The Firefighter's Curvy Possession (A Silver Lake Instalove Romance #3)

Prologue

Sadie Quinn

I’m sitting at a small table in the corner of the coffee shop, hands wrapped around a lukewarm latte I’ve barely touched. Ryan is ten minutes late, which isn’t like him. He usually shows up early just to “make sure I’m safe.” That phrase used to sound sweet. Now it makes my skin crawl.

The last few weeks have been a slow unraveling.

Ryan started out great, attentive, funny, charming.

Flowers on the first date. Compliments about my smile.

But those compliments quickly turned into comments about what I was wearing, and his attentiveness turned into constant questions.

Where was I? Who was I with? Why did I need to wear that top that showed too much?

Why did it take me so long to answer his texts?

I can’t do this anymore. Red flag after red flag has the alarm bells blaring in my head. I’m not stupid or desperate enough to stick around for this. Fuck that.

The bell above the door jingles and Ryan walks in wearing his usual crisp button-down, hair neatly combed.

I used to think he was incredibly handsome.

Now the sight of him makes me want to bolt.

He spots me and smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes like it used to.

He slides into the chair across from me.

“Sorry I’m late,” he says. “Traffic was bad. You should’ve texted me when you got here so I wouldn’t worry. ”

I take a slow breath and look him dead in the eyes. “Ryan, we need to talk.”

He leans back and crosses his arms. “Sounds serious. What’s going on, babe?”

There’s a nervous ball of energy in my stomach, but I’ve never been one to beat around the bush. I just rip the bandaid off. “This isn’t working for me anymore. I’m breaking up with you.”

For a second he just stares at me. Then he lets out a short, ugly laugh. “You’re breaking up with me? Really? You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope. Dead serious.” I lean forward. “I’m done with the constant questions, the texts every five minutes, the way you police what I wear. That protective bullshit turned into straight-up control, and I’m not doing it anymore.”

He shakes his head and leans in closer, lowering his voice like he’s doing me a favor. “Sadie, come on. Don’t be dramatic. I’ve been good to you. Most guys wouldn’t put up with someone like you.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Someone like me? Please, enlighten me.”

He glances around the coffee shop like he’s making sure no one’s listening, then looks me up and down.

“Let’s be honest. You’re not exactly a catch.

You’re carrying extra weight. You’re stubborn as hell, and you don’t listen when I try to help you look better or act right.

You should be grateful I lowered my standards and gave you a chance.

No one else is going to want you like this. ”

The words land, but instead of shrinking, a hot spark of anger flares up inside me.

I let out a sharp laugh and lean back in my chair.

“Wow. You really let your inside thoughts out to play.” I shake my head.

“You know what, Ryan? Fuck your lowered standards. I like my body exactly the way it is. I don’t need some insecure little man trying to tear me down.

You’re not protective, you’re pathetic. The way you grill me about where I am, who I’m with, what I’m wearing?

That’s not love. That’s control. And I’m done playing that game. ”

His face flushes red. “You’re going to regret this…”

“Oh, I highly doubt it,” I cut him off, standing up and grabbing my purse. “I’d rather be single for the rest of my life than spend one more day listening to you nitpick every little thing about me. Don’t contact me. Stay the hell away from me, Ryan. I mean it.”

I turn on my heel, but he grabs my wrist before I can walk away.

His grip is tight, and his voice drops to something low and threatening.

“You’ll miss me, you fat bitch,” he hisses, eyes locked on mine.

“You’ll miss the way I watch you. The way I know exactly where you are at all times.

No one else will ever pay that much attention to you. ”

I yank my arm free and glare at him. “Touch me again and I’ll make sure the whole coffee shop knows what a pathetic creep you are. We’re done. Stay the fuck away from me.”

I turn and walk out of the coffee shop without looking back. The bell jingles as the door swings shut behind me. Fresh air hits my face, and I keep walking, shoulders back, head high. My hands are still shaking a little, but I can feel the weight lifting.