“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I bit my lip.Stay calm. Don’t overreact.I practiced keeping my voice steady. “I wish I knew. Diego just pulled the weirdest shit.”
“What?”
I fisted my hair in my palm. “It started with him not coming over last night after he said he would. I texted him this morning. He pretended not to know me. I went over and he kept up that ruse. I thought he must be going for some role play, you know with all the new things I’d been trying lately, maybe he wanted to play out scenario with two strangers meeting.”
“And then banging.”
“I tried going along with it, but he got angry, demanding to know who I was and why I was in his house.”
“Geez, that sounds messed up,” Gianna replied.
“He threw me out of the house.”
“Hewhat?”
“Yes, you heard me right.”
“He threw you out ofyourhouse? What the frickety-frick shit is that, Nova?”
“Exactly.” I placed my hand on my forehead. “He called me out for barging into his house and bedroom. He said he didn’t know me. And the look in his eyes.” I shook my head, wishing I could force it away. “It was terrifying.” I’d never want to see him as a hungry, feral vampire out hunting. Did I really know what I was getting myself into by marrying a vampire?
“Hold up, this doesn’t sound like Diego at all. Were the guys there?”
“No, nobody was there. That’s what made it even scarier. If he attacked me, who would stop him?”
“Diego would never, ever do that to you,” Gianna assured me. “You know that.”
I did. Maybe my reaction was over the top. Didn’t some people get cold feet when they were getting married? After all, I didn’t have any reservations about us until this incident.
“You’re right, Gianna. That’s why I called you, to see if I’m overreacting. I guess I have my answer. Yes. Now I need to calm my overactive imagination.”
“I’m sure there’s an explanation. Come on down to the club, and we’ll figure it out.”
After working at the Network,I avoided going home. I wasn’t ready to face Diego yet. With our new engagement, we were supposed to be happy and celebrating our future. Instead, all the insecurities I had growing up were working their way back into my life like they were adults moving back into their parents’ home. I didn’t like this feeling of inadequacy. If that was the way our relationship was going, I didn’t want any part of it.
Maybe this engagement was a mistake.
I picked up a Caesar chicken wrap for dinner and then went to meet Gianna at the Danger Zone. Walking into the dark club with the red and purple lights, surrounded by people and good music, was a reminder that the work day was over. It was time to have a little fun with a cocktail and catch up with my best friend.
Gianna was at the bar, and I joined her there. We sat facing the rows of alcohol while Prince’s “When Doves Cry” played.
“Diego didn’t stop you before you left the house?” Gianna arched her brows.
“No. Did you think he would?”
“Yes. If he knew you were leaving, I figured he’d let you know what was going on, like it was a bad joke or something.” She took a sip of her peach Bellini cocktail.
“Maybe.” Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so sensitive and avoided him.
“You know what, forget I said anything. I don’t like seeing you getting so worked up about him lately. Remember, he’s not paying you rent to be there.” She pointed to my skull.
“True.” I had been overanalyzing his odd behavior far too often before the whole proposal and it turned out I’d been worrying about nothing. “You’re right. No more talk of boys or weddings or anything stressful tonight.”
“Sure thing.” Gianna climbed off her stool and said, “I know how you can forget about all your worries.” She spread her arms wide. “Dance.”
I chuckled. “Is that your answer to all problems?”
