shop!” Gracie yelled as she ran past him and stood in front of Forrest, facing him as she pointed to the door. “You, get out.”

“Fuck you, Gracie. Your coffee sucks anyway.” He spun around and walked out the double doors.

Ellie squeezed Mike’s waist until he looked down at her. “Thanks for almost defending my honor, but you don’t have to.” She released him and grabbed her coffee from the counter. “Sorry for the trouble, Gracie.”

“Don’t be sorry. I hate that guy anyway, but what the hell did he say to you?” Gracie asked.

“It’s nothing I didn’t bring on myself.” Ellie mumbled goodbye and headed out the door, only to hear it jingle right behind her.

“Hey, what they hell did you mean by it’s nothing you didn’t bring on yourself?” Mike asked.

“Can we not do this on the street?” Ellie nodded at a couple of older residents as they passed.

“Ellie!” Mike took her by the arm and turned her around. “Look at me.”

Ellie couldn’t, not when she felt like such crap. She’d never been the type to apologize or feel bad for who she was, but it was obvious that no matter how she tried to change, it wasn’t possible. Not here.

“What is there to say? People don’t flatten tires or call you a slut unless you’ve done some serious fucking up. People hate me, Mike. Nothing you say or do will change that.”

“You listen to me.” He cupped her cheeks in his hands and brought her gaze up to meet his. “The only thing you did was walk away from a jerk when he pushed you too far. You are amazing and brave, and you don’t let anyone make you feel bad about that.”

Ellie blinked as her eyes stung with tears.

“That’s sweet.” She reached up and covered his hands with hers. “But it’s my problem, Mike. Not yours. I can handle it.”

“I know you can, but you don’t have to do it alone. You deserve respect, Ellie.”

“Respect? I’ve never had respect from anyone except my sisters. Definitely never from a man.”

“I respect you, Ellie. I am here, telling you that I will be by your side, telling you that you are worth more than a thousand of the jack asses you have dated.”

God, his words were exactly what she wanted to hear, which is why she pulled away. “That’s sweet, Mike, but I have always handled the hard stuff alone. Why would it need to change now?”

She pulled his hands down and squeezed them. And before he could open his mouth and say something that would make her break down and lean on him, she walked away.

Chapter Nineteen

Later that day Mike sat at his desk, cursing at Mr. Thompson’s laptop. He still hadn’t figured out the root of its problem, and with his already short temper, he was about to throw it across the room.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Ellie and what she’d said about never having respect from a guy.

No wonder she didn’t stick with any man for long.

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