Page 38 of The Shy Waitress and Her Boss

Because you never made me feel the way Slade makes me feel,she thought.

"You can't seriously think he's good for you, Kady."

"I do think so—-"

Eric let out a sound of exasperation. "And your parents? What about them? Have you ever thought of what they'd do once they discover yourboyfriend—-" Eric's lip curled at the word. "—-isn't just a small-town hick but a predatory older man who's obviously brainwashed you into acting out—-"

"I'm kissing my boyfriend, and I'm acting out?" she couldn't help bursting out. "What about the times you and Margaux were seen everywhere making out almost right after our breakup - was that Margaux making you act out?" Kady was hoping to shame him into backing down, but instead Eric's expression turned triumphant.

"I knew that had to be it," Eric exclaimed. "You're doing this to try and make me jealous—-"

Kady burst into laughter, and he abruptly stopped talking.

Had I really fallen in love with this toad, she couldn't help asking herself. It was just unbelievable, how many years she had wasted loving him, when all along he had been nothing but a narcissistic idiot with perfect hair and equally perfect teeth.

Looking back at Eric, she said calmly, "You can think whatever you want, Eric. So if you'll excuse me—-" She smiled at him politely. "I need to get to class."

Kady walked away, hoping and praying that would finally be the end of it. Now that she had seen for herself who therealEric was, she also realized how she had so stubbornly insisted on seeing her idealized version of Eric the whole time they had been dating.

And the only reason she had done so,Kady realized with an inner wince, was because during those years, Eric had been the only one - outside her family and so-called best friend - who made her feel she wasn't worthless and invisible.

The rest of the evening picked up after that, and for the next two hours, she divided her time between happily crunching numbers for a pop quiz and daydreaming about Slade the moment she had submitted her paper and scored an early dismissal for herself.

Thinking that she would try surprising Slade for a change, Kady decided to simply search for his truck in the parking lot instead. But when she finally spotted a familiar dark head standing next to an equally familiar-looking truck, it was Kady who ended up tongue-tied and immobile with shock.

Because a woman had just come up to Slade...and slapped him.

Words Get In The Way

"No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth." ~ Plato

She hadn't plannedto fall in love with him. All she wanted was a job near her school. That was all. But before she knew it, she had already fallen head over heels. It was just impossible not to. The sexy twinkle in his eye, the charm, the wit. And in a time where chivalry was considered a thing of the past, he was always such a gentleman with her, andshe knewthat had to mean something.

She dreamt of him almost every night and found herself living for his smiles. She was so eager to please, she would practically follow him wherever he went, wanting to be the first to give him whatever he needed.Anything. Everything.

But soon just being there for him wasn't enough. She wanted more. She needed more. And she believed it was the same for him. That even without him saying a word,she knewhe wanted and needed more, too.

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