Page 50 of How to Break My Heart
I suspect it’s herfriend.
“Does the doctor enjoy vanilla?” I question with malice, tightening my grip on the steering wheel.
“I, uh… wouldn’t know,” she simply states.
It’s all I need to hear.
And with a satisfied smirk, I keep quiet for the rest of the drive.
When we reach the front of the café, I put the car in neutral but keep the engine running. Despite my reluctance to come back to Cinnamon Springs, there is something nostalgic about being in a place you grew up in. Sure, it’s nothing like Manhattan—the exact opposite, to be frank.
But sometimes change isn’t a bad thing.
“So, the music is checked off,” Everleigh says quietly, unable to look at me. “I’ve got the photographer covered at the end of this week. Actually, could you organize the cars for Maddy? I’m not into cars, but clearly you are.”
I nod silently.
“And that’s it.” She sighs, still avoiding my gaze. “See you around.”
She opens the door to get out of the car, leaving me no chance to say anything. Upon stepping out, her phone slides out of her coat pocket and onto my leather seat, and before I even have a chance to let her know, she slams the door shut.
I pick up her phone and read the message on the home screen.
Marco
I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight.
A burning sensation rips through my chest, causing me to slam my foot on the gas and take off without returning her phone. I almost run a red light, but then am forced to stop as a mother duck and her ducklings waddle across Main Street without a fucking care in the world. My hands grip the steering wheel until my knuckles are stark white, suddenly not caring for this small-town bullshit.
As soon as they’re safely across, I accelerate the fuck out of there. My anger spikes as I drive around the town in a circle to end up where I started—in front of Everleigh’s donut shop. The lights are turned off, and a sign on the door reads Closed. I turn off the engine and wait.
But the jealousy consuming me doesn’t resolve.
The longer I sit here, the more consumed I become.
I need to calm the fuck down.
Minutes pass as I stare out the window and watch some families play in the park near the town gazebo. A little boy is kicking a ball around, laughing as his father softly tackles him. I can’t recall a time my own father ever played with me. It was always business in our household.
I pull my gaze away from the park and back to the front of the café. It’s empty, so I assume Everleigh is in the back. Finally, I exit the car.
The door to the café is not locked, surprisingly, so I turn the knob and enter at the same time as it chimes.
“Sorry, we’re closed,” Everleigh yells from the back.
I take steps toward the counter until Everleigh appears.
The moment she lays eyes on me, her lips press together in a slight grimace. “What are you doing here? I have to close up, and then I have an errand tonight,” she informs me.
“Another date?” I grit out.
She lets out an annoyed huff and twists away from me to return to the kitchen. I follow her until she’s cornered and has nowhere to run. The kitchen is small but ridiculously organized. Everywhere I turn, something is labeled so there’s no confusing what belongs where.
“You didn’t answer me,” she repeats, her tone unsure. “What are you doing here?”
I reach into my pocket and pull out her phone. “It seems the doctor is looking forward to getting you alone tonight.”
She snatches the phone from my hands, stepping back, her eyes smoldering with resentment.
