Page 18 of From the Embers

“Denver and Adi have been hot to trot for months now,” Eric decides to helpfully add. “Didn’t you know?”

I press my lips together to save from laughing.

Oh, I’m liking this game a little too much. As long as I don’t get a drink thrown over me, I’ll be fine.

“Months?” she huffs. “Really, Den? Is this why you’ve been ignoring my calls?”

Jeez, woman, take a hint already.

He’s just not into you anymore, do we need to sign write it, or put it on a billboard?

“Really,” Denver replies, his voice curt.

I glance at him, his body is rigid and uncomfortable. He really doesn’t like this woman at all and I’d go one further to say their breakup was messy and clearly she isn’t getting the hint that they’re over.

Poor D.

I mean, I say that with tongue in cheek because the woman before us is stunning. Clearly, looks can only get you so far, though, because Denver is having none of it.

What makes things worse is her posse behind her giving me the evil eye like some mean girl backup plan. What are they gonna do? Kill me with their death stares?

Aside from Hannah’s obviously good genes, it’s hard to believe she’s his ex. Denver, from what I know and remember, has always remained very down to earth. He doesn’t strike me as the kind to be into girls that seem like hard work, glare at strangers, and are just plain rude for no reason other than they can be. I don’t know how long they were together, so I can’t make assumptions.

But her next haughty laugh tells me everything I need to know about her. If I hadn’t gotten the memo earlier that she was out for blood, then her message is clear now.

“Well, if you’re going to be like that, I’m going to hit the dance floor with my girls,” she huffs.

Denver shrugs and turns to me. “Maybe we should get out there too, baby girl?”

Oh, holy moly. He didn’t just baby girl me. And dancing? Who said anything about dancing? The words sound sizzling when they’re coming out of his mouth. Well, everything does if I’m being honest.

And I’m fairly sure he realizes I can’t go out there dancing when I’m due back at work in fifteen minutes. Or maybe he doesn’t click, because he leans in again and presses his forehead against mine. “What do you say?”

“Umm—” My reply is interrupted by an unceremonious gagging sound from one of Hannah’s friends. When we both glance up one of the girls is grabbing Hannah by the arm to drag her away.

“Ditch this loser and his fat girlfriend,” the tall lanky brunette says, tossing me the look of the devil over her shoulder, pure venom dripping off her. “You’re too good for him.”

My blood freezes at the comment and a sound comes out of my mouth that literally stops me in my tracks. It’s somewhere between a ragged intake of breath and a gasp.

Oh, holy shit. Did she really just say that?

It’s just like being in high school again with girls and their claws out. I guess I’ve been living in a bubble because I didn’t know women went around fat shaming complete strangers anymore.

When I realize she did say it, and I’m not actually imagining it, my heartrate kicks in and heat rises from my neck upwards, making my whole body feel as if it’s on fire.

I shift in my seat.

Denver immediately stands up, and I’m not sure what he’s going to do for a moment.

“You bitch,” he fires back at the brunette with a point of his finger, but their backs are turned and they’re tottering away laughing, trying to walk in their stupid heels. “Don’t fucking talk about my girlfriend like that!” He’s mad, really fucking mad.

I slide off the stool and don’t even finish the slice of pizza I’ve been eating. I don’t want to give those bitches the satisfaction of seeing me upset, so I try to push my feelings down and hide my hurt.

“Hey.” I feel Denver’s hand on my arm as I mutter something about having to get back to work. I just want to shrivel up and die at this point. “Adi, don’t go,” he says.

“Yeah. Those stuck-up bitches aren’t worth it,” Brax adds. “They’re snobs. All they have going for them is silicone, and it’s not even done well.”

I smirk at his comment.