Page 73 of Fly Back to Me
The intention behind her questions is innocent, but the more she inquires, the closer she gets to lightingthatfuse.
I pull the clean rag from the back pocket of my jeans, dragging it across the finished wood of a tabletop. But as I’m bent over the surface, the scraping of a stool leg against the concrete chucks my attention.
If I thought her questions were irritating enough, the flare of anger that scrolls over me tells me differently. To my dismay, Olivia’s body is nudged against the back of a barstool, her hands prepared to slide it into a neater position. “Stop,” I tell her, straightening myself up. “You’re not my employee.”
She fucking does it anyway.
She shakes her head on a smirk. “This isn’t exactly hardlabor. I can see you’re stressed, so I want to help.” Her blonde waves shimmy under the ambient lighting, and she maneuvers that damn barstool into place.
“Olivia, this really isn’t the best time,” I assert. “I’m not in the mood for your mind games tonight.”
I watch as she travels to the next stool, and I know her stubborn ass is about to repeat the same gesture. For fuck’s sake, she’s in pretty shoes and this sweater dress thingy, with her hair all gorgeous.
My pulse slips into overdrive.
I’d cut my own dick off before she ruins her outfit or hair. Right in front of me, nonetheless.
When she stations herself into position behind the next chair, my palm is already planted on the seat. “Get offmybarstool,” I demand, my tall frame leaning into her space. “I’mresponsible for it, not you.”
Her brows knit above her mint hues. “Oh, now we’re calling dibs on stools?” she ridicules through a scoff. “What’s the big deal?”
I tuck my lips and whip my head to the side, only to swing my attention back to her. “You’re in this dress and heels, okay?” Faint panic laces my tone as my rag-clad hand waves over the furniture. “Me or my employees could’ve missed a beer spill somewhere. I’m not gonna stand around and let you dirty up your pretty clothes, let alone pick up the slack of my business. If you need something to do, exercise your mouth like you always do. And yes, I am calling dibs on this barstool. It’smine. Get off of it.”
“Fine,” she surrenders, inching back. “But I’ll have you know that this fabric is stain resistant. It’s expensive for a reason.”
“Dammit, you’re a real pain in my ass sometimes, you know that?” I march around her, scrubbing a hand through my hair before wiping down another table.
My ears expect her typical wit, but when she’s a few seconds late with her comeback, I abort my task. Standing up, I rotate my body to the patter of her heels along the polished concrete.
She’s investigating the rear hallway, her hands lifting to tuck strands of hair behind her ears. “Where’s your office?” she asks innocently.
I watch her navigate to the back of the brewery, my jaw screwing tighter with every step she takes. “You’re not listening to me.”
In a flash, she’s spinning around and strolling in my direction. “Excuse me for wanting to talk to you.God forbidyou’re not crabby and wallowing in anger,” she challenges. “The world might cease to exist.”
I fold my lips, tossing my rag against the reclaimed brick wall. “What do you want to talk about, huh?” I spit back. “How today I confirmed my girlfriend isfuckingsomeone else? How I ended a relationship, only to question if my loyalty will ever be enough?” My hands motion between us. “Is that what you want to hear, Olivia? Does thatdoit for you?! Huh?!”
She bows her head, fiddling with her hands at her stomach. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.
A mocking laugh ejects from my mouth before I’m turning around. “Yeah, right.” I surf a hand through my hair as I walk to the front glass doors. “You’re probably beaming inside now that I can have a go at you.”
I’m fishing the key from the pocket of my jeans, locking the deadbolt when Olivia strolls up to me from behind. “You’re right. I am,” she bites out.
My body rotates, and I’m staring at her through furrowed brows. “Excuse me?”
“I’mecstaticat this news.”
I wait for the punchline, but her mint eyes are fueled with this fervor, never gleaming a hint of one.
“I’m glad you don’t have to be with a woman who can’t appreciate what she has. Who can’tsee everythingshe has right in front of her.” Her voice cracks on the end, but her throat swallows the hiccup. She shakes her head, the warm lights reflecting off a tiny tear lodged in the crook of her eye. “She’s probably the stupidest person on this planet,” she breathes.
A tinge of heat prances down my spine. Olivia’s peony scent and flushed chest insert blinders around me, but I can’t deal with that right now.
Not the same night my life just tore apart.
She deserves better than this.
Wedeserve better than this.
