Geneva blinked, tapping the steering wheel.
Then she pressed the redial button. “Guess who’s by the burger joint?”
“Don’t tell me it’s Josh,” Isabella said.
“Yep.” She gripped the wheel.
“I’m on my way.” The line went dead.
Mandisa’s “Overcomer” came on the radio. Geneva turned down the volume. She didn’t want to hear about overcoming nothing. She drove past the order window, still tapping the steering wheel. This time her left eye ticked. She watched Josh give his order and say something to make the busty girl at the window smile. He pulled his Durango into an empty space. Just as she knew he would. Josh always stopped to pour his fries into the bag and add salt.
She swerved out of the line, pulled behind him and locked him in so he couldn’t leave. Geneva watched his reverse lights come on and waited for him to glance in the rearview mirror. Then she turned off her engine and jumped out of the car with her keys in hand.
Geneva banged a fist on his window. “Open the door. I want to talk to you.”
A car honked. “Go around!” she yelled, cutting her eyes.
Then she glared at Josh. “Open the door.”
Josh cracked the window a sliver. “Geneva, get out of here. You’re making a scene.”
“I’m not going anywhere!” she screamed, bouncing her leg. “You’d better get out of that car and talk to me like a man.” She kicked the door.
“Leave that man alone,” somebody shouted.
“Mind your business,” Geneva snapped back.
Josh held up a hand before cracking the door open. One leg hit the ground. Geneva pushed her body against the door. Her chest heaved.
“Ow!” Josh screamed.
A small crowd gathered around them.
Geneva ignored the onlookers.
When he saw the crowd, Josh got out the car. “What the heck is the matter with you? You’re behaving like a madwoman.”
“You haven’t seen mad yet.” She got into his face. “Why didn’t you answer my text messages?” She growled.
He shrugged. “I didn’t have anything else to say.”
From the corner of her eye, Geneva saw Isabella pushing through the throng.
Geneva jabbed Josh on the forehead. “You don’t have anything to say to me? We were supposed to get married in two weeks, and you didn’t have the guts to tell me in person you were backing out. Instead you send me a text message.”
“Oh snap, that’s foul,” someone said.
Josh looked her in the eyes. “A broken engagement is better than a divorce.”
Geneva slapped him across the face so hard it sounded through the parking lot.
“Yow. You gon’ take that?” someone egged on.
Josh grabbed Geneva’s hand.
“Get your hand off her,” Isabella said, holding up her cell phone. “Or you’ll rot in jail.” Something about her presence made the crowd disperse.
Josh released Geneva’s hand. “I’m sorry,” he said. His tone said otherwise.
“Sorry!” Geneva punched him in the chest. “I was faithful to you. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have graduated. I can’t believe you’d do this to me.”
She put a fist in her mouth, dreading the tears, but they burst out of her like an angry river. Her shoulders shook.
Isabella hugged Geneva close. “Hush. It’s okay.”
She buried her face into Isabella’s coat. She heard Josh’s voice behind her.
“I have to get back to work.”
“How could he do this to me?” she sobbed to Isabella, ignoring him. “I was good to him.”
“Yes, you were,” he said. “You are a good woman. But you aren’t the one for me. I shouldn’t have texted you, but I didn’t want to see you cry. I didn’t want to see the hurt on your face over me.”
Geneva wiped her nose and faced him. “I’m not crying over you. Don’t kid yourself.”
He snorted. “If that lie gets you through, then…” He shrugged.
Her eyes narrowed. She took a step.
Isabella squeezed Geneva’s shoulder and shook her head. “He’s not worth it. Let’s get out of here.”
Geneva nodded and started walking toward her car.
“Geneva!”
She turned to look at the man she thought she would live with into her golden years.
“Not once did you mention love,” he said.
She shook her head. “What are you talking about?
He shoved a hand into his slacks. “You stood there and mentioned how I should be grateful for all you did to help me, but you didn’t once talk about love.” He lifted his chin. “I don’t think you ever loved me.” He touched his chest. “I never felt it here.”
“You pile of crap. You have a lot of nerve. Don’t try to throw this on me. I would have been a good woman,” she said through gritted teeth.
He nodded. “Yes, you would have. But if I married you, I would have been settling.”
Geneva gasped and her body swayed from the impact of his words.
Isabella shoved past her and stomped into Josh’s face. “I suggest you shut your mouth and get in your car.”
Geneva trudged to her vehicle, got in, and rested her head on the steering wheel. Why had she gotten out of the car? She should have slipped on her sunglasses and rocked out to “You’re an Overcomer.” If Josh had spotted her, he would have seen her having a good time without him.
There was a rap on the glass. Geneva lifted her head and rolled down the window. Isabella beckoned for her to move. She started up the car and pulled into another empty spot.
Josh had the nerve to give her a wave before driving off.
She wished she had Cyclops’ eyes to set his car on fire. But instead, she drew deep breaths.
Isabella walked up to her. “You hungry?” She pulled off her gloves. “All this drama gave me an appetite.”
Geneva’s stomach growled. “I can’t believe I just acted a fool.” She rubbed her temples.
“You’re entitled. If it were me, his car would’ve been totaled. He’s lucky all he got for wasting your twenty grand was a slap in the face.”
“This is not how someone with a doctorate behaves.” Geneva got out of her car and followed her friend. “And what if one of my parents saw me behaving like this in the parking lot?”
“Girl, please. You’re a woman with a broken heart. You get a pass.”
The women went into the restaurant and ordered their meals.
Geneva snacked on the fries. She would eat the burger later. Soon Isabella had her laughing at her antics in parking lot.
She shook her head. “I can’t believe I lost my temper like that.”
“I know,” Isabella said. “You were in psycho mode.”
Geneva laughed to cover her embarrassment. She knew her cheeks flamed crimson red.
Isabella tilted her head. “Honestly, I think you’re exhausted.” She dipped her fry into her mayo and ketchup combination. “That’s why I think you should go on your honeymoon.”
“Not that again.”
“Yes, that again.” Isabella dusted the salt from her hands. “I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t go and enjoy yourself. You wouldn’t be the first person to do that. I’ve read about jilted brides who turn their wedding day into a party or feed the homeless.”
Geneva scrunched her nose. “I don’t know about that, but at least I don’t have to worry about the food. The flowers were already on special order, so I’m having them taken to nearby nursing homes and hospitals. I figure they’ll cheer up a lot of people on that day.”
Isabella smiled. “What a great idea.” She patted Geneva’s hand. “That’s real thoughtful of you to do that. That’s why I don’t want you burying yourself with doubts about Josh. He didn’t treasure you like he should have.”
“He said I didn’t love him.”
“Please. That fool wouldn’t know love if it bit him on his man parts.”
Geneva chuckled at Isabella’s phrasing. But deep inside, she pondered Josh’s words. He was right. She hadn’t spoken about love. Her brows knitted. Why?
Then she pushed the thought away. She didn’t need to speak about something they both knew she felt. He needed to go sit down somewhere with that sorry excuse. She wouldn’t have cried like that if she weren’t brokenhearted.
Would she?