Page 22 of Never Gonna Lie (Forbidden #2)
Chapter Twenty-Two
RAVEN
TWO MONTHS LATER
I t’s been a couple of months since I’ve seen or heard from James.
Dad stopped forcing us together, and for that I’m glad.
He doesn’t mention James during our weekly catch-ups, and the couple of times I’ve been home for various reasons, James has never been there.
It’s like he never existed. Part of me feels devastated by the loss, but the other part of me knows I need to move on.
How do you stop loving a man you’ve loved your entire life? If there’s a switch to make it happen, then I’d love to know because there’s no other man for me, James Smith is my person, the one , he’ll just never know it.
More than once, I’ve wondered why he was so invested in seeing me the night he called to have dinner.
Was it purely because my dad was asking?
Or did James have his own ulterior motives that he refused to accept?
But then I got a headache from the possible scenarios I was concocting in my head and knew I needed to stop.
So now, anytime James crops up in my head, I shove him to the side so quickly, I get dizzy from it.
The doorbell of the coffee shop rings, and I hear a voice call out, “Hi, Raven. Do you ever have a day off?”
I turn around at the voice, smiling. “Lauren, hi. How are you? And yes, I have the odd day off… sometimes,” I laugh. “The usual?”
“Yes, please.”
After telling Lauren to go and sit down, I make her coffee before pouring my own. It’s early on a Sunday morning, not a single customer in sight, so I decide to take my break hours before it’s due, grabbing our coffees and sitting down with her.
We catch up about mundane things, but I can tell something's eating away at her. I finally cave and give her the look—the one moms always give to their children when they’re acting up.
Lauren chuckles. “I’m that easy to read, huh?”
I smile at her. “Sweetie, your shoulders are up around your ears.”
She finally opens up and tells me about her boyfriend and how she feels like she’s being watched. A shiver works its way down my spine as she explains what’s been happening. I desperately try to keep the worry from showing on my face.
The shop door chimes, interrupting us, and a quick glance toward the door has me wishing I’d called in sick.
My stupid heart beats erratically in my chest as I stare at the man who haunts my every waking moment and dreams.
Excusing myself from Lauren, I walk to the counter where James is standing.
He’s wearing his usual suit—if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he lived in them, but unluckily?
Luckily? For me, I’ve seen him out of them, and he looks entirely too fuckable, adding to my already pissy mood with him.
Begs the question as to who he’s been wi— stop right there, Raven.
It’s none of your business, girl. Move the fuck on .
Rounding the counter, I prop myself up against the back bar and cross my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “What are you doing here?”
James looks at me, and I get lost for a moment. He’s always had this deep, penetrating stare that feels like he can see straight into your soul. Just one look and it causes you to crumble at his knees, begging for more.
“I came to grab a coffee on my way to the office,” he replies with a shrug.
“Huh, and you couldn’t go to the million other coffee shops that are directly on your way to the office?” I snark.
“I could, but you aren’t at those coffee shops.” He winks, and I can’t take it anymore.
“Listen to me closely, James Smith, just fucking stop,” I whisper, and even though there are no customers, I move closer.
“You’re confusing the hell out of me. You want me, you don’t want me.
Make up your damn mind or please, just stop .
” I blink rapidly, trying not to cry. It might have been months, but apparently, I can hold a grudge like the best of them.
James pushes away from the counter, rubbing the back of his neck and sighing like he’s trying to release the tension. His face is hard to read, but it’s his eyes that tell me what he’s feeling—he’s upset. “That’s not what I’m trying to do here, pretty girl.”
“Don’t. Don’t call me that,” I murmur, gazing at my hands. “I don’t know what you thought you’d achieve by coming here, but please leave.” I gesture with my head toward the door, deliberately avoiding eye contact .
I pick up the empty cups on the side, throwing them into a bowl, and walk off. A few minutes later, the door slams and I breathe a sigh of relief, bracing my hands on the counter for support.
Lauren rushes over to me, asking if I’m okay. I tell her I’m fine, but in all honesty… I’m not. I wipe the tears from my eyes as she hugs me. Lauren heads off to the library, leaving me to my confused thoughts and to wipe up the mess of my shattered heart from the floor.