Sass
975 Words
Just when I thought the Christmas chaos couldn't get any crazier, my past decided to drop by like an uninvited guest at a holiday party. It was only a few days after our taco truck adventure when I walked into the bookstore, still buzzing from my recent victory over Chloe, only to be greeted by the sight of my ex, Ryan, standing by the entrance.
My stomach dropped as I took in the sight of him, casually leaning against the wall with a confident smirk, his new girlfriend, Tara, at his side. She was everything I wasn't—tall, effortlessly stylish, and wearing a perfect shade of red lipstick that made her look like she just stepped off the cover of a magazine.
"Lily! Long time no see!" Ryan called out, flashing me that infuriating grin.
"Yeah, well, some of us have been busy," I replied, trying to keep my cool.
"Busy running this lovely little bookstore?" he said, gesturing around with a theatrical flourish. "Looks great!"
"Thanks," I shot back, crossing my arms. "What brings you to town?"
"Oh, just visiting for the holidays. Tara wanted to check out the local scene," he explained, leaning closer to her. "I figured I'd show her the sights."
Tara smiled sweetly, her eyes flicking over to me. "I've heard so much about you! Ryan talks about you all the time."
"Yeah, all good things, I hope," I replied, forcing a smile. "Right, Ryan?"
"Of course! You were a blast," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. "It's just...different now, you know?"
"Glad to hear it," I muttered, feeling a wave of irritation wash over me.
Just then, Max walked in, his hands stuffed in his pockets, and a look of confusion spread across his face as he saw the situation unfold. He quickly assessed the scene and, without missing a beat, stepped forward.
"Hey, babe!" he said, his voice casual but loud enough to grab everyone's attention. He walked over and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close. "What's going on here?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "Babe?" I echoed, my cheeks flushing in surprise.
"Just catching up with some old friends," I said, trying to sound casual while feeling like my heart was racing.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "Who's this?"
"Max. My boyfriend," I said, feeling the need to play along as I shot Max a grateful look.
"Boyfriend?" Ryan's tone shifted from playful to incredulous. "Wow, Lily, you've really moved on, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that," I replied, keeping my voice steady even as my heart raced.
Tara smiled politely but looked confused, clearly trying to navigate this sudden twist. "It's nice to meet you, Max. Ryan didn't mention you," she said, extending her hand.
Max grinned, taking her hand and shaking it firmly. "Nice to meet you too. So, how's it going being Ryan's plus one for the holidays?"
"Oh, it's been lovely," she said, glancing at Ryan with a soft smile. "He's been showing me around."
"Yeah, I'm sure he's been giving you all the right recommendations," Max replied, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Especially the ones involving excellent bookstore owners."
I felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement, watching the awkwardness of Ryan and Tara as Max expertly took control of the conversation. "So, how's the holiday shopping going for you guys?" he asked, his tone casual.
"Oh, we've just started. Ryan insisted on hitting all the 'local hotspots,'" Tara said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
Max smirked, glancing at me. "Well, if you're looking for local hotspots, I'd recommend avoiding Ryan's taste in places. He's got a knack for finding the worst spots in town."
Ryan shot Max a glare, but there was something playful in it. "I'll have you know I've got great taste!"
"Sure you do," Max said, his eyes twinkling as he leaned closer to me. "What do you think, babe? Should we show them how it's really done?"
I could feel my cheeks heating up, and I couldn't help but laugh. "Definitely. We know all the best places to get hot chocolate and cookies."
Ryan's smile faltered, and I could see him struggling to regain his composure. "So, how long have you two been together?"
"Long enough," Max said with a confident grin, squeezing my shoulder gently. "But it's going really well."
My heart raced at his words, a mixture of disbelief and excitement bubbling inside me. I couldn't believe how natural this felt.
"Yeah, really well," I echoed, trying to keep my voice steady. "We're practically inseparable."
"Cute," Tara said, her smile genuine now. "I'm happy for you both."
Ryan cleared his throat, his facade cracking just a little. "Well, I guess I should let you two get back to your...
holiday fun," he said, shifting uncomfortably. "Tara and I have some places to check out."
"Yeah, enjoy that," I replied, unable to resist the urge to jab at him. "Just be careful not to lose your way. You wouldn't want to end up at a place that serves bad tacos or anything."
Ryan forced a laugh, clearly not finding the humor in it. "Very funny, Lily. Happy holidays!"
As they walked away, Max turned to me, his expression a mix of amusement and admiration. "You were fantastic," he said, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "I didn't know you had that level of sass in you."
"Oh, I've got plenty of sass," I shot back, feeling the blush still creeping up my cheeks. "But you were incredible! I can't believe you just stepped in like that."
Max shrugged, a hint of vulnerability flashing in his eyes. "What can I say? I couldn't let you face that alone. You deserve to have someone who's got your back."
As he spoke, I felt my heart flutter.
- Writer
