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“Dash, watch Pumpkin. Martin, follow me.” My voice sounds strange to my ears, and something in it wipes the confidence from my ex’s face.
I head for the gate in the fence, my rage increasing even more because I can’t keep from limping slightly as I stalk over the grass.
Once we’re in the front yard I turn on him, letting all the heated disgust burn bright in my eyes.
“Paige—”
“How dare you? How dare you show up here without an invite? My home. At least as much of a home that I can have after you took mine from me!”
“No, Paige, calm down. I want you to come back. Live with—“
I cut him off, ignoring his words. “And on top of your unwelcome visit, you think it’s okay to insult my dog? And my friend?”
“I’m sorry.” Martin steps closer, unaware of the danger he’s putting himself in. “I guess I saw that guy and I got jealous.” He gives a self-deprecating smile like we’re going to laugh about his behavior together.
I want to dig my thumbs into his eye sockets and pop the offending orbs out, so they can’t look at me anymore.
“I don’t care if you walk in on mefuckinganother man. You can’t say anything about it. We. Are. Over.” My words ride out on a furious whisper.
And somehow, they seem to penetrate Martin’s thick skull.
His face loses all color, and he stares down at me with lost eyes.
Finally, I think he gets it.
After a moment, he clears his throat and glares off to the side.
“A lot of your things are at the house. I’m assuming you want them.”
I want to saynoand be done with this man forever. But I’ve collected more things in my twenty-five years than can be fit into my Impala, which means a lot came to New Orleans in the moving truck Martin hired.
“Text me a day and time you won’t be at the house. I’ll come by to grab it all then.” With nothing else to say to him, I turn on my heel and stomp back to the yard. Before unlatching the gate and slipping in, I drag in a few calming breaths.
If I’m lucky, that’ll be the last I see of Martin for a long while.
Chapter Fifteen
DASH
I fold down the corner of my magazine to save my place when my phone starts vibrating. Even though I know it’s useless, I try to make out a name on the cracked front screen.
Nothing.
When I finally get out from under some of my debts, a new phone is first on my shopping list.
I’m tempted not to answer. The people who call me tend to be the ones I don’t want to talk to. My brother, proceeded by that automated message from the prison asking if I’d like to accept his call. My dad, reminding me to bring the monthly check by the house. Teresa, looking to hook up.
Still, there’s the chance it might be Luna, my sister, so I flip the phone open and brace myself.
“Hello?”
“Dash! This is Paige. Of Pumpkin and Paige.” Through the phone speaker, I hear a happy hum. “Ah, see, the alliteration sounds so good out loud.”
A grin practically breaks my jaw. She’s almost too fucking adorable to handle.
“Hi, Paige, of Pumpkin and Paige. What can I do for you?”
“Halloween is this Thursday. My parents—well my mom—love Halloween, and so there’s going to be a big party going on at our house. Lots of people. Are you free?”
