“Aw, aren’t you just a doll,” she sneers. “What can I say? When you’re right, you’re right. After all, I haven’t gained a pound. I see you’ve grown though. Good for you, sweetie. Smaller up top, bigger on the bottom, like a Kardashian. Big is beautiful and all that, right? And hey, at least you finally got something bigger than itty-bitty boobs. B-cup Ashley doesn’t have quite the same ring to it though.”
“That’s bullshit,” Tyler snaps. “Do not fuckin’ talk to Ashley like that.”
I’ve never seen Tyler so severe about anything. Granted, I’ve only known him for a few days, but I never would’ve imagined he had a temper. On the other hand, it’s Rita we’re talking about, and she’s a special case. She could probably make the Pope angry.
She isn’t acting either. The bitch comes naturally. She was born with it. Forget my manifesting books. For Rita Ramsey, the word bitch applies all day every day. I’m pretty sure Oprah herself would say it.
Instead of striking back at him for snapping at her, Rita sags dejectedly, like all the fight has gone out of her. Still, when she looks over toward me, I tense.
“I’m sorry I called you big. That was rude and I shouldn’t have done it.”
This. Bitch. The insincerity in her eyes is so blatant that it takes everything I have not to tell her to shove her fake-as-hell apology up her ass. I won’t do that though, because I can see that’s what she wants. She’s a master manipulator. Always has been and, clearly, always will be.
Feigning indifference, I shrug. “I stopped caring about the things you say a long time ago, Rita.”
Her nose flares as she struggles to control her temper. If Tyler weren’t looking at me, I’d stick my tongue out to provoke her. Instead, I remain impassive.
“Anyway,” she huffs, returning her attention to Tyler. “Now that I apologized to her, I think you owe me an explanation. How did you think I was going to react to seeing you out on a date?” she asks. It’s a master performance. As she speaks, her eyes fill with tears and her voice wobbles like the emotion is too much for her to contain.
“Just stop. We both know I don’t owe you a goddam thing. You aren’t supposed to be here, and I’m not on a date,” he says, his voice tired.
I feel a little sick. I mean, I know we’re not on a date, but still. I feel less than. I don’t think he meant it to come across like that, but it almost doesn’t matter. Whether intended or not, I feel the way I feel.
“You touched her,” she snaps.
My stomach churns as I look between her and Tyler. Something is going on that I don’t understand, and it’s clear it’s nothing good. I notice it seems quieter in the bar. Looking around, I realize it’s because the people closest to us are listening intently. Great. She’s turned our table into a freaking bar show. Charlotte’s Cove is small; tomorrow, everyone will be gossiping about this.
“You’re acting whacked, Rita. It’s none of your goddamn business what I do. You have no right to be over here giving me shit about me touching Ashley’s wrist, for fuck’s sake,” Tyler growls.
I do my best to keep my expression blank as I return my focus to our table. Rita has entirely dropped the ready-to-crumble act she was putting on a minute ago. Now, she looks ready to rage.
“And her shoulders! I saw you, Tyler. You can’t lie your way out of this.”
He looks ready to blow. “I’m not fucking lying, because I don’t have to. You aren’t owed an explanation. In fact, you shouldn’t even be here. You were banned.”
She makes a dismissive motion with her hand. “I told Meghan to ask her daddy to give me another chance. It worked like a charm.”
Jana lets out a muffled curse. “Wow. You are really—”
Tyler raises his hand to silence her. “I’ve got this, Jana. Don’t let her pull you into her bullshit.”
I wish the horrible, sinking sensation in my stomach had nothing to do with the fact that it’s becoming more obvious by the second that something is going on between them.
I cringe when Rita shoots Jana a victorious look. “That’s right, Officer Brady. My man has me.”
My heart twists in my chest. Oh gross. Gross, gross, gross.
“Fuck that. You fuckin’ know I’m not your man.”
“Do you not realize what mixed messages you’re sending, Ty? Because it sure didn’t feel like you didn’t want to be my man when you made love to me last weekend,” Rita says in a singsong voice.
CHAPTER NINE
____________________________________
ASHLEY
TYLER IS UP and out of his seat so fast it almost topples backward. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he asks her, his voice rigid.
Taking her by the arm, he guides her through the room and out to the main bar area. Jana stands up and watches with narrow eyes. “He took her outside,” she says as she sits back down.