“How am I supposed to know? Now stop asking me these things!” he snapped.
“You’re so harsh!” A dramatic sigh escaped her. “But honestly… I think she’s ignoring you on purpose. She clearly doesn’t want to talk.”
“Just stop talking,” Eric snapped, his temper boiling over. He then jerked his arm away from her grip. “Keep quiet, or I’ll make you.”
“Why do you always have to be so mean to me?” That only made Megan’s whine louder. Her tone changed in an instant when something caught her eye. She tugged at his sleeve and widened her eyes. “Wait!”
Eric grumbled, “Now what?”
“Look! Over there!” Megan’s focus had completely shifted. She pointed toward the private room where Hadley had gone. “Isn’t that Zane Hayes?”
People from their circles often recognized familiar faces, even if they weren’t exactly friends.
Eric turned to see what she was pointing at, and his jaw clenched when he recognized Zane.
The server walked ahead, pausing to gesture politely. “Mr. Hayes, Miss Pearson is waiting for you inside.”
Zane thanked the server with a nod and slipped into the private room, unaware that Eric and Megan had been watching the entire time.
A heavy look settled on Eric’s face, bitterness pooling in his chest. Megan, always eager for drama, didn’t hesitate to twist the knife.
“So, Hadley’s having dinner with Zane,” Megan said with a sly grin. “Maybe they’re an item now. They do seem to fit—both divorced, both single. Wouldn’t you agree?”
She barely got the words out before Eric shoved her arm away, sending her stumbling back.
“Eric!” Megan shouted after him as he turned and walked off. “Hey, Eric!”
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Anger bubbling up, she hurried to catch up. “Are you jealous? Is that it? You’re upset she’s with Zane? You and Hadley are done! I’m here now!”
Without warning, Eric spun around. His right hand shot up, and for a moment it looked like he might actually strike her.
Megan froze, eyes wide with fear. “What are you doing?” Would Eric actually hit her?
Eric’s hand hung there, trembling in the air. A long moment passed while he fought the urge to silence her. Yet deep down, he lived by a single rule—he would never lay a hand on a woman.
His fingers curled into a fist, and he forced his arm back to his side. A cold, empty smile crossed his lips, and his face grew even more grim.
The shift in his mood rattled Megan. “You’re upset, aren’t you? I’m sorry, all right? Please, don’t be mad. I’ll stop. It’s my fault…”
“Enough!” Eric cut her off sharply, eyes squeezed shut. “Just stop talking for a minute.”
“Okay,” Megan whispered, covering her mouth and shrinking back.
Only then did it hit her—there was something about the way Eric looked at Hadley. Maybe, just maybe, he truly did still love her.
While tension built outside, Hadley and Zane enjoyed a calm evening inside the private room, blissfully unaware of anything amiss.
.
.
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