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Confident Mindy and Tara would take care of the money table, I refilled my cup and walked toward the boardwalk. Last week, Cole had convinced me to walk with him to see a star display he promised I wouldn’t forget. I smiled, knowing I didn’t remember a single star from that night, but would always remember that first kiss .
The couple I had checked in last night slid past me, walking hand in hand for an early night stroll on the beach. I think they were from Maryland, but with all the check-ins yesterday, I couldn’t keep everyone straight .
“I thought that was you up here, babe.” As soon as I heard his voice, my chest hardened. It used to make me smile .
I spun around the best I could in my sandals. “What in the hell are you doing here, Branch ?”
He was wearing a smirk and a pink polo. He had popped the collar. “It’s a party.” He downed the rest of whatever was in his cup .
“Now that you’ve seen it, why don’t you leave?” Just being this close to Branch set me on edge .
I had seen that look in his eye before. The one that gleamed when he stumbled upon a party that was like a free night in Vegas. Branch in Vegas was a scary thing. I never thought he would be here tonight. If I could have done anything to prevent this from happening, I would have. Why didn’t I predict this party would draw him in like a moth to a flame ?
“Whoa. You sound a little hostile. Still upset about the breakup?” He leaned over to whisper in my ear .
I stepped back. “No. I’m not upset about the stupid breakup. Why would you even say that? I’m upset about you. Where’s your date?” Branch looked surprisingly unattended .
“About that. I totally meant what I said about keeping my options open. They are wide open.” He winked .
“Eww. Are you implying what I think you are ?”
Everything about this made me feel sick. I
spent over a year of my life with a complete douchebag .
He touched the side of my arm. “Were you this hot when we were dating?” His smile widened. “I might have ended things too soon.” His hand moved from my shoulder to twirl my hair through his fingers. “I kind of like that new haircut on you and your boobs look awesome in that dress.” He paused. “I think I miss you, babe .”
I couldn’t believe what he was saying. I stood, stunned as Branch continued. “Want to get a drink? Maybe try out the Waves Oasis. It’s got to be better than this place.” He cast a look toward the two rows of rooms. “You’ve still got a room there .”
My stomach flipped and I repressed a gag. I wanted to punch that smile off his face, but, I promised Cole I would only use my self-defense skills in times of real self-defense, which I hoped meant never .
“First of all, there is nowhere better than the Dunes.” I was feeling overprotective of the motel I had worked so hard to make bright and shiny. “And second, you were right to end it. I should have broken up with you a long time ago, but I was so used to doing everything you wanted, I just started going through the motions. I’m the one responsible for it dragging out until it met a slow pathetic death. You’re an asshole. You’ve always been an asshole. And you aren’t welcome here .”
His eyes flashed a wounded look and I thought I might have gone too far. It never occurred to me I could hurt Branch. A slap to the face might have been kinder .
He hung his head. “Yeah, I was right. There’s nothing for me here.” He stepped back on to the wooden platform, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked toward the party .
“Branch, wait. I didn’t — ”
But, two strides into chasing down my ex and screaming his name across the boardwalk, I saw Cole staring at me from the pool deck. Shit. Shit. Shit .
Thirty-One
Cole
I wasn’t sure what I saw. Kaitlyn was yelling at some guy in a fucking pink shirt. I balled my fists at my side and marched over. I felt the vein in the side of my neck bulge. If he hurt her, I’d kill him .
“Are you ok?” I was only half looking at her. The guy wasn’t so far down the beach I couldn’t reach him .
“Yes. Yes. I’m good. That was …”
“You knew him ?”
She nodded. “Yeah. It was Branch.” She lowered her eyes. “My ex .”
The jealousy caught me off guard. Now I really wanted to beat his face into the sand .
“What the fuck is he doing here, Kaitlyn ?”
