Page 103 of Stolen Summer
Neither were pleasant, and both had their own sets of torment.
Tingles danced on the back of my neck, and I got this sick feeling in my gut like something bad was about to happen.
My intuition turned out to be right.
I lifted my gaze as Gianna strolled in, and my spine stiffened along with my chin. The chatter of the diner faded. “Son of a bitch,” I said under my breath, rubbing my suddenly sweaty palms on the back of my pants. I couldn’t imagine what she wanted with me.
I stayed behind the counter, waiting for those sharp, scheming eyes to find me, and when they did, they flared with hubris. She was up to something, that much was evident, but what? Hadn’t she done enough? I left. I was out of Crew’s and Cole’s lives. What else could she want with me? Perhaps she just enjoyed inflicting torture. Nothing like getting a fancy manicure one moment and then bullying me for fun. “What are you doing here? It certainly isn’t for a shitty cup of coffee,” I greeted her dryly from behind the counter.
She had the guts to come alone. I didn’t want to feel an ounce of respect for this she-devil, but it took courage considering how much I still wanted to beat her ass. Her lips formed a savage grin. “It’s not for what you think.”
“I somehow find that hard to believe. Say what you came to say. I’m busy, and I don’t have the time to be toyed with.”
Her expression was nearly predatory like she had a secret weapon to destroy me. “Trust me, you’ll want to hear what I know.”
As if she’d dangled a forbidden fruit in front of me, my intrigue piqued, and yet, I couldn’t help but think I’d regret listening. Untying my apron, I bundled it up behind the counter and told Mir I was taking my break. She’d cover my tables for me. I walked to the side door leading out to the alley. Gianna followed. Once the door swung shut behind her, I faced Gianna and crossed my arms. “You’ve got fifteen minutes. That’s all I have.” More like it was all I’d give her.
Two overturned buckets the smokers used as stools lingered a few feet from the building. I sat down and waited to see what she would do. Would she stand or take the other bucket and risk dirtying her white shorts?
Her face scrunched in disgust.
I swallowed the fire in my throat and raised a brow. “Do you want me to get you a napkin to lay down?”
She flipped her silky hair. “It’s fine. I’ll stand.”
“Want to make sure you have a quick getaway in case I decide to throw hands?”
Amusement twisted at her lips. “Something like that.”
“Fourteen minutes,” I counted down.
She made a show of rolling her eyes. “You’re so fucking annoying. I don’t get what he sees in you.” I assumed he was Crew.
“The same can be said for Cole and you,” I retaliated. Nothing like a little tit-for-tat to start my afternoon off.
“God, I hate you,” she said, but there wasn’t the usual heat behind her tone. I sensed a bit of tiredness from her. Perhaps she was over this feud as I was.
“The feeling is mutual, sis. Are we going to just exchange barbs for the next”—I glanced at the nonexistent watch on my wrist.—“thirteen minutes and counting?”
Gianna’s lips pressed into a firm line. “When Cole and I were together, he told me something that might interest you.”
“Doubtful, but since you dragged me out here, spill it already,” I retorted dryly.
“It’s about the accident with your father.”
Suddenly she had my full attention. “What about it?” I asked, my eyes narrowing, a sinking feeling forming in my stomach.
Her fingers fumbled together in front of her. The first sign of nerves I’d seen from her. “The car that hit him…it was Crew.”
Shock punctured my lungs for a single breath. The idea… The audacity of her to suggest… Years of pain dredged up to the surface. I’d relived that night so many times in my past, and I wanted it to stay there. “Wow, you must really be salty to make up such lies about Crew. Are you that upset you didn’t get the twin you wanted?” What other motive could she have? Everything she’d done to me had been rooted in her obsession with Crew.
Or maybe it was getting something she couldn’t have. Crew had rejected her, and for someone who was used to having everything she wanted or asked for, it must have stung her pride.
Anger snapped in her eyes. “I’m not lying. Cole told me when we were together.”
“I’m not a threat to you anymore. Just leave me the hell alone.” I shot off the bucket to head back inside the diner.
“Why do you think he was interested in you? It was guilt,” she quickly said, preventing me from entering. I kept my back to her as she continued. “Crew drove the car that night. They’d both been drinking at a party down on the docks. They flew from the scene, leaving you there with your dad. If you don’t believe me, ask Cole or Crew yourself.”