Page 57 of Cain

I’d seen it thousands of times before. He could go from telling me some vicious story about someone to immediately smiling and greeting them warmly like they were his best friend.

He saw he couldn’t control me with fear anymore. So he was transforming into the man he’d been when I’d first met him. Dripping in charm and oozing compliments.

“You’re right. I wasn’t always the best husband. I can do better. Give me another chance to show you how much I love you.”

“You are still not letting go of me.”

My insides were shaking, and I was terrified that if this went on too long, I would start trembling on the outside too. And that was the last thing I wanted.

“Hey, girl, hey!” a voice called, all bright and bubbly. “I can’t believe I ran into you here.”

It was one of the teen girls from the corner. The brunette with a golden tan and curly hair.

“Oh, hey,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing.

“We were literally just talking about wanting to get coffee again,” she said, throwing her arms around me, the movement shocking Perry enough to drop my wrist. “Want to come with us to She’s Bean Around?”

Her friends had gotten up the courage to join in as well, closing in around me like a group of teenaged bodyguards.

“That sounds great.”

“Sorry to steal her away!” the first girl said as she shuffled me away.

And there Perry was left—slack-jawed and pinch-browed.

The girls chattered away, talking about their favorite coffee orders until we were far enough away that Perry could no longer hear.

“You okay?” the first girl asked as she led me into the doors of the coffee shop.

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

“That guy was a creep,” the redhead piped in.

“You have no idea.”

“Well, don’t worry,” the first girl said, weaving us through the crowd. “There is a back exit out of here. I mean, you can hang out if you want, but I got the vibe that he doesn’t like to take no for an answer. So it might be smart to just get out of here before he follows.”

“I told you you guys can’t all come back here without tying your hair back,” a woman with lavender hair and the same gorgeous skin as the first girl said.

“Sorry, Aunt Jazz,” the redhead said, automatically tying up her hair. As did the other girl.

“What is this?” Jazz said as her gaze landed on me, then the girl beside me who, I assumed, was her daughter.

“We had to bring her back here, Ma. Some creeper was grabbing her on the street.”

“What now? Do I need to call your father?”

“Why are you asking me?” the girl asked. Then, looking at me, “Do you want us to call the police?”

“No! No. That’s… my soon-to-be-ex-husband,” I admitted. “He’s having a hard time letting go.”

“Literally,” the girl beside me said as she looked at my wrist.

“Um, hey, so the creepy guy is in the shop,” the redhead said.

Jazz looked at me. “Wanna hang here or make a mad dash for it out the back while I distract him?”

Well, I couldn’t go to my car.