Page 41 of A Taste of Vanilla

“You left,” he repeats, “and that counts.”

I feel the sob deep within me, but hold it back. “Thank you,” I whisper.

He nods once, uncomfortable, and reaches in his pocket. He pulls out my phone.

I blink at him. “You took my phone?”

“Marley gave it to me when we were getting out of the car.”

“Why?”

“Because she knew I’d delete his contact before you noticed.”

I gasp as he hands it to me.

“Did you really?”

“No, but I did change his name.”

My stomach drops. “To what?” I open the contacts with shaking fingers. Grant’s name is gone.

In its place: BOAT SHOE JUDAS.

For a second, I just stare at it. And then I laugh so hard I nearly fall onto my bed.

Marley yells from down the stairs, “Did he show you?”

“You’re both horrible,” I call back.

Oliver’s mouth twitches. “You’re welcome.”

“I can’t have my ex-fiancé saved as Boat Shoe Judas.”

“You can. I checked.”

“What if he calls during a business meeting?”

He shrugs. “You’ll know not to answer.”

I clutch the phone and look up at him. “Oliver?”

“Yeah?”

“If I text Boat Shoe Judas tonight, you have permission to throw my phone into the harbor.”

His lips thin. “I already had permission.”

“You did not.”

“I assumed.”

He needs to stop assuming.

He points toward the bathroom. “Lock the door, shower, and sleep.”

“Yes, dad.”

His face morphs into horror. “Never say that again, please.”