Page 91 of Broken Pieces
Oh, here the fuck we go.
“You think Aria will buy your story forever?” he asks.
I glare at him with a bored expression. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Oh, but I think you know,” he says casually.
I really, really don’t.
“Stop projecting and leave me the hell alone, Alex. You’re just upset because Aria finally got to see you for the person you really are.”
He licks his lips, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Threatened much?”
I roll my eyes at his useless and baseless comment. Alex has always been insecure, and has always wanted to prove he could compete against me. So, the delusional man that he is, just created this fake competition in his head.
Locking my phone, I place it on top of the table, leaning back in my chair.
With a hint of amusement, I say, “Of what, Alex? You’re a nobody. A guy so desperate to become someone that you have fucked your reputation along the way. How you kept Aria in the dark about your sketchy associates, I have no idea. But get this through your thick head,” I tap the side of my head twice, “you and I will always be at different levels.”
“Someone sure thinks highly of himself,” he sneers.
I thin my lips, trying to contain my laugh. His entitlement is too funny, too entertaining.
“I hold nothing against you, Alex. I get it. But, please, leave me and Aria the hell alone and mind your fucking business.”
He glares at me. “I bet you’re fucking her.”
“That’s none of your concern.”
He laughs. “Enjoying my sloppy seconds?”
Fuck being the bigger man.
Without a second thought, I get up and punch him in the nose. Alex groans in agony as he falls on the floor, his nose bleeding profusely.
I scrunch down and grab him by his dress shirt. “You listen to me, and listen to me well, you will not reach out to Aria, talk to her or eventhinkabout her,” I say through gritted teeth. “Because I will fucking kill you if you do.” I let go of his shirt as he falls back on the floor with athud.
Looking up, the whole coffee shop is looking at us, eyes wide. As I walk to the exit, I make a stop at the cash register and drop five dollars on the tip jar before walking out.
“You did what?” Aria gapes at me.
“He did it to himself. Talking about you like that.” I shrug, crossing my arms and leaning against the bathroom door frame, meeting her gaze through the mirror.
“You didn’t have to come down to his level. He’s an immature little shit, and a liar at that.” She puffs. “I can’t believe he implied we slept together. I’ve never seen him that way and he knows that, since college, may I add. But thank you for defending my honor, very chivalrous of you.”
I grunt. “I’ve been wanting to punch him forever. It felt good.”
She laughs as she gets closer to the mirror, putting her signature red color on her plump lips.
“Do we really have to go to this thing?” I groan.
She glares at me over her shoulder. “Considering it’s your cousin’s birthday and he invited us, yes. We really have to go. Come on, it’ll be fun.”
I don’t know about fun, because Enzo’s idea of fun is to get shit-faced while clubbing. The man that’s turning 35 still goes fucking clubbing like he’s in his early twenties.
I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around her. “Most I can do is an hour, especially because all I want to do is come back home and fuck you in this pretty little dress and those fuck me heels.”
She laughs. “Fuck me heels? What the hell does that mean?”
