Page 131 of Pucking Rebound

My chest is tight, and I can feel the emotion burning inside.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry,” I chant to myself like a guided meditation.

That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, and when Jordy took me to build a snowman in the park. Maybe this year will be okay after all.

I look out of the window to discover someone watching me, and all the happiness I feel disappears quicker than the crack of a whip.

Graham.

CHAPTER FORTY

Lola

Despite what Marcus told me to do, I stayed at the coffee shop all day and worked in the back office. I was hoping Graham would finally get bored and go home, but he didn’t.

Eight hours later, he must be determined to see me as he is still standing outside. He must be freezing.

I decide to do the honorable thing and unlock the door.

“What do you want, Graham?”

“I want to talk.” He storms in, looking frantic. “I want you to come home.”

“That’s not up for debate,” I say calmly, then mouthwaitto Declan, who is making himself a drink behind the counter. He gives me a quick nod of reassurance.

Pacing back and forth, Graham shoots a look at Declan and points at him. “Are you screwing him? Is that what you meant when you said you’d moved on?”

“Don’t do this.” I’m not in the mood for this today. I hold up my finger in the air and apologize for his unreasonable behavior. “Sorry, Declan, ignore him.”

“Or is it Marcus? I saw him here this morning,” Graham spits. “Is that what he’s into? Mother and daughter tag teaming?”

I curl my upper lip. “You’re disgusting.”

“Who is he then?”

“You don’t know him. And it’s none of your business,” I firmly state.

“It is my business. You’re still mine,” he hisses through his hideously oversized clenched teeth.

“I’m not. You cheated on me and stole from me.”

“Which I planned to invest, but it didn’t quite work out that way.”

“Please stop lying.” I’m past caring what he did with the money. “The minute I caught you screwing Nicole, we were over. You’re nothing special, Graham. In fact, you’re a lowlife piece of shit who used me to get what you wanted, and whatIwant is for you to leave me alone. You tainted everything about us that I thought was good. None of it was real.” It’s made letting him go easier.

He ignores me because he knows I’m right. “You changed your number?”

I smile wickedly without giving him an answer. Best. Decision. Ever.

“You’re such a bitch.” He steps forward, but Declan is by my side before he can get any closer.

“I think you should leave now, Graham, before Declan calls the cops.” Defiantly, I stand, arms crossed around my stomach.

What did I ever see in his pathetic ass?

Like a caged animal, Graham’s eyes bounce from me to Declan. “It’s him, admit it,” he accuses.

“Unlike you, Graham, I don’t sleep with my managers.”

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