Page 54

“Stop it. We’re in public, for God’s sake.” I turn to Shae and step back, putting distance between us, and pushing Toni behind me. “I’ve been patient with you, Shae, but I’m done. You’re harassing me, at my place of work. What are you thinking, stalking me here?”

“Stalking you? I’m not stalking you.”

“You tracked my car, Shae. That’s stalking. It’s also sad and desperate.”

“And pathetic,” Willa says.

I don’t scold her because I see Shae’s eyes widen slightly. Finally, something is hitting home.

Employees and their wives and kids are exiting the warehouse, loaded down with presents and baked goodies. They wave and say goodbye, while eyeing us all with curiosity.

Maybe public shaming will work. Nothing else has.

“When word gets around town that you made a scene at a business function about personal business,” I say. “Well, wow. Your reputation is going to take a pretty brutal hit.”

Shae’s eyes widen further.

“I mean I wouldn’t say anything, but—” I wave my hand at the stream of people leaving, and at Greta, Willa, and Toni.

Shae regains her composure quickly and she scoffs. “Please, no one would believe it.”

“Yet here you are, begging me to take you back. Shae Baker having to beg a woman to be with her.” I pull out my phone and wave it around. “It’s usually ‘video or it didn’t happen’ but I think audio will work, too.” Shae’s eyes narrow. “Or just leave me alone and this stays between us.”

“You didn’t record this.”

“Do you want to take that chance?”

Shae studies me. I have no idea what my expression says, but I hope it’s something along the lines of, Dare me, bitch.

Shae opens her car door. “You’re going to regret this, Audrey. You think this trail guide will make you happy?” She gestures to Toni and laughs. “In a month or so, when you get bored with this loser, don’t bother crawling back to me. I wouldn’t take you back if you begged me.”

“I wouldn’t beg you for water if I was dying of thirst,” I say.

Shae gets in the car, slams the door, and starts the engine. I turn to walk away, relief flooding through me.

Shae rolls down her window. “Hey.”

Reluctantly, I turn around. Of course, Shae needs to get the last word in.

“The promotion you lost? I might have let slip at a happy hour with your CEO that I was being recruited for a job in California and that you were excited to go with me.”

My stomach drops. “That’s a lie.”

“Not technically. I did get a call, once, about a job in California. But I wasn’t interested.” She winks at me. “Sorry about that.”

With that, she peels out of the parking lot.

My mouth gaping open, I turn to my sister and friends. I’m too stunned to speak.

“Why does that not surprise me?” Willa says.

“Why would she do something like that?” Toni asks.

“I don’t kn—” I start.

“Oh yeah you do,” Willa says. “If Audrey would have gotten that promotion, it would have been a bigger job and better title than Shae’s, and she couldn’t stand that.”

“Good lord,” Greta says.