Today's OneWord: Despite

Despite everything Maynard had told me, I still didn't hate him. I didn't hate the way he had literally minced his words with his large tongue and overly sharp teeth. I didn't hate the way he loudly breathed through one nostril as he talked. I didn't hate the names he had called me or the complaints he had sent my way like a grossly stamped envelope with more than just a bad card.

I waved him away from my table and he strutted off like he had owned the place. It didn't matter. It was my restaurant, not his.