Perfect Regret ( BOOK 2) Read Free Page A

extraordinaire, clipping his employee card onto his belt loop. I hated how cute he was, with his stupid dark hair that was just a tad too long and those annoyingly pretty green eyes behind heavy, black-framed glasses. I hated how smart and together he looked. I hated that he looked fine when I felt like a barely held together wreck. I clenched my hands into fists. I was totally going to punch him.
    Jordan immediately picked up on my mood and intervened. “Nothing at all,” he said coolly and I gave him a small smile, letting him know I appreciated his loyalty. Nice to know Jordan Levitt had my back.
    Damien smiled entirely too casually for someone who had so recently dumped his girlfriend. His eyes flickered to me and then away again as though he couldn’t even look at me. “Hey Riley,” he said, sounding as though he had swallowed a mouthful of thumbtacks. And I really wish he had.
    “Hey,” I said back, proud of how unaffected and downright bored I sounded. No one could pull off emotionless bitch like Riley Fucking Walker!
    “Later, guys!” I called out, waving at Jordan and Lyla who were both watching me closely. It was obvious by the way Lyla was staring at both Damien and me that she knew we had broken up. I’m sure we would be the source of endless gossiping and speculation tonight. Maybe it wasn’t too late to pretend I was still sick.
    “Riley, hang on a sec.” I tensed up instantly. Damien’s hand curled around my wrist and I looked down at the offending appendage in shock.
    Was he for real? How dare he touch me? I almost hissed at him like an alley cat getting ready to claw someone’s eyes out.
    I wrenched my arm away and shot him a look of pure death. I wanted him to get sucked ten feet under by the strength of my anger alone. Too bad he continued to stand there, looking obnoxiously concerned.
    “How are you?” he asked in a tone that was completely patronizing. He was looking at me as though he expected me to fall apart at any second. Though to be fair, I had done just that three days ago when he evilly broke my heart.
    I gave him the fakest, brightest smile I could muster. “Oh, I’m fine. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about me.” I patted his back condescendingly, my lip curling in disgust. “It’s amazing what losing a year’s worth of shit can do for your outlook on life,” I said nastily, turning my back on him. I didn’t wait for him to say another word. Instead I walked straight to my section and started my shift checklist.
    That should have felt good. I wish I could tap dance on the eviscerated remains of our relationship but instead I just felt like icky. Because I didn’t enjoy being nasty to Damien. But at this point it felt like an imperative necessity. I just couldn’t let him know how utterly destroyed I have been. That would be like conceding defeat in some way.
    And Riley Walker didn’t do defeat.
    “Hey Riley,” a perky voice piped up behind me. I felt my shoulders tense and my teeth clench. I continued to wipe down my tables, even though they were so clean you could lick your food off them.
    “Hey,” I responded less than enthusiastically. Jaz Digby was not my favorite person on the planet. She was entirely too enthusiastic about the monotonous routine that defined our roles as wait staff at Barton’s Bar and Grill. I don’t think the girl ever got pissed off and people like that bothered me on a molecular level. There was something wrong about someone that continued to smile while being chewed out by a disgruntled customer. People like that weren’t to be trusted.
    The only reason I tolerated her on any level was that Maysie liked her, in that sweet, deluded way of hers.
    Jaz sat down at the table I was meticulously scrubbing. She started to rearrange the salt and pepper shakers and given my current state of mind, she might as well be clubbing baby seals. It pissed me off that much. I reached over and quickly put them back the way I had them