“But he’s never horrible to me,” she pouted, gathering herself and moving to the gate.
“That’s not the point!” Enzo bellowed. “And he’s always horrible to you. You just don’t seem to care.”
“Diana, he’s a grade-A asshole and you can do better,” Jason added, spinning on his sister. “He cheated on Sasha. He cheated on Natalie. And he’s gonna cheat on you and try to make it your fault.”
Alex pushed her chair back and I moved my arm as she stood. I realized I was anxious for any reaction from her—she’d become deathly still once things went off the rails.
“Diana,” her voice was utterly devoid of feeling, “if you’re going to continue to date him, that’s your business, but he’s not welcome in my home. This is my sanctuary, and I won’t have him bringing his bad energy here.”
“What? So, you’re banning me from coming over?” Diana crossed her arms and pouted.
“That’s not what I said.” Alex’s tone was still even. I was impressed. Both brothers had practically screamed at their sister, but Alex was somehow more terrifying. She withheld all emotion, her demeanor an impenetrable wall. “I said he’s not welcome. Ifyou choose to not come over because I don’t want him here, that’s on you.”
“Yeah... well... screw you!” Diana stomped her foot once before rushing out the gate. Enzo let out a low whistle as Alex silently turned back to the table and began gathering plates. Only then did I notice her hands were shaking and her eyes had grown glassy.
“Alex.” A heavy weight settled in my stomach.
“It’s fine,” she sniffed, working furiously to scrape leftovers onto one plate. “It’s not the first time he’s said such things and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
“But...”
“I said it’s fine,” she looked up at me, her lips set in a hard line. It wasn’t fine, but I knew she knew that.
“Let us clean this up,” I took the plates from her and set them on the table as Jason went to make sure Diana and Graham were gone. “We’ll come get you in a bit.”
“Okay,” she released a sudden breath. She wasn’t meeting my eyes and that bothered me.
“Hey,” I ducked down even with her face, and she finally looked up at me, giving a weak half-smile. “Nothing he says matters. I meant what I said. You are an incredible woman and I’m damn lucky I met you.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek gently. “Now go lie down or cry or whatever it is you need to do. I’ve got this.”
“Thank you,” she squeezed my arm and moved past me to the house. When I was sure she was gone, I rounded on Enzo and Jason.
“What the fuck was that!” I exploded, finally allowing everything to bubble to the surface. My head was beginning to throb. “Is it always like this?”
“Tonight was bad,” Jason glanced at Enzo and then me. “Diana lets him get away with it.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, tension building behind my eyes. “How long has Diana been letting him get away with this shit? You know what? I don’t care. Alex shouldn’t have to dealwith that in her own home.” I looked toward the door where she’d disappeared. “No wonder she didn’t want me to know who she really was.”
The urge to go check on her was stronger than any tactical protocol I’d ever learned. I took the plates into the kitchen, set them in the sink, and moved down the dark hall to Alex’s room.
The door stood slightly ajar, warm light from the lamp on the nightstand spilling into the hallway. I knocked softly against the frame.
“Come in.”
She was lying on the far side of the bed, a tissue box next to her and her phone face-down on the dark violet duvet. The room felt like her—controlled and comfortable—where everything had its place except for the small pile of crumpled tissues.
“You okay?” I stepped inside, leaving the door open.
She gestured to the space beside her, sniffing. “Just needed a minute.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, finding the wastebasket on the floor by my feet and picking it up to sweep the used tissues into it.
“Thanks,” she murmured. I set the basket down and turned more fully toward her.
“Graham’s an asshole.”
“Yeah,” she picked at the edge of a pillow. “He is.”
The silence stretched between us. I could hear Enzo and Jason in the kitchen as they cleaned up, their voices carrying down the hall. My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it.
