Ex-Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now novel Chapter 74

Chapter 7

Three years later, my bakery’s doing better–business picking up so much I can’t handle it alone anymore, had to hire more people.

Rhys keeps insisting he wants to work here,

Some trust fund kid won’t go hang out at fancy places, just camps out at my little shop every day. Even wants to work for me.

We met by total chance–he ducked in one day to get out of the rain, I gave him a coffee. He’s been glued to me ever since.

“No way. Your dad finds out, he’ll tear my place down.”

I’m keeping my face stern.

“You’re about to leave for grad school in Germany anyway. Why aren’t you out having fun while you can instead of trying to work at my shop? You really need the couple bucks I’d pay you?”

Rhys sprawls out on the couch all cocky, crosses his legs, takes a sip of coffee.

Then looks up at me casually: “Stop talking to me like that.”

I freeze.

He keeps going: “I’m twenty–two, you’re twenty–eight. Not that big a gap. Why do you sound like my mom?”

I’m honestly impressed by how shameless he is.

Take a deep breath. Grab his coffee away.

“Mr. Ashford, I’m telling you seriously–my shop doesn’t need you working here.”

Rhys throws himself back against the couch cushions, crosses his arms, closes his eyes–full–on brat mode.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“I’m doing it anyway.”

Nothing I say works, so I grab his ear and literally drag him up.

Then shove him toward the door.

“Get out, out, out.”

Rhys rubs his bright red ear, standing there all indignant.

Gets so worked up he presses his chest right up against my forehead.

68.6%

in You’re Single Now.

Chapter 7

“Cassie, you better watch it.”

“I’ll be back!!”

With that, he storms off all huffy.

I rented a decent apartment.

Past few days I’ve been slowly moving stuff over from the old place.

Every night I’m working till ten, then riding my little scooter back to the old building.

Tonight someone knocked something over in the stairwell.

Thought it was a cat at first, didn’t pay attention.

Got closer–it’s a person.

Light’s too dim to see their face. Skinny body swimming in a dress shirt, slumped against the wall.

“Cass…”

His voice is completely wrecked.

I instinctively turn to run.

Garrett grabs me from behind. Hallway’s so narrow we both slam into the wall with a thud.

It scares him.

“Cass, did you hit anything? Does it hurt…”

I yank his hands off, don’t say anything, just head upstairs.

Garrett follows behind me.

I stop. Cold voice: “You come up one more step and I’m calling the cops.”

He doesn’t dare come closer but won’t back down either–just stands there between floors for the longest time.

So long he can barely stay upright.

Then pulls out cigarettes and a lighter.

Cigarettes are damp–flame doesn’t catch the tobacco, just lights up the tears in Garrett’s eyes real clear.

His beard’s like the moss on the ground–messy and thick

Can’t see any trace of the confident guy he used to be.

68.8%

Chapter 7

“Cass, I looked for you for so long…”

“Don’t need to,” I cut him off. “Garrett, from now on we live our own lives, don’t bother each other. The past is the past.”

Garrett’s got an unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth, looking completely defeated.

“Can’t let it go.”

“Cass, I can’t forget those six years.”

Makes me want to laugh.

I walk right up to him, grab Garrett by the collar.

“Can I forget what you did to me?”

“Garrett, I said it’s over because I wanted us both to keep some dignity. I don’t want this to get uglier than it already is.”

He laughs bitterly.

Tears sliding down, hitting the ground with sound.

Garrett’s feeling what San Diego’s humidity is like again–makes him so miserable just breathing takes everything he’s got.

“I’m sorry… Cass, I’m so sorry…”

Empty words. I don’t want to hear them.

“Get lost.”

“Don’t come around anymore. Garrett, I never want to see you again for the rest of my life.”

Garrett’s shoulders just collapse.

His fake strength crumbles into pieces from what I said, falling into the dust

Can’t stand anymore–drops to his knees right in front of me.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

I can’t shake his hands off, just keep struggling.

Garrett’s crying, begging me not to leave him, but I’m at my limit.

One more second and I’ll explode.

“You deaf? She told you to get lost.”

Rhys is standing at the bottom of the stairs, expression dark, one hand in his pocket, walking toward us step by step.