Power Drilled (Roommates, #8)(40)

“I’m not like her,” Tanya said fiercely. “I’m not going to lose you.”

“Stop with the jealous act, and we’ll be together a long time,” Jeff said smugly. But I also heard what he wasn’t saying. That if Tanya felt jealous, she’d get dumped—even if she was right to question his motives.

Jeff grabbed her hand and this time, she didn’t back away. “I’ve got to take care of one thing, babe, and then I’ll meet you back at the room. We have some time before the restaurant tonight, and I know of the perfect way to use it.” He gave her a leering grin. “So don’t burn that pretty little tongue of yours on coffee.”

I almost gagged when Jeff walked away. He was such scum. Why had it taken me so long to figure that out? I wasn’t stupid, but somehow, I’d been blind to who he really was.

And it seemed like Tanya was, too.

She stared at Jeff as he walked across the lobby. When he was gone, she tossed her coffee cup into the nearest trashcan—which was just feet away from me.

Tanya froze when she spotted me. Shock danced across her face, and then concern. But then she settled for a smug smile. “Did you enjoy the show?”

“No.”

My simple answer seemed to infuriate my cousin. “We weren’t arguing. That’s just how Jeff is. Oh wait, you were with him for over a year, and you never truly understood him.”

I could’ve walked away. I didn’t feel the need to prove anything to Tanya. We’d never been anywhere near as close as Claire and I.

But I couldn’t do that. “Is that why he started up with you? Because he said I didn’t understand him?”

“Among other things.” Tanya seemed uncomfortable with this line of questioning.

“Does it strike you as a little off that he blames me for the fact that he cheated?”

“It wasn’t cheating,” Tanya insisted. “He just met someone he liked better. Me.”

“Yeah, except he skipped a few steps. Like breaking up with me first.”

“So?” Tanya’s voice was belligerent, but I sensed it was partly a fa?ade.

“He’s blaming you now for him flirting with other women. Don’t you see how wrong that is?”

There was a hitch in her voice. “That’s not what happened.”

“It sure sounded like it to me.”

“You shouldn’t spy on people,” Tanya said angrily.

“Maybe you shouldn’t loudly discuss your relationship in front of a busy coffee shop.”

“Mind your own business,” Tanya said.

“I intend to. But I just wanted you to know, you don’t have to let him treat you like that.”

Tanya looked like she was about to deny that Jeff treated her badly, but instead, she said, “You did.”

“Yes, I did. For far too long.” I reached down deep and managed to come up with a little sympathy. This was Claire’s sister. And Aunt Denise’s daughter. Even though Tanya had hurt me, I didn’t want Jeff hurting her. “Don’t wait as long as I did.”

“We’re nothing alike.” She said it loudly, as if to prove that it was true.

“Perhaps not, but this is the beginning of your relationship, and he’s on his best behavior. But the thing is, he doesn’t know how to treat a partner in a relationship. It’s only going to get worse.”

“You don’t know that.” Her voice wasn’t much louder than a whisper.

I shook my head. “Sadly, I do.”

Tanya turned on her heel and stormed off. I doubted my words had gotten through to her, but I was still glad I tried. Even though I could feel a tear making its way down my cheek.

Deciding I didn’t want coffee anymore, I started toward the guest rooms at the same time as a woman exited the coffee shop.

It was Naomi. Her face was grim as she met my eye. “That was… that was quite the conversation. Both parts of it.”

“You heard all of it?”

“Yeah. I couldn't get out without walking right between them, so I was a captive audience. A very unwilling audience, I might add.” She stepped closer, examining my face. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head and gave her a brief smile. “Not really.”

“I don’t blame you.” She went back into the shop and brought me a napkin. “Here.”

“Thanks.” I dabbed my face with it.

Naomi was still staring at me.

“What?”

“I just—I admire what you were trying to do. Trying to help her even though she treated you so badly. This is going to sound corny, but that takes integrity.”

It didn’t sound corny at all. I hated the way I’d handled my relationship with Jeff, and it was oddly comforting that someone, even a woman I barely knew, felt I’d done the right thing today.

“What are you doing now?” Naomi asked.

“Avoiding coffee shops for the rest of my life?”

She laughed. “Come get a massage. I think you need it.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine.”

“I insist,” Naomi said. “You’ve got an hour or two before you need to get ready to go out tonight, right?” She shrugged when I looked at her questioningly. “I hear things when people are on my table. Like you should be.”