Page 46 of Romeo

Ma Belle: I started counting after the second one.

It had bothered her enough to count. Fiona was expressive. There wasn’t a chance in hell this guy didn’t know what he was doing. No fucking way he didn’t see how uncomfortable he made her.

Me: You don’t like sweetheart?

Ma Belle: Not from him.

My mouth twitched despite myself.

Me: Important distinction.

Ma Belle: He leaned across the counter today and touched my hand when I gave him his change.

The smile disappeared. I read the message again.

Fuck no!

There were touches people dismissed because they were small. Easy to explain away. Accidental contact. A hand lingering a second too long. And then there was the fact that Fiona had bothered telling me about it.

She hadn’t liked it.

That was enough for me.

Me: Smooth.

Ma Belle: It wasn’t.

No.

It fucking wasn’t.

Me: What was he buying?

Ma Belle: Coffee.

I stared at that one for a second. Coffee? At a goddamn ice-cream shop?

Me: How does a man spend that much time in an ice-cream shop and order coffee?

Ma Belle: That’s the part you object to?

Me: I’m deciding how much I dislike him.

Ma Belle: You don’t know him.

Me: He drinks bad coffee and has no game. I know enough.

Keeping my responses light was the fucking hardest thing I’d done in my life.

Ma Belle: Our coffee isn’t bad

Me: You’re defending the wrong man, Cher.

Ma Belle: I’m defending the Creamery

Me: As long as we’re clear.

Ma Belle: GTG. Sugar is calling me back.