“How did you even find me? It’s not like we’ve stayed in touch.”
“I messaged your mom on socials. She was thrilled to hear we’re getting back together and sent me the address. She always liked me, you know.”
Juliet’s mouth drops in rage, but before she can respond, Flicker appears out of nowhere, a stick in her mouth. She releases it on his shoe, and I can tell from here that it’s covered in bird droppings. He doesn’t seem to notice, but the message strikes me as pretty clear.
“Did the cat just call him a shitstick?” Jin whispers.
“Sure seems like it.”
“Where did she get that thing?”
I shake my head. “No idea. Flick works in mysterious ways.”
Juliet doesn’t react to Flicker’s statement either. She’s too busy whisper-yelling at her ex. “Was the fact that I never responded to your messages not a clue? I’m not interested in talking to you, much less dating you. Besides, you broke up with me! You can’t just undo that now that you’ve realized how good you had it.”
He opens his mouth, but she steamrolls right over him. “And furthermore, stop referring to it as ‘home.’ I am home. I live here.” She points to the ground. “In Harmony Glen. My friends are here and I have no intention of going anywhere with you.”
Braeden has spotted me with Jin. “Friends, huh?” he says with a sneer. “Is that freak one of them?”
Juliet glances over her shoulder and sees me. Her expression instantly shifts from angry to mortified.
She whips back around. “My god, you are such an asshole. Come with me.” She grabs his arm and drags him out onto the sidewalk.
“I guess the show’s over,” Jin muses.
“I’m not sure about that,” I say, moving closer to the window. One of the advantages of my anatomy is my incredible hearing; I should be able to make out the entire conversation, even through the glass. Generally, I don’t use this particular talent, because nobody likes an eavesdropper.
But, hey, what can I say? I really want to know what happens next.
JULIET
I drag Braeden to the sidewalk in front of Moonbeam Books and glare at him. “I don’t know why you think you have the right to show up here, insult my life, and then expect me to waltzoff into the sunset with you, but you’re dead wrong. And I can’t believe you insulted Spenser to his face like that. What’s wrong with you?”
“Who’s Spenser?”
I resist the urge to stomp my foot like a child. This idiot is infuriating. “Spenser is my boss, the owner of this business, a pillar of the community, and the person you just called a freak.”
“Oh,” he says, grimacing. “The one with the wings and the fur. That’s your boss?”
“Yes. He’s a mothman.”
“He’s an abomination,” Braeden retorts, crossing his arms over his chest. “All these monsters are. I can’t believe you work for one.”
I rake a hand through my hair. I know I should calm down, stop letting him get to me. But, ugh, he’s just so frustrating. I can’t believe he and my mom ganged up on me like this. Well, actually, I can. They’re both infuriating people. “Spenser is an excellent boss and a good friend. He’s kind and smart and interesting.”
Distaste washes across my ex’s face. “Oh, my god, are you fucking him?”
“I beg your pardon?” I’m surprised icicles don’t form on my lips, my tone is so frosty.
“You are, aren’t you? You’re disgusting.”
“I’m disgusting? Me?” I throw my hands in the air, furious. “Have you heard anything you’ve said, you shitty excuse for a human? As it happens, no, I’m not sleeping with my boss, not that it’s any of your business. But if I had to choose between the two of you, I’d pick him every time. He’s smarter, hotter,andI bet he knows how to make a woman come, unlike you! Now get the hell out of my town!”
Braeden shakes his head and turns on his heel, stomping away.
Thank goodness. As long as he thinks I’m a gross weirdo, he’ll leave me alone. The nerve of him, showing up here…at least one good thing came out of it: I’m very certain of my decision to stay here in Harmony Glen. Even if I could get my old job back, I wouldn’t. It was never as fun as this one. And getting back together with Braeden is just laughable.
I can’t believe I used to think my life was perfect.
