Page 12 of Sweet Tooth
“I’ll be paying by Mastercard, please,” Mrs. Edison said.
I jolted into motion, setting up the machine, staring at it. Not thinking about him. Not. Thinking. About. Him. “Just tap the card when you’re ready.”
She must’ve done so, because next thing her retreating footsteps were sounding along with a friendly, “Bye now.”
“Bye,” I croaked after her.
Now I’d have to look at him; speak to him.
I couldn’t.
I turned on my heel and started for the back.
“Excuse me,” he said.
I froze.
“Do you really not recognize me?” he asked, with a touch of hurt in his voice.
How dare he sound hurt! my brain screamed.
In the back, the chocolate, the icing, and the liquid inside was all set out, ready to be assembled. If I just told him I was horribly busy and didn’t have time for this little reunion, maybe he’d get the hint and leave.
“Jess,” he said quietly.
“What do you want?” I asked without looking at him. Seven years.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm the rushing tide of rage building up inside me. “You really did it.” His words sounded sad as he looked around. “I knew you would.”
He was talking as if he hadn’t abandoned me. As if seven years hadn’t gone by since I’d last seen him.
I chanced another look at him, regretting it immediately. His eyes still held that fixed quality, so certain, like he could see right through me. And, as well-coiffed as he was, he looked hot as hell, damn it.
Meanwhile, I had on a chocolate smeared shirt and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d washed my hair.
“What do you want?” I asked again.
“What do you think?” he said simply.
I shook my head. Nope, I wasn’t going to give him an opening. Not after seven years. He was here to reminisce, to perhaps try and explain himself. Well fuck him.
If Zane had wanted to come for me, he would’ve done so a long time ago.
And just like that, I flipped the switch and went into Deal-With-Annoying-Customer mode.
“Well, the past few weeks the vanilla, chocolate and caramel lollipops have been on sale, so they’ve been a crowd favorite. Want me to ring you up one?”
His face showed surprise and hurt. Good.
“Uh, yeah, sure.” He put his hand on the glass. “But Jessie-”
“Don’t call me that.” I turned my scowl into a fuck-you smile. “What else can I help you with today?”
He just stared at me. “Will you not even talk to me? Let me explain?”
I busied myself putting the lollipop into the paper bag so fast some chocolate sprinkles cracked off. Too damn bad. “What’s there to explain?” I said lightly. “You told me you wanted to marry me and then you left me unconscious in the hospital. What, were you kidnapped by aliens? Forced to join a secret government agency I couldn’t know about?”
As I handed him the bag, he just stared back.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You just left me,” I spat. “Left me with injuries that took months to heal and bills I couldn’t pay.”
“I paid my half of the rent until you found your own place. I left you all the furniture.”
“I didn’t want your stupid furniture or your money!” I snapped.
I was gripping the lollipop’s paper bag so hard it was starting to rip. I put it down carefully.
Zane met my glare with one of his own. “It was my fault you’d gotten hurt Jess. My fault you weren’t going to pursue your dream. You could’ve died that night. I needed to get my shit together to be any good for you. I promised myself one year –”
“One year?” I yelled, cutting him off. “I know math wasn’t your best subject, but even you know one doesn’t equal seven!”
He shook his head. “I know that. But getting my life in order wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Things came up that I didn’t expect and before I knew it, the years had flown by.”
I jammed the machine on and held it out for him. “We accept Debit or Credit. Cash too.”
He stared at me, not moving. I glared back at him, my mind running a million miles a minute.
Then, finally, he tapped his card. For a few seconds, he lingered there as if he wanted to say more.
I walked to the back and stood there, hunched over my work. I didn’t move until the jingle of the door told me that he was, thankfully, gone.
Then, I sank to the tiled floor, refusing to let myself cry.
I’d cried enough over Zane those first few years. When every time I went to our favorite Starbucks or ran into Chaz or just felt this odd twinge that Zane was near, I’d been sure he’d turn up. He’d apologize and tell me what a mistake he’d made and hold me like he used to.
