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Strut the Mall (Love at Westbrook Mall #4) 14. Can I Call You Baby? 28%
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14. Can I Call You Baby?

14

Can I Call You Baby?

Steeling myself, I sorted some shoes a customer must’ve left on the desk. “We don’t have any Zeezy’s.”

Theo scoffed. “That’s not what I’m here for and you know it.”

Of course not. He already had a pair thanks to his other lady.

Edging closer to the desk, he played with his thin neck chain. “I came here because I care about you. Two years means something to me. I thought it meant something to you too.”

“It did.” I squirmed.

“Can’t you spare me a couple minutes then?”

We’d need way more than a couple of minutes to get to the bottom of our breakup. Part of me worried that I owed him that. But I didn’t, after what he did. I shoved some padding into the toe of a shoe. “It’s not going to change anything.”

He threw up his hands. “What do you want me to do?”

I packed in the padding. “How about you take some responsibility?”

“I did. I came here.” He gestured.

“I meant like an apology,” I said.

He leaned his palms on the counter and sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was talking to that girl for the Zeezy’s. I’m sorry you got into a fight over me. I’m sorry you had to leave early. And I’m sorry you had to get a ride with some random guy when it should’ve been with me. I’m sorry. Honestly.” With each apology, he slumped his weight to one side and looked at the ceiling like he’d rehearsed this routine with his mommy when he was three. He lowered his head and smoldered, his voice low. “Now, will you please have dinner with me so I can make it up to you?”

My anger wavered, albeit briefly. At least he apologized and was being nice to me.

Normally, I’d let him take me to a steak dinner or buy me a nice pair of earrings. But this was different. We didn’t have a stupid misunderstanding or a bad day. He thought my business and his scam were on the same level. What was going to stop him from manipulating someone else, including me?

I shook my head and lowered my gaze to the boots. “I appreciate the apologies, but I’m not going out with you. We’re done.”

“What do you mean?” He stood up straight. “I can’t return the shoes, baby.”

Why was he still so focused on those damned Zeezy’s? “I’m not asking you to… Ugh, you know what? I think you should leave.” I pushed the boxes to the back counter and started to walk away.

Theo ran around the counter to block the doorway. “I’m not leaving until you agree to have dinner with me.”

“I’m working,” I snapped.

“Then, I’ll wait. As long as it takes,” he said, going toe-to-toe with me.

Didn’t he have any brains under those frosted tips? I obviously wasn’t ready to talk about this. Heart racing, I drew myself up to full height. He couldn’t bully me into a relationship. But I knew Theo. His ego wouldn’t take the idea I simply didn’t want to get back together. How the hell was I going to get rid of him before Andre returned?

Zack’s voice boomed from the warehouse. “Is there a problem here?”

Theo jumped. “Uh, no. Sorry, I’m her–”

“Ex.” I crossed my arms, daring him to challenge it.

Theo retreated, bumping into the counter as Zack stalked him from the warehouse shadows. The former quarterback was all flexing muscles and hard edges.

“Who are you? Her manager?” my ex bristled.

Two years and he still hadn’t met Andre, let alone my parents.

Zack looked at me for context. He’d back me up no matter what I answered.

Together, we could crush him. All I had to do was confirm one way or another.

I scoffed at Theo and propped my hand on my hip. “Of course not. He’s my boyfriend.”

Oh my god. Why had I said that?

“Your what?” Theo cried. “We’ve only been broken up for a few days.”

“I move fast.” I shrugged and sidled up to Zack. I posed like we were on an album cover. The Fancee Duet: Nyx and the Quarterback. “He’s the guy from the video: Zack.”

Both men stared at me with varying levels of incredulity.

Shit. Was this not okay? Panic stabbed like a stiletto through the chest. I should’ve stuck to the manager thing. It was right in front of me. Why did I lie about Zack being my boyfriend ?

Sweat beaded on my forehead. I tugged the front of my shirt to fan myself with it. Zack studied my flushed face. He would think I was pathetic. So would Theo, if he found out I couldn’t even get a fake boyfriend for a minute.

I had to get out of here. “Anyways–”

Zack hooked his meaty arm around my waist and yanked me close. My face almost smacked into his pecs, so I had to steady myself with a palm on his warm chest. Both our hearts thundered at the new challenge.

“That’s right,” he said, glaring at Theo. “So, if you have a problem with her, you’ll have to go through me.”

“No problem.” Theo scowled.

Zack’s hand lingered on my side as he stepped between us. “Let’s go outside, then.”

I tugged on his arm. “He’s not worth it.” As much as I kinda wanted to see Theo flattened, there was no way Zack would get the job if he smacked around a customer in the parking lot.

My ex’s eyebrow twitched. “I still don’t get it.”

I rolled my eyes. What was there to get? “New Year’s Eve, we broke up. He stepped in. I won’t bore you with the details, but at least you can take comfort in the fact I never talked to him behind your back.”

Zack leaned close, his whisper more like a growl. “Andre will be here any minute.”

That meant we had to expedite this. I turned to Theo and said, “Take your new shoes and walk away. I’m not interested in dinner.”

“Don’t come here again,” Zack added.

I hugged the wall of muscle at my side and smiled. Somehow, the quarterback and I had ended up on the same team and become a winning combination.

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