Page 71 of One Spicy Summer

Inside, I hear her laugh, that same sweet sound I hadn't realized I'd missed until just now. “You keep your little trap shut, Baby Bird!” Roman barks, but she just laughs harder.

Then she says, “I really have to go.”

Not if I can help it. “Please, don’t leave on my account,” I whisper, stepping around the corner.

Her head snaps up, eyes wide, searching.

When she sees me, her whole face changes, brows furrowing, mouth tightening into a grimace.

“Rom? What is this?” she demands, backing away from the counter.

She tries to bolt past me, but I grab her arm. “We need to talk.”

“Fuck you!” she spits, ripping her arm free like a wounded animal. “You should’ve talked to meall those years agoinstead you disappeared!”

How the hell is she this fragile... and still this damn strong?

“I can explain, ”

“Explain that shit to someone who gives a damn. Because it sure as hell isn’t me anymore.” She’s already halfway to the door.

“Prez, please, ”

That old nickname stops her, just for a second. But when she turns around, the fire in her eyes nearly singes me.

“You have some fucking nerve. I waited for you. You left me. No warning, no goodbye. You let me find out it was overon the goddamn internet!” Her voice cracks, and that crack, itbreaksme.

“I can explain, Presley.”

She shoots a look at Roman. “Please, tell me you didn’t keep me here so he could show up.”

Roman stammers, but I cut him off. “I threatened to burn his store down if he didn’t help.”

Roman’s glare says ‘thanks a lot, asshole,’ but he keeps quiet.

Presley shook her head, backing away again. "I have to go."

“Going back to the asshole who did that to your face?” Her hand freezes on the door.

I push harder. “How many more times are you gonna let him use you as a punching bag?”

I stalk forward, flipping the open sign to closed and locking the door behind us.

“I hate you," she whispers.

“I hate me, too. But you don’t know my story any more than I know yours. And I need you to know, Prez.” She flinches at the nickname but says nothing. “I've never stopped loving you,” I say. “Not one goddamn day. When I said forever, I meant it”"

Her body shakes with rage. “Then why did you marry someone who wasn’t me? Kiss someone who wasn’t me?Fucksomeone who wasn’t me?” Tears spill down her cheeks, her voice breaking all over again. “You still love me? I'll believe that when pigs fly.”

Instead of answering, I say quietly, “You're really gonna leave with the piece of shit who's been beating you?”

“At least he never left me.”

Thatguts me worse than any punch to the stomach ever could.

Before she can open the door again, I slam it shut.

“This isn’t the end, Presley. I’ll find you again.”

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