Page 103 of Creep

I looked away, suddenly not feeling too good. I let Emily take Mael's order, making the Americano before he could put it in.

I had the cup set down in front of him as soon as he finished paying.

His fingers touched my hand as he took the cup away from me, causing a slight shock to my skin. It was the same electrifying feeling I got when my stalker touched me. What were the odds that two different men could evoke the same feeling out of me?

I stayed where I was and watched Mael walk over to his brother. Theo said something before looking over at me. Mael did, too, before he shook his head. They were obviously talking about me. I wished I could read lips then. I shifted on my feet before going back to cleaning the counter as my shift was set to end soon. I wondered if Mael was expecting us to hang out with his brother tonight. Not that I had a problem with that, just a little heads-up would have been nice.

The door chimed once more, and I looked up, feeling my heart drop at the sight of Victoria standing there. She found me right away, a frown already in place.

“I need to take a five-minute break,” I called out to Emily, who looked at me, then to Victoria, and back at me again, nodding.

I moved around the counter and over to the front door, holding it open for Victoria. She came out without a word, and I followed her.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” she said.

I looked off to the side. I didn’t have anything to say about that because it was true, and she knew it.

“I’m working right now. Can we do this later?” I asked.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “When?”

I didn’t have an answer for her. I didn’t know when I would be ready to face her again, not when I knew she was with Leo. And I didn’t know for how long, but from what I saw, it seemed to have been going on for a while. But Victoria had been out picking up men. Was she cheating on Leo? Or was she picking up men as nothing more than a show she put on for me?

“I don’t know yet,” I replied.

“No, we can’t pick this up later. You’re avoiding me, and I want to know why.”

She was starting to get loud, and the last thing I needed was for her to lose her temper here.

I mimicked her and crossed my arms over my chest too. “Okay. When did you start seeing Leo?”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “How did you…”

“I saw you going into his house. And don’t try to lie by telling me it was nothing. I saw you kissing him.”

“So? We’re both adults. Since when do I need your permission to see someone?”

Her face was getting red, and I knew she was just moments away from exploding.

“Why are you getting mad? I didn’t say you needed my permission to see anyone, but you didn’t tell me about you and Leo. Why not? And how long has that been going on?”

“I didn’t tell you because it’s none of your business,” she said.

I let out a small sigh. “Do you really think it’s not my business that my best friend is dating my uncle?”

I didn’t even know why she was getting so defensive.

“He’s not really your uncle.”

“Victoria.”

Behind me, I could hear the front door opening. I didn’t pay attention to anyone else but my friend, who didn't look like my friend right now.

“Is this what it’s about? You’re jealous? Have you not gotten over your silly little crush on the man?”

I frowned at her. She knew my silly crush on Leo happened when I was a teenager. And it had been brief. I was over that, so I didn’t know why she was bringing it up now.

“You were always a jealous little bitch who couldn’t do anything for herself. That’s why you chose to live vicariously through me.”

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