“I don’t need you to drive me home. I have my car,” Violet countered, glaring at Scooby.
“Then, I’ll follow you,” Squeaker said.
“I don’t need you to follow me,” she argued. “I’m good right here.”
“Swear to Christ, Let, you need to get the fuck outta here,” Scooby growled.
“And you need to not talk to her that way,” I snapped.
His eyes met mine and I could see the pain, but I refused to acknowledge it. We were done and I wasn’t about to let him wheedle his way back in.
“All of you can go,” I said. “I need to lock up anyway, so if you’d please leave so I can do that, I’d appreciate that.” I focused on Violet. “Please. If you don’t make the first move, he’ll never leave.”
She sighed, sliding off the stool and making her way to the door. Squeaker stepped out, Violet followed, and just when I thought Scooby would be right behind her, he closed and locked the door then turned to face me.
“What are you doing?” I breathed out in frustration. “Get out.”
“No. You’re ignoring my calls and texts.”
“Not true,” I countered, stepping behind the counter again. “I haven’tseenany of your calls or texts.”
“Rowan, don’t bullshit me. If you haven’t seen them, it means you’ve blocked me, which is a bigger problem.”
“You made your position very clear, Scooby. We are done. In order for me to honor your decision, I needed some distance. Blocking your number is how I got that distance,” I explained. “Now, if you’ll please go so I can head upstairs, I’ll leave you to your life.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”
“Why not?”
“Because we have some things to hash out.”
“Ah, no we sure as heck do not.”
I don’t know what possessed me, but I picked up a saltshaker and hauled it toward his head. I missed… kind of. It bounced off his shoulder and smashed on the floor behind him, glass and salt shattering all over the linoleum.
“What the fuck?” he growled. “Did you just throw salt at me?”
“I was hoping it would ward off an evil spirit.”
“You’re supposed to throw a little over your own left shoulder, Twinkles, not throw an entire fuckin’ saltshaker at my goddamnhead!”
I let out a squeak, then turned and made a run for the back of the diner. My foot hit the first stair to my loft when his arm clamped around my stomach and dragged me up against him.
“Lord!” I bellowed.
“I know he’s not here,” Scooby whispered against my ear, turning me to face him, and pushing me against the wall. “We’re gonna talk.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Well, then you’re gonna listen.”
I slapped him.
Once, then twice.
Hard.
He grabbed my arms, pinning them behind my back, holding them with one hand at my wrists. “Feel better?” he taunted.