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She forced a smile. “It’s fine.” She tried to imbue the words with sincerity so he’d stop looking at her like she was dying of a brain tumor, but they came out sounding flat.
“I didn’t think it was any of my business.”
“You’re right. It’s not.” She meant it to sound nicer than it came out. Really, she did. But at least it got her out of that awkward conversation, because Caleb finally headed for the espresso machine to start making her latte.
Penny moved down the counter to claim her usual spot toward the back. She would have preferred to sit at one of the tables on the other side of the room today, as far away from Caleb as possible, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of thinking he was important enough to make her uncomfortable. If she wasn’t willing to change her routine to avoid Kenneth, she definitely wasn’t changing it because of some barista she hardly knew.
“Morning, Penny!” Charlotte called out from the orange couch in the corner.
Penny swiveled on her stool, brightening. “Good morning!”
Charlotte was a regular at Antidote like Penny. She was a philosophy grad student with a wispy beard and a bright green streak in her blonde hair. Today she was wearing a polka dot dress with bright pink tights and green high-top sneakers, and she was surrounded by stacks of papers and books.
“Sorry to hear about your boyfriend.”
Penny groaned. “Does everybody know already?”
“Roxanne told me. You could do so much better than that guy. I always thought so.”
“Thank you,” Penny said. “I guess.” It wasn’t like there was a line around the block of disappointed lovers she’d rejected in favor of cheating jerks. The cheating jerks were the only options presenting themselves.
Charlotte seemed like she had a lot of work to do, so Penny turned back around and got out her phone. She’d sit here for fifteen minutes and drink her coffee, then she could go. That would be enough time to prove she wasn’t afraid to show her face.
Caleb brought her latte over a few minutes later and retreated without a word. Good, he was back to ignoring her. That was exactly what she wanted. For things to go back to normal.
He’d made a heart-shaped flower design in the foam today instead of his usual leaf, but she chose not to read anything into it. Hearts were a common theme in latte art. They were probably the easiest shape to make. Still, it was pretty. She swiped to the camera app on her phone to take a picture—but only because it would look good on her Instagram. Not because she was at all charmed or impressed by Caleb’s latte art.
As she was deliberating over the best photo filter, she heard the bell on the shop door ring.
“Penny, thank God,” Kenneth said behind her. “I’ve been trying to call you all weekend.”
Chapter Three
Penny continued swiping through Instagram filters without looking up at Kenneth. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”
He was close enough she could smell his Armani cologne. She should have known better than to date a man who wore cologne.
“Please, darling, let me explain.” He slid onto the nearest stool, brushing his leg up against hers.
She shifted her leg away, still refusing to look at him. “There’s nothing to explain. You wanted to see other women without telling me about it. I understand the situation perfectly.”
His hand closed on her forearm. “I’m so sorry. I messed up. It was a terrible mistake. Give me a chance to make it up to you.”
She pulled out of his grasp. “I’m not interested in dating someone who would lie to me. Now please go away.”
“You’re being unfair. At least give me a chance to explain.”
“Can I help you?” Caleb asked, looming over Kenneth. He held a freshly made iced coffee, and though his tone was neutral, his nearness and physical mass carried an implicit threat.
Kenneth gave him an irritated glance. “No, mate. I’m trying to have a private conversation, if you don’t mind.”
Caleb didn’t move. “It sounds like she doesn’t want to talk to you.”
Kenneth got to his feet, jutting out his chin like a terrier with an unfortunate underbite. “I don’t see how it’s any of your damned business.” Caleb had a good four inches on him and at least thirty pounds of muscle mass, which didn’t help Kenneth look any less ludicrous.
“It’s my business to make sure no one’s harassing any of our customers,” Caleb said calmly. “You’re not doing that, are you?”
“The only one being harassed is me, while I’m having a simple conversation with my girlfriend.”
