“What?” Jamie asks innocently.
I watch in horror as she swivels in her chair.
“No, wait!” I whisper harshly.
But it’s too late.
Huxley is staring directly at us—at me.
I hear Jamie squeak a quietOhbefore waving at Huxley and turning back in her seat.
“Oops,” she mouths my way, her gaze apologetic.
But I’m too busy being caught in Huxley’s intense gaze to care about her small blunder. And by the stutter in his step, Ican tell he doesn’t know what to do. So I decide for the both of us. Standing up, I quickly shrug on my coat and grab my purse.
“I’ll talk to you later — tell Ozzy bye for me.” I kiss Jamie on the cheek. “Love you.”
She nods in understanding, her eyes still wide. “Love you,” she answers quietly.
There’s no way for me to walk out the front door without having to pass directly in front of Huxley.
Kill me.
I keep my eyes down, holding my breath as I hug the row of tables to put as much distance as possible between him and me. But as soon as I walk past Huxley, he tries to grab my arm.
“Connie, wait.”
My irritation spikes, and I shake him off, my eyes landing back to his. I’m surprised by how steadfast his gaze is, urgent and demanding, but I don’t let it influence me.
“I’m not in the mood,” I hiss before pushing the door open, the chime of the bell above the door bidding me farewell.
I’ve barely taken a few steps outside before I hear Huxley call after me.
“Connie,please,” he says as he catches my shoulder and tries to swivel me around.
I turn on my heels and face him.
“What?” I bark, my anger rising by the second.
I can’t pinpoint what exactly about this situation is making me so angry, just that Iam.
Huxley lets out a small but exasperated sigh as if I’m the one being difficult.
“I wanted to talk.”
His voice is soft but expectant, eyes mournful, but I refuse to fall for it. I narrow my eyes and cross my arms.
“How convenient.”
“Convenient?” he repeats, looking confused by my response.
I feel a drop of cold rain land on my cheek. Reflexively, I look up to the gray February sky, another fat drop falling on my nose.
Great.
I glare back at Huxley.
“Now that you see me, all of a sudden it’sconvenientto talk when you’ve happily been ignoring me.”
