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As the clock ticked closer to midnight, I sighed, accepting that he wasn't going to show. I took another sip of my beer, trying to drown the disappointment. As we drank, I couldn't shake the thought of Boiler from my mind.
Pixie noticed my distraction and nudged me playfully. "Still thinking about him, huh?"
I groaned, rubbing my temples. “Yeah, damn it. I hate feeling like this. It’s like he’s under my skin, and I can’t shake it.”
She smiled softly. “Maybe you don’t have to. Maybe it’s time to see where this thing goes.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
The Roost was winding down, the crowd thinning out as the night stretched toward dawn. I was still nursing my beer, lost in thoughts of Boiler and the strange pull he had on me. I barely noticed the door swing open, too caught up in my own head. But the moment I heard his voice, a chill ran down my spine, and my blood turned to ice.
"Well, well, if it isn’t my runaway wife," Jeff sneered, swaggering into the room like he owned the place.
My heart skipped a beat, then pounded with fury. I turned slowly, my eyes narrowing as I took in the sight of my ex. Jeff looked as smug and menacing as ever, his presence a dark shadow over my hard-won freedom.
"Why on earth are you here, Jeff?" I growled, standing up to face him. My muscles tensed, ready for a fight.
He chuckled, a cruel sound that grated on my nerves. "Heard about your little doggie biscuit business. Thought I'd come by and see what my share is."
I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to deck him right then and there. "You’ve got no share. I built that business from the ground up. You got nothing to do with it."
Jeff’s eyes darkened, his hand reaching out to grab my arm.
Before I could react, a familiar figure appeared in the doorway. Boiler. His presence was like a storm rolling in, powerful and undeniable. He took one look at the scene and his eyes hardened.
“Is there a problem here?” Boiler’s voice dripped with menace.
I pulled my arm free from Jeff’s grip and took a step back. “No problem that can’t be handled,” I said, then added with a smirk, “Boiler, meet Jeff, my ex. Jeff, this is Boiler, my new man.”
Boiler stepped forward, his towering frame casting a shadow over Jeff. “I think you heard the lady. She owes you nothing. So why don’t you turn around and leave before things get ugly?”
Jeff glared at Boiler, his swagger faltering slightly. "This isn't over, Nessa," he spat, but I could see the fear evident in his eyes.
“Yeah, it is,” I replied coldly. “You show up here again, and you won’t walk out.”
Boiler’s presence was like a shield, protecting me from the ghosts of my past. Jeff took a step back, clearly weighing his options.
"Fine," he said, sounding pissed off. “But don’t think this is the end of it. I’ll be back for the biscuits.”
As Jeff slunk out of the Roost, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Boiler turned to me, his expression softening. “You okay?”
"Yeah," I said, experiencing a surge of gratitude and another emotion, something more profound. “Thanks for that.”
He shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Just doing what any man would do for his woman.”
I couldn’t help but smile back, despite the lingering tension. “Yeah, sorry about that. Saying you were my man.”
“I’m not sorry.”
“Guess that makes you my hero for the night. And it means we’re more than even.”
“Who’s your beast on a bike?” He asked, stepping closer, his hand brushing against mine.
I rolled my eyes, but for a moment, we stood there, the chaos of the night fading into the background. It was just the two of us, standing in the Roost, finding a strange sense of peace in each other’s presence.
“Let’s get out of here,” Boiler suggested. “I think you could use a break.”
