Page 107 of Yours, Finally

"I broke up with you." I infused severity into my words. "When are you going to get it?"

"We had something good going. I was showing you I listened. You said you liked a man who can say sorry— something about your romance books."

I released an impatient sigh. "I knew it."

"Yeah, right." Jake took a step forward. "Because you clearly listened when she told you she was done with you."

"Jake." I stepped closer to him.

He didn't look at me. He tracked every one of Andrew's moves.

"Stephanie told you I wouldn't see you," I said.

"Your assistant said you were busy, that's all."

"She was being polite," Jake growled. "Giving you the professional version ofbeat it, asshole."

My ex returned the attitude with a jerk of his head, as if he questioned Jake's authority— even his presence.

"Andrew," I said. "You lied to Stephanie to get a meeting with our friend Max. A week after you told me about wanting investors for a business, and I mentioned he's a liberal investor."

"That's not—" Andrew began, but he stopped himself and clenched his jaw. "Tell Jake to leave and we can talk about it in private."

Jake's laughter was obviously fake. Full of derision. "Fuck that."

"Jake!" I pulled from his hand. "I'm handling it!"

"The whole thing about investing in my business that I told Stephanie— that was an excuse. I wanted to talk to Max to ask him about you." Realizing Jake wouldn't leave, Andrew ignored him and ranted his explanation. "How to treat you. You said he's friendly. I thought he'd know you well to help me out. I wanted to surprise you."

"Max wouldn't have given you better answers than you could have learned from my own mouth. I still don't buy your excuse, Andrew. Are you going to tell me you had no hope you'd also get a check out of him?" I demanded.

The muscle in Andrew's jaw ticked. "Does it matter? You clearly weren't willing to give me a chance!"

"The moment you lied, I lost my trust in you!"

His nostrils flared. "The moment you broke up with me, you jumped into this guy's bed."

Jake let go of my hand and stood between us. Large and imposing, he looked down at Andrew. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I don't?" Andrew spat back. "You don't think I noticed how she cooled down to me when you were around? I was told you were only her brother's friend, but you clearly were more of a hound at her heels."

"Fuck this," I muttered through clenched teeth.

Andrew must have had no sense of fear, because he lifted his face to Jake in defiance, the muscle in his jaw still ticking. The ginger wall of a man looked down at him with contempt written in every line of his face.

I put a hand on Jake's arm and tried to push him away, but he didn't move an inch.

I inserted myself between them instead. "We don't owe you an explanation. You and I are done."

"What did your family say?" Andrew snapped. "Did they mind that he's been sniffing around for years? If I saw it in only two months, they saw it, too."

"Stop it, Andrew!" I exclaimed. "I don't care what you think. Leave."

He spoke over my shoulder to Jake. "I hope you enjoy the money, you worked hard for it!"

I flinched. It pushed me to Jake.

Andrew's eyes landed on me. "How many guys are you going to go through, two months at a time, until you're done looking for Prince Charming and figure out—"