Page 81 of Tough Love

“Don’t be an arsehole and make this all business.”

“Isn’t that why you’re here?”

I level his gaze, my hands trembling with rage. “Fuck you.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, fuck you.” My nostrils flare, the stress of the day catching up with me already when it’s barely after ten in the morning. “Does it make you feel any better than him?” I jab a hand toward the papers bearing Tristan’s name. “You come into my life, fuck me up, and walk away.”

“I walked awayforyou,” he argues again.

“Bullshit. You walked because you felt guilty about what you did a fucking decade ago.”

He stares over my shoulder at nothing.

“Is she better than me?” I ask, sounding every bit the psycho ex I’m becoming. “Less baggage? Happier? Less complicated?”

He frowns, snapping his gaze back to mine. “What?”

“That brunette I saw you with. Big tits, curvy arse, ring any bells?”

A smile spreads across his lips, his eyes lighting up with the humour he finds in my distress.Bastard.

“Birdie.”

I twist my head, frowning. “No.”

“Yeah. Birdie. You know, myson’smother.” He chuckles.

I could slap him. “That wasn’t Birdie.”

“It’s been a while since school,” he says dryly. “Plus about five cosmetic procedures thanks to her numerous sugar daddies.”

“Birdie?”

He nods. “Where did you see us?”

“At the mall.”

He goes quiet for a moment, and I know it, I just know it—he’s working out the timeline.

“The day you last messaged me?”

Myturn to stare at nothing to appease my guilt.

“You saw us, and you thought you’d message me to see what I’d do?”

Damn it.“Uh-huh.” Floor, swallow me now.

“Oh, Amelia.”

“I’ll just…. I’ll leave this with you and go now, okay?”

He tosses his head back and laughs, full, rich, and heartfelt. “Babe, you’re crazy as shit.”

“Guilty.” I set my lips in a firm line and lift my hand.

He huffs, smirking at me. “I’ll show you out.”