Page 207 of Back in the Saddle

“I don’t need to be humiliated,” Savannah declared.

“I didn’t ask you to my house, or let you in, just pointing that out,” Eric replied.

She looked at him, at me, back to him, lifted her chin and stated, “At least no one can sayIdidn’t try.”

God, Stella had this bitchdown.

“Congratulations.” Eric was still drawling sarcastically. “You worked hard, Savannah. I’m just not the man for you. Now, please, can you promise we’re done with this shit?”

She huffed then shared, “You won’t see me again.”

“It took me forty-three years, and just yesterday it came clear I found the woman I’ve been looking for since I knew what girls were, and still, that vies for the best news of my week,” Eric returned.

Aw.

I was feeling warm again.

She looked shocked. She then looked hurt. After that, she morphed to calculating. That was quickly edged out by hurt again.

She waited for Eric to respond to her self-inflicted wound, and when he didn’t, she straightened her spine and announced, “I’ll just be going.”

“Excellent idea,” Eric replied.

He sauntered to the door, opened it and stood there, holding it open.

Without looking at me, she moved that way and stopped to peer up at him.

She then either extremely belatedly reached for the high ground or made another play, it really didn’t matter, he was done with her.

“Even with all this, I truly hope you have a good life and you’re happy, Eric.”

“Thrilled, Savannah, since I can confirm I got both…” his pause was so heavy, I braced in order to be certain I didn’t start laughing again, “now.”

Ouch.

Cripes!

Though, awesome comeback.

She walked out the door.

He closed it and locked it.

Then he turned to me.

“You okay?” I asked.

“I honestly think that’s the end of it. No way she’d endure that humiliation and come back for more.”

I bit my lip because, yeah…that was intense.

I stopped biting it to ask, “Does that mean you’re okay?”

Something shifted through his face, and I recognized it.

He understood I got him because I’d asked the right question. Twice.

“It didn’t feel good humiliating her like that,” he admitted.

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