Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
SOPHIE
The sight of Colson outside the restroom made my feet instantly halt, and I stayed frozen in the center of the doorway, refusing to release the knob in case I wanted to go back in and lock him out.
Now, what exactly did you mean by taking a look at myself?
The words he’d just uttered.
I wasn’t surprised he had found me, that it had dawned on him to glance into the dining room, where I assumed he had seen my family and figured out I was here.
For as dumb as he was when it came to women, he was actually an extremely intelligent man.
What did surprise me was that he had left her at the table to come to me.
That didn’t score him any points, but, damn, he looked hot as he stared at me with a set of rabid eyes, a gaze so lethal that it had the potential to make me wet.
But I wouldn’t let it. Not when he was here with her.
“Get away from me, Colson.”
“Not until you tell me where all this anger is coming from.” His eyes narrowed. “Unless this is about the case finally being settled? Although I don’t think it is, not when you got everything you’d wanted.”
“You clearly haven’t taken a look at yourself.”
His head shook back and forth. “I’m here, Sophie.” He glanced down. “I’m doing everything you told me to. I even chased you to the fucking restroom. What more do you want from me?”
I laughed. “The stupidity in this conversation is actually amusing.” I released the knob and stepped into the hallway. “I don’t have time for this. I need to return to my family—”
“Talk to me.” He moved in front of me.
“Get out of my way.”
“Talk to me—”
I pushed his hand away as he went to reach for me. “Get out of my way,” I repeated. “I won’t say it again.”
“Why the hell are you so mad?”
I was already past him, nearing the end of the hallway, and that was when I decided to turn around.
I hadn’t planned on saying another word to him, but whatever was growing in my chest needed to vacate.
“Fucking two women in one night? That takes balls. Which I know you have since I’ve unfortunately seen them with my own eyes.
” I swallowed, wishing the spit were vodka. “But that’s low … even for you.”
I returned to the table, sinking into my chair, and slipped my phone into my purse. The only thing that made me happy to be back was that the drink Hayden had ordered for me had been delivered. I gripped the thin stem and brought it up to my mouth.
It didn’t matter how many times I gulped the mixture; my mind was only on Colson.
Ironically, he had a point. Why the hell am I so mad right now? It didn’t make any sense. I had no right to even care that he was here with someone else. He was allowed to see and fuck whoever he wanted.
Was it disgusting that he would be with two different women in one day? Yes. This wasn’t a threesome inside of Lush. But if that was his desire, could I really fault him?
He wasn’t my boyfriend.
He was my enemy—I’d made that clear.
“Do you care if Abbi stays the night at my place tonight?”
I was so deep inside my head that the sound of Hayden’s voice startled me. A quick glance showed that Abbi was coloring with Dottie, so Hayden’s attention was solely on me.
“That’s fine. Did she ask or …”
“I thought it would be a good idea.” The way his green eyes were sparkling told me he was up to something.
“Why?”
“So you have a second to cool off.”
My head tilted, and I turned my body toward him, holding the martini for backup. “Cool off from what?”
He nodded toward the bar. I followed his gaze, landing on Colson, who had just taken a seat across from the dark-haired woman. “Him.”
“Hayden—”
“I’ve never seen someone so riled up about a person they despise.”
Why were all the men in my life being completely unreasonable?
I set the glass down and crossed my arms. The temptation to look at my phone was fierce, but I wouldn’t let myself go there. I’d spent more than enough energy on Colson for one evening. It didn’t matter if there was a text from him or what it might say.
“The hatred I have for him, which I thought had boundaries, just exceeded the previous limits. That’s why I’m riled up.”
He laughed. “Oh, I’m sure …”
The wrath was coming on even stronger, building with such force that there was steam seeping through my pores. “What does that mean?”
He smiled.
“Spit it out, Hayden.”
He sucked his bottom lip in, and when he released it, he went right back into a grin. “You’ve got it bad for him.”
“Stop.”
“What just happened in the restroom?”
“Nothing.”
His brows rose. “Nothing? Come on. I saw him follow you there.”
The breath was loud when it came through my lips. “We exchanged a few words. That’s it.” I pointed my chin toward the bar. “There are literally thousands of restaurants in Lauderdale. I don’t understand how he ended up at this one.”
“Because I told him it was my favorite.”
It felt like my eyes were going to bug out of my head. “You told him to come here?”
“He asked for some recommendations. I gave him three with an emphasis on this one.”
My hand flew to my chest, pushing against the pounding. “You did what?”
He glanced at my daughter, then back at me. “What did I do wrong?”
“Everything.” I huffed. “You knew when you told him this was your favorite, this would be the one he chose. You’re unbelievable—do you know that?”
“Sorry about the wait,” the server said as she came to our table, standing directly behind Hayden and me—probably saving my brother’s life by doing so. “Is everyone ready to order?”
I quickly opened my menu, scanning the entrées, and said to Abbi, “Baby, how does salmon sound?”
She looked up from coloring. “Yum!”
The server voiced, “And is the bok choy and glazed carrots and roasted potatoes all right as sides for her?”
“She would love those,” I replied. “And maybe some fries?”
“Sure thing.” She tapped her tablet several times. “What can I get you?”
“Another vodka,” I responded.
“She’ll have the red snapper,” Hayden chimed in, overriding my order, “and I will too.”
As the waitress went over to Dottie, I said to Hayden, “One, I’m not hungry. And two, I need you to explain to me why the hell you would have Colson come here.”
“Having him here doesn’t bother anyone.” He continued to stare at me.
“Except you, which I still can’t figure out.
” The truth in his eyes made me even more enraged.
“Hold on …” I could tell he was digging.
“It upsets you that he’s here with another woman.
That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?
” His confidence reminded me of one of Colson’s expressions.
“Ahhh. I nailed it.” His brows rose again.
“You’re losing your shit because Colson’s giving attention to someone who’s not you. ”
My jaw clenched, and an instant headache formed at the base of my temples. “Back off, Hayden.”
“God, I love it when I’m right.”