The look he’s sporting instantly drops when I don’t take the bait. Truthfully, I don’t give a fuck if he knows my name or not, but we both know he does.
Looking over my shoulder, he takes in the large, crowded seating area across the street. “I see you’re meeting my ex-wife for lunch.”
Crossing my arms, I broaden my stance and straighten. He’s only about two inches shorter than me, but to a man like Stefan, that may as well make him five inches tall.
“I’m not—I’ll be seeing her this evening.”
I don’tmeanfor it to sound as suggestive as it does, but fuck it. He can take it however he wants. I would never disrespect Calypso, but I also fucking hate the way he talks as if he owns her. Marriage doesn’t equal ownership, and entitled men who act like it does are one of my biggest annoyances in this world.
His upper lip twitches. “Maybe I’ll go pay her a visit, then. Sure, Ruby’s younger, and arguably hotter, than Calypso. But I do miss when she’d cook before fucking me like the slut she is.”
Taking a step forward, until we’re nearly chest to chest, I tell him, “You’re a small-dicked piece of shit who doesn’t deserve either wife you’ve somehow managed to get.”
Stefan hasn’t tried going back to Brighter Daze since his one attempt a few weeks ago, but the thought still has me on edge. I don’t want to tell Calypso what she can or can’t do, especially when it comes to being at her own business, but I didn’t like hearing that he went in.
Calypso swore that Gavin or Chuck are always in the store, and neither would tolerate Stefan’s presence. It did calm my nerves, but it’s partly why I still stop by the store almost every day despite living together.
Plus, I can barely go a few hours without seeing her, now. I really am addicted.
“Doesn’t matter if I ‘deserve’ them when I own th—” he starts but is cut off when my knee comes up and nails him in the balls.
“Sorry, man,” I say easily, but inside I’m seething, and take a step around him. “You should watch where you’re walking.”
He cups himself and falls against the wall of a small tourist shop called Just Visiting. The older woman who is sweeping the sidewalk outside the entrance looks at him and calls out, “No loitering!”
Stefan growls and tries to stand. “Sally, he just assaulted me.”
She looks right at me then shakes her head. “I didn’t see anything except you harassing Calypso’s new boyfriend on the street.”
My brows flick up, suddenly understanding why this random woman stuck up for me. Calypso is still surprised by how much our little plan has worked, but I experience the benefits of it every day.
“Fuck this,” he spits at her and shoves past me, still limping from my hit.
Turning toward the woman, I shrug helplessly and say, “Sorry about that.”
She waves her hand in the air. “Nothing he didn’t deserve.”
Without another word, she walks back into her shop but I actually feel a little bit better. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten in a fight—at least a decade. It’s not something I want to make a habit again.
I have to say though, that felt fucking good.
Taking out my phone, I wait for the light to change towalk.
Me: I need to tell you something
Calypso: …ok?
Me: Ran into Stefan while walking to meet Lucas and I kneed him in the nuts
The typing bubbles appear and disappear a couple times before my phone rings with a FaceTime call.
Answering it with a smile, I catch the light and greet her, “Hey, honey.”
I’m surprised to see two faces in the frame.
“Nice to see you, handsome,” Lexi teases before Calypso shoulders her out of view.
“Ignore her,” she demands but there’s amusement in her voice. “What do you mean you kneed Stefan in the nuts?” She can barely get the words out without snickering.
