AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Derek inhaled sharply and looked around. “I would like to have breakfast with you.”
“We don’t have to do all the—”
“I have traveled a long way to be with you,” he gritted out. “If we’re going to have a serious conversation, the least you could do is eat with me one last time.”
Stupid hope bloomed in her chest. Okay. Okay. So he was aware of what this was. This was the last time. This was the goodbye.
She nodded. “All right.”
She walked beside him, out of arm’s reach. He cast her a glance. “You look pretty. At least I think you do. Your sunglasses don’t suit your face, love. They’re too big. They cover too much of your bone structure.”
She would’ve worn one of Gunner’s hoodies with the hood up if she wasn’t sweating with nerves right now. She hated the way Derek looked at her.
“It’s cloudy out,” he said. “Why don’t you take those off so I can see your eyes.”
“I’m comfortable the way I am.”
“Clearly. Your shorts get more provocative every time we see each other. Is that for me?”
She patted her purse just to feel the weight of the Taser inside of it. That settled her. “Yep, I wear the clothes I know you hate, so I guess you could say it’s for you. Kind of like a middle finger, Derek.”
Beside her, he shook his head, and gestured for her to sit at a picnic table. She didn’t really like having her back to her car, but he took a seat across from her and some battles were not worth it.
“Relax,” he murmured, gesturing for her to take her cross-body purse off.
She gritted her teeth and reached for the plastic menus that sat at the edge of the table by the salt and pepper and a red ketchup bottle.
Derek reached it first. “Let me.” He handed it to her, and part of her wanted to refuse it. She didn’t want him thinking she was accepting a kindness. “I already know what I want.” To fuckin’ leave.
His jaw twitched with how hard he clenched his teeth, and then he pulled the offered menu to himself. “I don’t know why you insist on arguing. I’m not here to argue. I just want things to go back to the way they were.”
“How were they, Derek?” she asked, crossing her arms on the table.
“You remember.” He gestured to her messy bun. “Your hair is much too pretty to wear it like that. I shouldn’t say that, I know, but you should hear the compliment in it. You know me.”
“Snide remarks and passive-aggressive insults aren’t compliments.”
His fingers tightened on the menu, and he leaned forward. There it was, the rage in his eyes. He parted his lips to say something, but was interrupted by the waitress.
“Hi folks! What can I get you to drink?”
Derek clacked his mouth closed and then leaned back, relaxed. He offered his charming-snake smile to the waitress. “I’ll have an Old Fashioned.”
The woman laughed, but the sound died in her throat as she realized he was serious. “It’s not even seven in the morning.”
“We’re celebrating an anniversary,” he said softly.
“Oh, congratulations. Ummm, we don’t serve alcohol here though.”
He inhaled slowly, his nostrils flaring with his irritation. “Fine, I’ll have sparkling water then.”
“Um, bad news—”
“Let me guess. You don’t serve sparkling water either. Bottled water will do.”
“We only have tap water.”
“I’ll just have whatever it is the locals drink,” he gritted out.
