Page 86 of Endgame
“Is this because ofher?”
“Who?”
“The bitch responsible for bruising my face,” Britt snarled. “Is it serious? Do you love her?”
I folded my arms across my chest. “That’s none of your business, Britt.”
“Then why can’t we just go back to the way we were?”
“Like when you were sneaking around behind my back and I didn’t know anything? Is that what you’re talking about?”
“But…”
“I think it’s too late.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Sorry, Britt, but I’m moving on.”
“With her?”
I didn’t answer.
“I’ll ruin her.”
“You’ll stay away from her,” I warned in a deathly cold tone of voice. “I mean it. I’m not fucking around here. You mess with her and I’ll come down on you like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”
Mercedes
THE COFFEE SHOP WAS hectic when I arrived for my shift after school. Apparently, the kids that went to The Academy liked to cram into the tiny, ten table establishment after school for coffee and a gossip. I’d lost count of the number of stares I’d received from kids from school when I served them. I shook my head every time. Entitled little brats.
One upside to the bustle was that time went quickly. Between taking and filling out orders, I didn’t notice my four-hour shift passing. Before I knew, it was nine and Alec was turning the open sign on the door to closed.
“That was insane.” I sighed and leaned against the counter. “I must have made at least seventy coffees tonight.”
“The first week school reopens is always manic,” Alec explained with a knowing smile. “It will settle down. I promise.”
“I don’t mind,” I assured him, ripping off my apron and hanging it back up. “The busier we are, the faster the time goes.”
“Should I be insulted by that statement?” he teased, warm brown eyes twinkling, as he walked towards me. “Am I that horrible to work with?”
“Are you fishing for compliments?” I cocked a brow and smirked. Having worked together for over a month, I was used to Alec’s banter. In fact, I looked forward to it most days. “Wow, Alec. I thought you were smoother than that.”
“So it’s smooth she wants?” He grinned. “Alright. How about I take you out some night and wine and dine you?” He winked. “Smooth enough?”
“You know the answer to that.” Grabbing my backpack, I slipped it on and headed for the door. “Sorry.”
Alec had been asking me out for a few weeks now. And while he was insanely hot and fun, I continued to decline. I told myself it was because of the age gap. I told Alec that, too. Thing was, I had a feeling it had less to do with age and more to do with my unwanted feelings for Rourke.
“You’re wounding my pride here, Mercy,” Alec called out good-naturedly – like I knew he would.
“I’m sure you’ll manage to survive somehow,” I chuckled, pushing to door open. “See you tomorrow.”
SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT. I felt it the moment I stepped foot inside the house after work. What it was, I had no idea because everything looked exactly the same as this morning, but there was a different atmosphere in the place. That sounded verbose but I honestly felt it.
Kicking off my shoes in the hallway, I trudged into the kitchen only to pause in the doorway when my eyes landed on Rourke.
He was leaning against counter with his back to me. He was laughing.
