It's not like we were neighbors bumping into each other in the produce aisle. I responded with the kind of look that should've sent him running.
No such luck.He stepped into the shop and let the door swing shut behind him. "You alone?"
The question didn't improve my demeanor. "Why?"
"I just thought we could talk." He sauntered forward and claimed a spot on the opposite side of the front counter. "Don't worry, Sierra's at the spa."
What the hell was I supposed to say to that?I replied with only a shrug, the kind that wasn't meant to encourage conversation.
Yet he kept talking, anyway. "She's getting a massage. Something with hot stones? Honestly, I stopped listening." He lowered his voice. "But anyway, I've got at least an hour."
What the hell?I literally recoiled. "An hour for what?"
He winced, like I'd hurt his feelings. "To talk, what else?"
Devon had never been big on talking, especially the other day, when he'd just stood there, letting Sierra give me a hard time.
Into my stony silence, he continued. "I just thought…after the other day, I should explain. Our visit…it wasn't supposed to go like that."
Well, that was rich.I didn't bother hiding my annoyance. "So howwasit supposed to go?"
He gave a lazy wave of his hand. "We were just gonna say hi. But then she got nervous. You know how she gets."
I made a scoffing sound. "Do I?" Until their recent visit to my shop, I'd met Sierra exactly one time – at that college frat party, where we'd talked for two forgettable minutes.
Here and now, Devon was still explaining. "She was worried you'd be upset…you know, because of the engagement."
It was a funny claim, considering that coming in to waggle the ring wasn't exactly subtle – or necessary. Devon was a liar and a cheater. He was nobody's prize, and I had no interest in filling Sierra's shoes – not even those cute heels she'd been wearing the other day.
By now, I'd had just about enough. "Look, I'm really busy, so if we're done…" I glanced toward the door, hoping he'd take the hint.
Instead, he took a long look around, eyeing the empty shop. "How can you be busy? There's nobody here."
"You'rehere," I said. "That's more than enough."
He stiffened. "I didn't come here to argue."
"Then whydidyou come?"
He looked at me likeIwas the unreasonable one. "You already asked that."
"Yeah? And your answer sucked, because there's nothing we have to talk about."
His chin lifted. "Not even if I'm here to apologize?" He said it like he was offering me a diamond tiara and a ring to match.
And yet, I was stupidly curious. "For what?"
"Everything." He gave me a crooked smile. "So…are we good?"
I did the only thing I could do. I laughed. It wasn't a happy laugh, but it made me feel better just the same.
Devon frowned. "What's so funny?"
I gave a derisive snort. "That had to be the worst apology ever."
"What was wrong with it?"
"You didn't even say what you were sorry for."
