Page 57 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“I don’t think so. He’s here at Riverside so he can be close to his father’s law firm. I don’t think his transfer has anything to do with me,” I explain.

“I hope not,” Ruby says.

“I’m going to the restroom. If the waitress comes, can you order me the chicken Caesar?” I ask the girls.

They both nod. I take off for the restroom. I’m wearing an off-white knitted sweater with a pair of jeans and my Uggs. Black Jack’s is pretty casual so I feel like I fit in just fine. The place is packed as I make my way to the back. I head into the restroom and relieve my bladder. After washing my hands and checking my hair in the mirror, I open the door to return to our table. Ford is waiting outside.

“I thought I saw you,” he says with a friendly smile. “Can’t miss that beautiful hair from a mile away.”

“Ford? What are you doing here?” I ask, completely thrown off. My body grows tense.

He laughs. His dimples popping. He’s bigger now than he was in high school. He’s wearing a black cashmere sweater and dark jeans. The sweater hugs his frame like a glove and, although, once upon a time I thought he was a gift to women, now I only remember the heartbreak and his attractiveness wanes in my eyes.

“Is that a way to treat an old friend?” he asks.

“You mean ex-boyfriend,” I clarify. “And that would be a yes.”

“Ah, you were always sassy, Annie. I loved that fire you have inside you.”

“If you loved it so much, you wouldn’t have cheated,” I remind.

“Aw, come on, beautiful.” He reaches out to touch my shoulder and I inch away from him.

“I told you I’m with Cade,” I say sternly.

Ford laughs some more. “You’re still with that guy? Come on, Annie, you and I both know he isn’t marrying material. I’m serious now. I want a serious girl. And that’s you.”

“I should go,” I reply, trying to inch past him, but his large frame doesn’t budge. I can’t get past him. “Let me go, Ford.”

He takes a deep breath and takes a step back. “I’ll be seeing you soon.”

I don’t say another word or look back as I make my way quickly back to the table. My heart is racing faster than a racehorse.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Briar says.

I situate myself back on the stool and take a long pull of my cosmo. “In a way I have. Ford is here. He cornered me when I left the restroom.”

Briar hisses and Ruby shakes her head.

“Shit, we have another crazy ex on our hands,” she says, referring to our friend Charlie’s ex, who was stalking her.

The waitress brings our food. Ruby got the mozzarella sticks and Briar got a house salad, muttering something about gaining some weight in Punta Cana.

We all eat quietly, but I am on edge. Ford thinks he can have anything he wants, but that doesn’t include me.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Cade

Macklin:Your fake girlfriend bumped into her ex at Black Jack’s. You didn’t hear it from me.

Me:What happened? Is she okay?

Aaron:Dude, I thought it was fake.

Macklin:Shit! I thought I posted the message on a personal chat.

Me:Nope, it’s our group chat.

---