Page 18 of My Never
“Interesting,” Jane mumbles.
So, he wasn’t going to hook up with her, but he was okay with letting me think he was. I snort incredulously and grab for one of the tortilla chips in the basket. They’re practically gone now. We ate way too many. My favorite phrase for him spills from my margarita flavored lips.
“He’s still a pig.”
7
Ava
April’s finally here, and we are wrapping up a ton of items off of Sydney and Colin’s wedding checklist. We are less than a month out, and there’s still so much to do. The good news though is tomorrow we get to check off the bachelor/bachelorette party. We decided to get a party bus and combine them. Bar hopping will be the main attraction, but I’m sure the guys have something up their sleeve. There will be roughly fifteen of us going, and we’ll all land back at Colin and Sydney’s place to crash. It reminds me of college days.
I received a text from Holly this morning asking if I could go to the bakery and stand in for her at the tasting with Sydney because she had an interview at the local elementary school for a teaching position that just opened up. How could I say no to that?
At four-thirty, I realize I’m running behind and close out of everything on my computer as quickly as possible. I shoot a text to Sydney letting her know that I’m on my way. Sweet & Whitty is a bakery a few doors down from Marcketti’s Italianrestaurant. Whitney opened it roughly two years ago, and the cute name encompasses her personality perfectly. She’s tall with blonde, curly hair and blue eyes that draw you in and say, “Here, you know you want to buy my cakes. Ooh, you’ll like these cookies, too!”. Before you know it, you’re leaving with at least fifty dollars worth of sweets. She’s that nice though, and all her customers love her to pieces as much as they love her products. She’s just fabulous.
I park in the first spot I can find, which just so happens to be right in front of Mark’s family’s place. My stomach bottoms out when I see him sitting in the front window talking to an older woman, and I only mean that she is older than me. She is absolutely stunning now that I think about it. After a few seconds, he notices me and smirks, which catches the attention of the other lady. Her head swivels fast to look at me, and I realize I’m staring back at Mark’s mother. She smiles and waves, and I return her greeting as Mark stands and says something to her before bending to kiss her on the cheek. Within seconds, he is strolling out the door toward me.
“Hey, Firecracker.”
I stare at him, confused by the sudden nickname as he slips his hands into his pockets and starts strolling beside me toward the bakery.
“If we’re calling each other different names now, then, hi, Marcus.”
His step falters a smidge, and he smiles softly over at me at the sound of his full name on my lips.
“Your mother is beautiful.”
“She is.”
“So… why Firecracker?” I ask, genuinely curious and already slightly annoyed by his smug smile. I keep walking to take my mind off it.
“Because of the shade of your lips and the fire that glitters in your eyes every time you see me. I’m starting to warm up to it.”
I stop and scoff.
“I assure you that fire is reserved for–”
“Only me?” He grins wider, enjoying my uncomfortable state.
“You have some nerve to think it’s a good thing.”
“I’d say it’s more of a mixture of both good and bad.”
I open my mouth to answer.
“I still stand by my answer from a few months back that I don’t blame you for the way you see me.”
I blink at him.
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t continue to entertain big breasted bimbos when you’re trying to portray yourself as more than a manwhore.”
He smirks at my slight and chuckles, but then he lets his eyes lazily trail over my face, then my body. It almost felt like a touch. An unexpected shiver ghosts across my skin in its place.
“I didn’t take Mindy home.”
I know he didn’t, but I’m not letting him off that easily.
“You don’t owe me an explanation,” I throw out in haste as I scan the shop window across the road.
