Page 23 of Eleven of a Kind

“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you feel better soon. I miss you already.”

“Aw, he misses you,” Tara said as she stood over my shoulder.

“Get out of here.” I set my phone down.

“You better just tell him it’s over. Get it over with and be done,” she said.

“I will.”

The boutique door opened, and Raj, one of my sales associates and best friends, walked in.

“Good morning, ladies.” He grinned as he held up a white bag in one hand and carried a coffee in the other.

“If those are Beignets, you’re forgiven for being late.” I smirked.

He set the bag on the counter and looked at his watch.

“Darling, I’m two minutes late, and yes, there are Beignets in this bag.”

“You are a dream.” I smiled as I opened the bag and took one out.

“Guess what, Raj?” Tara said. “Jack said ‘the words’ last night.”

He placed his hand over his mouth as he stared at me with widened eyes.

“Oh no, he didn’t,” he said. “Come here, darling.” Raj wrapped his arms around me. “I’m so sorry.”

“Knock it off.” I laughed as I broke our embrace. “You are not.”

“Oh, did you think I meant that I’m sorry for you?” He wiggled his finger at me. “I feel sorry for Jack. Oh well. Another guy bites the dust.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a Beignet.

It was around three p.m. when the bell above the door dinged. I turned to see who entered the store and froze when I saw Jack.

“Sick as a dog, eh, Piper?” He stared at me.

“Jack, what are you doing here?”

“I stopped by your apartment to drop off some soup for you. As I was knocking on your door, Mrs. Lowes from next door opened her door and told me that you left early this morning for work. What the hell is going on, Piper?”

Damn that nosey Mrs. Lowes.

I sighed as I grabbed his hand and took him into the back room.

“Listen, Jack, I’m going through this thing right now, and I think it’s best we don’t see each other anymore.”

“What thing, Piper?”

“Just a thing. I don’t really know.”

“Bullshit. You’re lying.” He pointed his finger at me. “Does this have anything to do with telling you that I loved you last night?”

“Fine. Yeah, it does. It’s only been two months, Jack. You don’t love me. You can’t.”

“I can, and I do. You’re an incredible woman, Piper Primrose. I see a really great future for us.”

“Whoa, stop right there, mister.” I held up my finger. “You’re making me really uncomfortable, and I don’t like it one bit. You need to leave. We had some fun, and now it’s over. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

He stood there with his hands planted on his hips, shaking his head.

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