Page 26 of The Perfect Blend
She went back inside and less than a minute later was back with my tea. I thanked her and then leant back in my chair, eyes closed to soak up the winter sun and let the tea brew. Sat in the sun, it was surprisingly warm for the middle of December and I wanted to make the most of it.
It couldn't have been more than a minute later though when my morning relaxation was interrupted by a growling Beanie.
It was very uncharacteristic of her, so my eyes shot open and my stomach sank as I immediately understood what had set her off.
"Beautiful as ever, Robin."
Standing in front of my table was my ex, Pete. 6ft 1, caramel curls and a jaw to kill for, Pete was still just as good looking as when we’d first met, but now I could see through the facade. The slight way his lip pulls up in a constant sneer, the up and down look he gives to anyone he passes, assessing, judging and normally finding them unworthy. The amount of conversations I had listened to whilst we were together of him insulting complete strangers, judging them whilst he knew nothing about their lives. According to Pete everyone was an idiot and unworthy of his time, it took me longer than I wanted to admit to realise that was how he really saw me.
Looking at him now made me feel sick.
"What are you doing here?" I asked; he was meant to stay in Manchester, not bother me out here.
Pete took a seat at the table, and I began to seethe. Nothing good would come from this.
"Perhaps I was feeling nostalgic."
"I didn't invite you to sit down." My tone had a bite to it but I couldn't bring myself to care. He deserved it, and I didn’t want him near me any longer than was necessary, and right now, his presence was not required at all.
"Come now, Robin, we were so good, you and me. I can feel it even now, I know you can too."
Had I fallen into some alternate reality when I'd closed my eyes?
Pete then proceeded to lean across the table and give me a smile, meant to put me at ease, but achieving nothing other than to make me feel even more queasy.
I couldn't keep the disgust off my face; how I had ever loved this man was beyond me.
"There's nothing between you and me,youare nothing to me. Piss off and leave me in peace." I was vibrating with stress and anger. He was ruining my morning and my well deserved breakfast treat, and I just wanted him to leave.
His expression darkened, mouth twisting into an ugly sneer. It reminded me of the moments before he flew into a rage when I’d finally called him out on his numerous infidelity and fraud. He was a man in love with his own sense of ego. He would charm and manipulate you to the ends of the earth to make himself seem like a winner. But when you put your foot down, there was nothing he hated more and he would snap. I was long past having to put up with that anymore.
"You could never do better than me, you sour -" a hand thumped down on his shoulder, hard, surprising him before he could really start calling names like I knew he could.
"Excuse me, this is my seat."
Zach stood behind Pete, he couldn't have had better timing and warmth flooded me at the sight of him. The sun shone behind Zach, silhouetting him so that Pete had to twist up out of his seat to squint angrily at the newcomer. "Who do you think-"
I smiled up at Zach, face full of gratitude, ignoring Peter.
"Zach!"
"Sorry I'm late, darling." My heart skipped a beat as he leaned over the table to kiss my cheek. "These are for you."
He passed me a stunning bouquet of flowers that I took from him and smiled down at, inhaling the soft fragrance.
"Thank you, honey,” I said, enjoying the chance to play along with the ruse. The fact that it would get rid of Pete that much quicker was a bonus. I glanced up at Zach as he sat, petting a suddenly very friendly Beanie. No growls for him - Dogs always knew, I swore.
Pete had clearly had enough of being ignored and reached for Zach, but Zach was quick and caught his hand before he could make contact. He looked calmly up at Pete’s flushed and twisted face.
"Two choices," he said in a low voice, "you can walk away now, or we can take this elsewhere." He glanced down at Pete’s straining arms as he tried and failed to break free. "I don't see option two going so well for you."
I could see in Pete’s face that he was calculating the odds. I knew Zach was a softie really, but looking at him now you wouldn’t know it. He looked like a man who would finish a fight, and deep down something sparked inside me, watching Zach stand up for me. I didn’t need a protector, but knowing Zach cared enough to fight for me, now that was sexy. With an expletive, Pete stepped backwards and Zach released him.
He threw a hateful glare in my direction before slinking off.
"In hindsight," I said, watching him walk away, "he always was a bloody coward."
I shook my head and turned to look at Zach. He was gorgeous with the morning sun filtering through his dark hair, a light and easy expression on his face. He looked thoroughly unbothered by the whole altercation and I felt assured by that. I tried to keep my face straight and hide how super attractive that was. Down, cave girl, down.
