Page 48 of That Right Moment

“I’m pretty sure you know why,” Jamie mumbled.

“Let’s not make this personal.” He smiled. “Maddy will understand. I mean, no one can beat my prices.”

“Michelle with GM Touch. She’s beaten all of your prices.” Jamie sat her forearms on the counter.

I held back a chuckle and stuck my phone in my pocket. This was way more entertaining than social media. Kent hadn’t even realized I was sitting there yet. Would he even recognize me?

“GM Touch is based in California. Michelle can’t give you the level of customer service that I can.” Kent placed his palm on his chest, his fake white smile getting larger…and faker…with every word.

“She’s great actually. She’s ready on the drop of a hat and texts back like that.” Jamie snapped her fingers. “Unlike some reps…she seems to care. Oh, and her prices on supplies…” She mimicked a chef’s kiss.

Kent looked dumbfounded. He scoffed and took a step back, turning to look at the waiting room when finally he noticed me. “Oh…Milo, right?” he asked, pointing a finger at me.Like he didn’t know. “Maddy’s friend.”

I nodded. “That would be me.” I waved.

“I really am not in good standing here, am I?”

“Oh…” Jamie cooed, “what makes you say that?”

He pinched his eyebrows at her and took one final glance at me.

“Um…” He coughed. “How’s Maddy?”

“Madeline? She’s great. She has a new boyfriend, and I’ve never seen her happier.” Jamie looked over at me but didn’t say anything more. I winked at her.

Kent cocked his head slightly, his jaw dropping a tiny bit. “That's great to hear that she could move on so quickly.”

“Especially after what you said to her,” I mumbled.

Kent shot me a glare, landing a fist on the countertop. Jamie looked like she was holding back laughter. She’d lifted her hands to her chin and had her lips so tight no one could force anything through them.

“Well, um…” Kent turned back to the counter, heaved a sigh, and then looked at the brochure on the counter. “We are having some promotions…”

“All done!” Holly’s voice rang in my ears as she rounded the corner and came past the red chairs and climbed into my lap. “No cavities, so…ice cream!?”

I chuckled at her.

“I had no idea you had a daughter,” Kent mumbled, watching as Holly jumped from my lap.

“Yep…” I glared at him. “And yes…ice cream for my cavity-free girl.”

“She really had no issues,” Madeline’s voice came from the corner, getting louder with every step. “she even let me….Kent.” She stopped mid-sentence and stared at her ex.

Kent shot her a soft smile. Yet again, fake but cheery, almost seductive in a way.

“Hey, Maddy,” Kent said under his breath. “It’s good to see you.”

Kent took a few steps toward her, standing up just a little taller, that stupid grin on his face growing as he got closer to her. His eyes were heavy, looking from her shoes to her eyes, focusing on her lips. What the hell was he doing?

“We switched vendors,” Madeline said, emotionless, not noticing the look over she just received.

“That’s what Jamie told me. She also said you're seeing someone? So soon? Congrats.” He tried to sound positive, but it came out more of a question.

I furrowed my brow at his comment. Looking at Holly, who was rummaging through the plastic bag she had been given, didn’t seem to notice what Kent was saying. But I sure did, and it set of a spark. I needed him to know she was mine.

“Well,youhad no issues moving on.” Madeline scoffed. I bit my lip, holding in the laughter that I so badly wanted to let out.

Madeline watched me as I made my way to the counter, trying to schedule and pay for Holly’s visit while Kent and Madeline had a stare down, Kent obviously not sure how to handle Madeline’s comment. Kent took a few steps forward and reached in his coat pocket. He completely passed me and placed a small magnet of the Salt Lake City skyline on the counter, pushing it slowly toward Madeline.

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