"I'm here, aren't I?"I say, too loud, already regretting it.
She doesn't even look at me."Lovely.Then maybe we'll get through this before the next media cycle begins."
Niko snorts under his breath.Lukas groans.
I pull out a chair.Harder than I need to.Sit.Arms crossed.
She continues, but the air between us is already buzzing.
And I can't stop looking at her.
The second espresso.The tiny detail that screams that she spent her night not sleeping.
She clicks again.Talks through the visuals.Something about branded hashtags and a car sponsor.I hear none of it.
I just see the night she had.In my head, it plays like a movie I wish I could stop watching—Matteo's hand brushing hers, the smile she saves for when she's half-drunk and free, her blouse sliding off one shoulder, and he kissing her sensitive spot under the collarbone.
I grip the armrest like it might break.
And then I say something stupid.
"Is it fair to tell us to behave?"I call out.
Her eyes flick to mine, sharp as ski edges."Excuse me?"
"And party all night with our competition?"I continue relentlessly.
The air goes still.
I know I sound silly.
A silly, jealous idiot, and the whole room sees it.They all see our not-so-much-lovers quarrel and feel embarrassed to witness it.
Let them.If she didn't want to be seen asthatgirl, maybe she shouldn't act like one.
But to my disappointment, she does not take the bait.
Does not shout at me across the room, making our brawl public.
She sets the clicker down.Takes a long sip of her coffee.Then, still staring straight at me:
"Well," she says calmly, "we'll all take a short break until our superstar gets his priorities straight."
The table falls into awkward shuffles and squeaks as people rise, pretend to check phones, and escape toward the coffee station.
She doesn't wait.She heads toward the hallway and signals for me to follow her.
I could remain in my chair.
But they are all eying me.It turns embarrassing.They know they are waiting for us to sort it out.
The smartass witch, this is what she wanted.
So, I get up and follow her like a dog that chewed the couch.
I catch up with her near the coat rack.
She turns before I speak."You're jealous."
