Page 36 of Monster Diner

She could see it all clearly now. Steven, as predicted, was using this lame excuse to make himself her hero. He’d attempt to use this “thoughtful” gesture to smooth over their relationship. He’d done it hundreds of times before. He’d mess up, make the barest effort, and she’d fold because she’d thought she loved him. She’d thought he’d get better with time, but he never had. And for the first time in years of knowing him, she saw through it. Without feeling sympathy and without caring.

He hadn’t even worn a clean shirt to meet her. Those same stains were ones she’d tried getting out for him to better his odds of finding the job he never got.

“Thanks.” She started to get up, but his hand reached out to grab her wrist.

“Lizzy, I love you. Let’s get married.”

She was too stunned to speak, and she looked around the crowded café as if she were on the set of a reality TV show. This had to be a prank. Then her eyes locked with Victor’s.

15

VICTOR

Victor had come to check on Lizzy during a lull in service. When he found her bed empty, panic had settled in. He knew it was desperate, and maybe a little obsessive, but he went looking for her. It was a small town, and her car was still parked in the driveway, so he knew she hadn’t gone far. She’d been acting strange since the night before. Up until the call with her mom, everything had seemed to be going well. His gut told him she was keeping things from him.

And here she was, eyes wide, staring at him as he entered as if she’d been caught in the act. The guy across from her was a greasy-looking white boy, with a bad grown-out haircut and a stained white T-shirt.

The moment he’d seen her, he should have walked away. The carefully crafted persona would have. The model citizen, the easygoing boss, the Pumpkin Hollow committee member, but he felt his mask crumbling. The thin veneer of perceived perfection was crumbling. Even though his desire to be perfect screamed at him to turn around, he kept moving. He’d thought he could convince her to stay, that his perfection would sway her, but she wasn’t ever his. She’d given him this month. Less than that. They had a little over a week left. He had no claim to her, but the desire to claim her was burning in his belly, and it was taking all his self-control not to walk over there, yank her out of her seat, and drag her back to the house. No matter who was watching or how they’d gossip.

She wasn’t his to claim. Even if he badly wanted her to be.

Instead of walking away, as would be the sensible and normal thing to do, he walked up to the counter.

Goldie, the owner, smiled at him. “Usual black coffee?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Lucian, the local handyman, was hovering by the counter. “How’s the diner? Anything else fall apart?”

“I’m keeping it together with duct tape and twine at this point,” Victor said, though his gaze kept sliding over to Lizzy as if they were magnetized. He smiled at her, more casually than he actually felt. She shook her head very slightly. And his stomach heaved.

Lucian laughed, oblivious to his silent exchange with Lizzy. “I bet. Well, next time something breaks, give me a call.”

“Oh, I will.”

Victor’s order came up, and he grabbed it off the counter with a thanks to Goldie and a goodbye to Lucian. He swept his eyes over the room, fighting the urge to stay until he heard the scumbag ask her to marry him.

Common sense had gone completely out the window now. He took a seat across the room from them. Where he could make eye contact with Lizzy and watch the sleazeball she was with and hear her answer clearly.

“You still haven’t answered my proposal,” the scumbag said.

“It was an insane ask, Steven. Let’s be done with this,” she said.

Relief rushed through Victor, but the possessive only intensified.

“I know I messed up, but that’s what I love about you. You’re always willing to forgive.”

“Not this.” Her tone was final. Her arms were crossed as she talked to the guy, but her gaze kept flicking up to Victor.

This guy had to be her ex-boyfriend, the one she’d briefly mentioned.

He reached across the table to touch her, and she recoiled from him. Victor was rather proud of her.

“You’re being a bitch for no reason, Lizzy. I said I was sorry.” He said it loudly enough that the entire café could hear. Heads swiveled in their direction, and her face flushed.

Victor stood, hands fisted at his side, but Lizzy looked at him and raised her palm to stop him.

“I’m done with this conversation.” Lizzy got to her feet and walked out without another look in Victor’s direction.