“Hmmph.”
The sound she grunted up from her throat wasn’t good. Neither was her expression.
“Where’d you get all this?”
I wanted to laugh at her. Scream at her. Drag her back out into the street by her stupid, ridiculous earrings. Instead, I only matched her disapproving look with one of my own.
“Who the hell are you?” I snapped.
“A local,” the woman snarled. “That’s who I am.” Her hands slid to her hips as she looked me up and down, frowning. “Someone who lives here and thrives here. Unlike you.”
I laughed in her face. “And how would you know who I—”
“How’d you get this place?” the woman barked.
I answered before I even realized I didn’t have to. “I paid for it.”
Her mouth split in a snarl of contempt. “Yeah, honey. I’m sure you did.”
My blood boiled. It was the first time in my life I actually knew the meaning of the phrase.
“Alright, you’ve had your fun. It’s time to go.”
I reached out for her elbow, but the woman pulled away. It was probably a bad idea to begin with. The second I touched her, she’d probably fling herself to the floor of my shop and claim I pushed her down.
“You might not understand things now,” she warned, stepping in the direction of the exit. “But you will.”
“Is that a threat?” I seethed.
Smiling glibly, the woman shrugged one shoulder. “Take it however you like.”
I stormed at her, suddenly past caring about the legal repercussions. She must’ve seen it in my eyes, because she hurried back through the doorway.
“Stay the fuck out of my shop!” I called after her, and a little too loudly. A few passersby glanced curiously in my direction, saw my expression, and immediately looked away.
Making friends! I laughed to myself. Fresh start.
I stood there for a moment, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down. I was too pissed off to go back inside and do any work right now. And I was hungry, too. Almost ravenous. I hadn’t eaten all day.
You’re hangry.
Pulling the keys from my pocket, I locked the door and made my way into the crowd. This time I followed my nose. I let it guide me past dessert carts and a gourmet pretzel stand, toward the more substantial food at the other end of the brick-paved avenue.
The whole time, I kept my eyes peeled. There was no sign of the old woman with the crazy earrings, and that was good. In my current mood I’d probably trip her.
By the time my feet stopped moving I was standing in front of a tiny silver cart with a blue umbrella. The man standing beside it was selling some kind of spiced meat on a stick.
“You want?”
I nodded mechanically. I didn’t even know what I was ordering, but it smelled absolutely incredible.
“Good, good!” the man smiled. “I get you a—”
“You don’t want that.”
The voice came from behind me, low and breathless. Just inches away from my ear. I spun around so fast, my hair whipped the voice’s owner in the face.