Page 33 of Midnight Lessons
I force a smile. “Of course, but the bakery is closed. I can do you a coffee to take away?”
His gaze sweeps over me possessively, making my skin crawl. “I guess that will have to do,” he says, his voice light. “Black, no sugar.”
“What brings you back to Midnight Falls?” I ask, turning to grab a takeaway cup from the shelf.
“Oh, passing through town on business.” He steps further inside, letting the door close softly behind him. “Thought I’d stop by and see how you’re doing. It’s been what? A year since we last spoke?”
“About that,” I murmur. The truth is, I never wanted to hurt Matthew. I wanted to move on. I wanted to love him. But I couldn’t. And when Iended things, he didn’t take it well. I’d expected anger, or maybe relief—but not the cold, bitter look that darkened his eyes. The way his mouth twisted like I’d betrayed him.
He leans casually against the counter. “I see the place is as cozy as ever,” he says, dragging me out of my thoughts. “You’ve made something special here, Willow.”
“Thank you,” I reply quietly, my mind buzzing. Why is he here? Why now, after all these months of nothing? And why so late? It’s… unsettling.
“So,” he says after a moment, an edge to his friendly tone. “I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with Owen lately.”
My hand jerks, nearly sloshing coffee over the side of the cup. I keep my back to him, willing my shoulders to relax. “We’ve reconnected,” I say cautiously. “It’s been good catching up.”
“Hmm.” He hums thoughtfully, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “You know, people are talking, Willow. About you two.”
My heart skips a beat, but I keep my voice steady. “Small towns, Matthew. Peoplealwaystalk.”
“True.” His low chuckle grates against my nerves. “Must be nice, picking up where you left off. All that history. You think he’s changed? Because I’m not so sure, Willow. Guys like Owen don’t change.”
My pulse spikes as I slide his drink toward him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugs, taking a leisurely sip of his coffee. “It means you shouldn’t be so quick to throw yourself at him now he’s back. I know you still have some idealized version of him in your head, but he left you, remember? Didn’t even look back.”
Anger flares, hot and fierce, but I swallow it down. I broke up with Matthew for a reason. I can’t let him rile me up now. “Part of the reason he left was because I wouldn’t talk to him, and he thought you and I were dating. But whatever Owen and I are to each other now is none of your business, Matthew. My personal life is none of your concern.”
He shrugs and leans in slightly, lowering his voice. “Seems your personal life is everyone’s concern. Rumor has it there’s a bit of a…wagergoing around. Something about you and your love life.”
My eyes narrow. “You know about that?”
His smile widens, and something like glee flashes in his eyes. “Small town, Willow. Peoplealwaystalk,” he says, throwing my words back at me. “I’m sure it’s some silly joke. Guys being guys, you know?”
Silly joke?
What an incredibly insensitive thing to say.
My stomach twists. “It’s not a silly joke, Matthew. It’s disgusting.”
I’ve been doing my best to ignore the lecherous looks and smarmy smiles of the men coming into my bakery, but that doesn’t mean I’m unaffected. I know one or two of them as acquaintances—idiots with only two brain cells knocking around in their noggins. I’ve already banned them from my shop despite their protestations of innocence. Innocent, my ass, making degrading personal bets about me.
Bets that Matthew seems to knowwaytoo much about. My mind races, piecing together the scraps of information. Could it be…?
His smile is nonchalant. “Maybe. But who can blame them, huh? I mean, look at you—back with your high school sweetheart. I’m sure that’s only added more fuel to the fire, and they’re all dying to see how it plays out.”
The world tilts. I grip the counter to steady myself, my nails digging into the wood as I glare daggers at him. “You started the betting pool, didn’t you?”
His gaze hardens, and for a second, I see pure hatred in his eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Willow. I simply dropped by to say hello to my ex-girlfriend.”
“We were never together like that, and you know it. I was honest with you from the start. I never lied about my intentions, and as soon as you told me you wanted more, I ended things. I’m sorry if you thought there was more between us than there was.”
He shrugs again. “It seems we remember completely different versions of how things played out. I remember being led on a merry dance for years by a woman who promised everything and never delivered. I remember you throwing those years back in my face the second I pushed formore.” He sets the coffee down with a casualness that makes my blood boil. “Enjoy yourreconnectionwith Owen while it lasts. He may be all over you now, but he’ll leave you again. Call me when he does so I can say I told you so and provide a shoulder for you to cry on. Again.”
Aaaand, I’m done. “Get out,” I snap, my voice trembling with fury. “And don’t come back.”
Matthew’s gaze lingers on me, something cold and calculating in his eyes. Then he smiles, slow and mocking. “Good to see you again, Willow.”