“A large red wine please,” Kim answers.
“A small white would be nice.”
“Be back in a sec,” Michael says before walking over to the bar counter.
“Are you okay, Luce?” Kim asks me, concern etched on her face. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m not sure if I’m coming down with something,” I lie.
“Maybe you should go home and get yourself to bed,” Kim suggests.
“No.” Once again I answer too quickly, and Kim picks up on it straight away.
“What’s really going on?” she asks after staring at me for a few seconds.
“Nothing.”
“Lucy, I know you, something is off.”
“I’m fine,” I answer quietly as I see Michael paying for the drinks and picking them up to bring over.
“No you’re not.”
“Just drop it, Kim,” I snap.
The last thing I want is for Michael to think that I am telling her anything. He comes walking over, his eyes zeroed in on me, and I force a smile on my face. Kim remains tight-lipped as Michael gives both of us our drinks and then slides in the booth next to me.
“So, how was your weekend?” I say to Kim, trying to make polite chit-chat.
“Um, it was good, once we left Jeremy’s parents. We went out with Cal on Saturday night, and then Sunday was spent recuperating from the hangover.” I feel a pang as she talks about going out with Cal. Normally I would have been there with them. All three of my closest friends going out without me doesn’t feel right.
“In fact, I tried calling you to see if you wanted to join us, but your phone just kept going to voicemail,” Kim continues.
“That would be my fault,” Michael pipes up before I can respond. “I’m afraid I kept Lucy chained to the bed all weekend.” Michael chuckles away to himself as I feel embarrassed by his comment.
“You two are like a pair of randy teenagers,” Kim exclaims with a smile on her face.
“What can I say, the honeymoon period is still very much alive,” Michael says, putting his arm around me and placing a kiss on my forehead.
“How do you keep it so fresh and exciting?”
“We have our ways,” Michael replies, his eyes locking with mine. I hear Kim say how sweet that is, and I plaster a smile on my face.
But inside, I’m dying.
I’ve never felt so helpless and uncertain.
I feel suffocated, alone, and afraid.
I’m not sure which is worse.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Good behaviour
“You have been so good this week,” Michael tells me, as if I am a child who has done as they have been told. “I guess my punishment last weekend worked a treat, huh?”
“I guess,” I reply flatly.
