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Adam didn’t even wait for the final verdict.
“How are you?” he asks.
I want to spew my troubles at him, to lay them at his feet, but I refrain. I don’t want him to know the part he played in my struggle to survive. The one I battle daily.
“I’m fine. What can I get you?”
“A chai latte.”
I grab a cup and the permanent marker and write his order on there. After walking over and handing it to Harper, who’s eyeing me like a hawk, I return to the register and give Adam his total. He pulls out a hundred dollar bill.
“Keep the change.”
Anger, hot and burning, swells in my chest and heats my face. I glare at him and count his change back to him, slapping the bills on the counter. As well as the coins.
“I don’t need your pity.”
Harper comes to stand beside me and juts her chin at Adam. “Who’s this idiot?”
Between my fury and my nerves zipping along my skin, I nearly burst out laughing at her crass behavior. I should have expected it, but somehow my friend always surprises me. And I love her for it.
“Harper, meet Adam Thompson, my ex-fiancé. Adam, this is Harper, my best friend.”
She nods once and picks up the Sharpie to scribble something on his cup. Then she gives him a saccharine smile. “Here's your order. I hope you get run over by a bus on your way out.”
My eyes widen, enabling me to clearly see the strikethrough on Adam’s name, as well as the new word added.Dickhead.
I burst out laughing. The insult registers, and Adam glares at Harper, his facade cracking enough for us to see his irritation. She makes a kissing noise at him and gives him the finger, which only has me laughing harder. When tears spring to my eyes, they’re not from sadness, which is a relief.
My ex is quick to save face. He snatches up his money and tosses his coffee in the trash on his way out. My amusement continues even though I think that’s a wise decision. I wouldn’t put it past Harper to have some laxatives nearby, reserved for “special customers.”
“I can’t believe you wanted to marry that asshat,” she says.
I wipe the tears from my eyes and nod. “It’s true. But in my defense, I didn’t know that he was a shallow jerk.”
“I forgive you.”
“Thank you.” I grab her hand and squeeze it gently. “I feel like I should hug you again.”
She winks at me. “Only one hug per shift. I will say, today has been crazy. It’s probably good we’re going out tonight. You really need it.”
I’m not sure I agree, but one thing’s for sure: the men I’ve been attracted to suck. With Adam gone, that just leaves Hayden.
And I’m not certain I’ll ever be rid of him.
Chapter23
Calista
I’m in hell.
The dance music thrums through the club, each pulsing beat vibrating through my chest. Flashing neon lights illuminate the darkness, just enough to reveal the large open space where people are dancing, their bodies moving in time with the song blasting all around us. A bar stretches along the right wall, and the colorful LED panels behind it enable me to make out the wide array of bottles and glasses.
The air is warm and thick, filled with scents of perfume, cologne, sweat, and alcohol. I fist my hands when my fingers twitch, my brain screaming at me to grab the miniature sanitizer out of my purse. If it wouldn’t hurt Harper’s feelings, I’d douse myself in it right now.
“Do you want to dance or drink first?” she asks, her voice loud in my ear.
“Whatever you want.”
