Page 112 of Fault Lines
“What else did Jackson say?” I asked, not looking up.
Nate shrugged, propping himself against the counter. “Just that you’re going to be staying for a while.”
I raised an eyebrow, waiting.
He gave a crooked grin. “And that you’d left Cam.” He coughed. “Finally.”
I let the steam from the coffee rise and waited for the energy to hit me before answering. “I don’t know if it’s permanent.”
Nate’s face went quiet, his eyes darker. “Livi, he got another woman pregnant. Why would you even think about staying with someone like that?”
My head jerked up. “So Jackson told you everything.”
He winced, guilty. “Sorry. Wasn’t supposed to be a secret, I thought. But Livi… you deserve more than this. You should have someone who always puts you first.”
I sipped my coffee, the heat waking me up even as I tried not to say the wrong thing. “Are you suggesting you’re that guy?” I let it out as a joke, a half-smile on my lips, but the way Nate looked at me I realized he was completely serious.
“I am,” he said, voice steady. “I know I could be. I’d love to show you how you should be treated. Just give me one chance and I’ll make you forget all about Cam.”
I drank my coffee, letting his words buzz around in my brain. “I like you, Nate. A lot. But I’m not ready to make any decisions. I can’t just throw away my whole life with Cam. There’s too much history. I love him, no matter what’s happened.”
Nate was silent. “Isn’t that exactly what he did to you?”
I couldn’t answer him. I just picked up my cup and headed to the front to clock in, keeping myself busy wiping down the counter, even though it was already spotless.
“Good morning, Olivia!” Mr. Porter strode through the door with a friendly grin that lit his face. “Nice to see you.”
“You too, Mr. Porter.” I meant it. He was a sweet man, even if he wasn’t at the store a lot these days. “How are you feeling?”
He made a little show of it, clutching his lower back with a dramatic sigh. “Could be better, but not too bad for an old man.”
“You’re not old, just more experienced,” I said, and he laughed, patting my shoulder as he reached for a stack of log books under the counter.
“Ha! More experienced in being old, I’d say.” He tucked the papers under his arm. “I’ll be in my office for a while. These books won’t balance themselves.”
I nodded, then went back to cleaning the counter until my reflection shone in it.
Around noon, Nate and I decided to treat ourselves to lunch at my favorite little bistro. We were telling Mr. Porter we’d be gone for an hour when the bell above the door jangled and in walked Cam, arms full with a massive bouquet of roses.
I froze, Nate at my side, heart launching into my throat. I hadn’t even considered he might show up here.
Cam’s eyes zeroed in on me behind the counter. “Why are you back there?” he said, sounding sharper than usual.
Mr. Porter beamed, always eager to make an introduction. “You must be the husband. I’m Richard. Your wife’s been a real godsend these last few months. I’ve been out sick a lot and she’s kept the place running.”
Cam’s mouth curled, but his gaze was cool as he took in Nate standing right next to me. “Oh?” he said, voice tight. “She definitely isn’t alone in here.”
Mr. Porter chuckled, oblivious to the tension, waving Nate over. “That’s just my grandson, Nathaniel. The two of them are a great team, I tell you. I haven’t seen the store look this good in years.”
Cam’s smile was all teeth. “Is that so? Remind me, how long has my wife been working here?”
I tensed behind the counter, fingers white-knuckled on the register. He didn’t get to be angry. Not after everything.
Mr. Porter scratched his head, looking to me for help. “Four months? Six? I can’t quite keep up anymore.”
Cam set the flowers down, barely glancing at them. “Care to join me for lunch,wife?” His voice was syrupy, but the look in his eyes was sharp as glass.
I just stared, unsure what to do next.
