“Can you say that again? I want to get a recording.”
“Yet another piece of evidence for your blackmail pile?”
“You know it.”
“You still have those stupid pictures of me. I’ve given you more than enough ammunition.”
“Fine, I’ll just have to secretly record you the next time you’re doling out compliments.”
Alexander rolls his eyes. “Let’s get you home.”
He already has the drive back to her place memorized. The traffic is nice and light, nothing but the golden glow of street lamps and the rush of wind over the hood of the car to keep them company. He’s comfortable, he realizes, just being this close to her. It surprises him how simple it all is, being with Eden. Alexander could drive for hours and be perfectly content so long as he can turn to find her there.
“So,” he says slowly, sorting through the tumultuous thoughts clogging his brain.
“So,” she echoes.
“What happened? With Hector.”
She shakes her head, not in the mood to speak.
“Eden. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”
There’s a long, heavy pause between them. She picks at her fingernails, gathering up the courage to speak.
“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid,” Eden replies quietly.
“Eden—”
“Promise me.”
“Fine. I promise not to do anything stupid. Now tell me what Hector did to you.”
“He called me a whore.”
Alexander slams on the brakes, tires screeching to a halt. “He fuckingwhat?”
The car behind them in traffic has to swerve to avoid crashing. The driver lays on the horn and flips Alexander off as he makes a hasty lane change to avoid collision.
“I took care of it,” she insists hastily.
“You should have told me immediately.”
“You had more important things to worry about.”
“What’s more important than y—” He cuts himself off. “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to break his face in and then I’m going to kill him.”
She places her hand on his arm. “Don’t.”
“He can’t talk to you like that. It’s insubordination. It’s sexist. It’s—”
Another car passes them in a hurry, honking wildly.
“I know.”
“What exactly did he say to you?”
Eden casts her eyes down to the car floor. “I don’t remember. Can we please just— Can we just go, please? We’re going to get in trouble if we just sit in the lane like this.”
