“Mmhmm,” Luca says, not sounding like he believes my flimsy excuse one bit. “Gods! Why is the entire floor soaked?”
“I’ll clean it up,” I snap. “Go away. You’re ruining the vibe.”
“Actually, listening to the two of y’all bitch is a great distraction,” Imani says. I roll my eyes, encouraged by how much stronger her voice sounds.
Head poking over the top of the bar, Luca studies us both, fully clothed in the tub, his eyes stopping on Imani’s tear-stained cheeks. “You okay?” he asks her, his voice a low growl that makes a shiver roll down my spine.
“I’m fine.” Imani sighs, then shudders. “Or I will be soon. I’m going under, Celine.”
“Fuck yeah, you are.” I sit up, wrapping my hands around hers again. “I swear on my life that you will come up again. Squeeze my hands twice when you’re ready.”
She nods, the whites of her eyes flashing as she scans the room. “What if you can’t get me out?” It’s a completely illogical question, but logic has nothing to do with it.
“Then Luca will flip the whole tub over,” I tell her.
Imani looks over at him, and he nods grimly. “Whatever you need.”
“Okay,” she whispers, dropping backward until she’s completely submerged. As soon as the tip of her nose goes under, her skin glows amber. I drop our joined hands beneath the water as hers relax in mine.
“It’s gotten worse,” Luca says, his voice tense. “I didn’t notice.”
“Neither did I.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I know that.”
“Yeah, but do you believe it?”
“Don’t psychoanalyze me, Luca.” I ease my head back against the narrow lip of the tub, making sure not to jostle Imani or lose my grip on her hands. If the raw patches of skin on her joints are any indication, she’s been putting this off for way too long. “Why are you here, anyway?”
“Sal wants me to send him the inventory reports again.”
I turn my head. “What? Why?”
“You know how he is.” Luca shrugs, but from the tense set of his shoulders, he’s not thrilled.
“If he wants things his way, he can drag his ass in here and crunch the numbers himself,” I sputter. “I’m guessing he didn’t offer you overtime.”
“I’m salaried now.”
“Yeah, I bet.” I scoff. “He gets away with requiring you to do more while paying you less. Cheap bitch.”
“Careful, you never know when he’s listening.”
“I hope he is,” I snarl. “I’ve got quite a few things to say to him.”
Luca chuckles. “Your justice complex is showing. Focus on Imani for now, I’ll be okay for a bit longer without my guardian angel.”
“I’m not a guardian,” I insist, craning my head when I hear the familiar sound of sloshing water. “Are you mopping? I said I would clean it up.”
“Give it a rest, Celine. You don’t have to do everything. Imani is my friend, too.”
“I made that mess,” I mutter.
Luca chuckles. “Mood wing malfunction?”
“They function as they were intended.”
