towed that day—towed, J, if you can believe it. I mean, who would tow a fine piece of machinery like that?”
I had to swallow my snort. He glanced at me, frowning, before he turned his attention back to Jenny.
“It hasn’t been right since. I’ve spent thousands on it, J. It’s as if there is a curse on it. It smells. I can’t even describe it, like something died in it. It’s been cleaned, detailed, and steamed… Nothing has worked. I think I need to replace the engine.” He looked at her in all seriousness. “You know how much I love that car.”
I choked back a laugh. It wasn’t the engine that needed replacing. He needed to look behind a speaker or under the glove box—for starters.
Was he seriously talking to Jenny about his stupid car? The one he prized more highly than her? And why the fuck was he calling her “J”? Did he not know her name? Was Jenny too hard to say? I eyed the watermelon in the cart. I had an idea where I wanted to put it right now. He was certainly a big enough asshole to handle it. A small chuckle broke through my lips before I could stop it.
He looked at me, his expression curious. “Do I know you?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
He frowned and looked back at Jenny, who was gazing at him impassively. “Tami quit and dumped me.”
Jenny’s voice was dry. “What a shame.”
“Did she buy you a watch?” I mumbled.
Jenny giggled, her hand tightening on mine. I squeezed back.
John looked at me, confused. “No.”
I shrugged. “Too bad. A good source tells me that’s the latest craze.”
“Are you sure I don’t know you?”
“Nope. Never formally met you.”
He glared at me and returned his gaze to Jenny. “I think I’ve been cursed.”
“Oh?”
“It never ends, J. I’ve gotten tickets for parking, speeding, littering, talking on my cell phone in the car—it’s as if the cops are watching me all the time. Every time I do something remotely illegal, they’re there. Just the other day, three of us stepped off the curb too soon, and I was the only one nabbed and given a ticket for jaywalking!”
It was all I could do not to laugh out loud at his morose expression. He made it all too easy. I could feel myself shake with repressed laughter, and I bit down on my lip so I didn’t start guffawing.
Jenny’s head snapped in my direction.
Oh shit. I was so busted.
I moved and wrapped my arm around her tightly. I needed to make sure she couldn’t use her legs.
I knew how dangerous she was with her legs.
Jenny
As soon as John started listing off his problems, I knew. Beside me, Connor was almost vibrating in silent laughter. He was in so much shit.
“J!”
I looked back at John. “What?”
“Did you hear me?”
“I’m sorry you’re having a rough time, John. But it has nothing to do with me.”
Inside, I was fuming. It had everything to do with my current boyfriend, who had moved in closer, holding me tight against his side.
“I think you need to give me another chance.”
I gaped at John as Connor stood taller and pulled me even closer.
“Excuse me?” he hissed.
John frowned at Connor. “Wait. I do know you. You’re the neighbor guy. I saw you in the hall a couple times.” He glanced down at the cart. “Shopping together?”
“I’m not the neighbor guy, John. I’m the boyfriend guy. Jenny’s boyfriend. We’re shopping together because we are together,” Connor snapped in response.
John looked between us. “You have another boyfriend already? It didn’t take long for you to move on.”
I laughed. “That’s rich coming from someone I found fucking his assistant. I’d say you moved on first.”
“Well, it’s not as if you’d been offering it up much, babe. I had needs, Jenny. You no longer met them.”
“So, it was my fault?”
“Well, yeah. I’m willing to take you back, though. Give you a chance to make it up to me.” He lifted his hand as if he expected me to grab on to it like a lifeline. Did he seriously not see Connor right there beside me? Or hear what he had just said? Could he not see how securely I was nestled into his body? I pulled back, not wanting John to touch me.
Before I could say or do anything else, I found myself tucked behind Connor. The cart was pushed out of the way as he stepped in John’s direction. Connor’s voice was almost eerily calm, and I realized