And getting all kinds of freaky with his colleagues.
“Does he… know? What Ari… did?” I clear my throat. “WhatIdid, I mean. What I got up to… as her.” I gulp at the ghost of amusement on his stone face. “Is he aware of Nestor, and the guards? Like… has he seen it?”
I can feel myself making that uneasy emoji face, but his expression is minor at best. Barely visible humorous condescension. It doesn’t placate me one bit.
“I think you know the answer,” he grumbles pointedly, as if it’s the most obvious thing ever.
To think thatManuel Blancomightnotknow something…Have you gone mad?!
I blink. “Oh. Okay… Well, I just figured that if heknew, he might…”
“Kill people?” Kent finishes my thought.
Well, I was trying not tosayit, but…
“It’s good. That he’s not, you know… freaking out.” I chew vigorously on my lower lip, picking at my fingernail.
When I peek at him, he’s sort of smirking. It’s very subtle, but I think it’s the look someone would give you if they could totally tell you’re a little disappointed that the guy you likeisn’tmurdering people for touching you.
“Shut up, Kent,” I mutter, and he huffs. “How didyounot know that the person he had you all out searching for was here all along?”
“Guess we were distracted.” He winks at me, tapping the bar with his knuckles before sauntering away.
Shaking my head, I bring my dinner over to the table. But his words stick with me, all throughout my lonely meal. As delicious as it is, it doesn’t distract from these hectic thoughts.
Distracted…
The Ivory said he was distracted by me. Is it possible that he was so distracted trying to find me that he completely overlooked me right under his nose?
Not that I think I’m the only thing going on in his life… He has a lot to be distracted by.
Like Velle, for one.
That strange, tight tickle appears in my stomach again, the one I felt watching Velle kneel at The Ivory’s feet. I won’t be a simpleton and say it’s jealousy, because I hate how that sounds. But it could be something adjacent.
I wonder what Velle would think if he knew I was here…
Would he think I’m stupid for missing The Ivory? Or would he be the one person to empathize?
That’s one positive that’s come from him disappearing for days. I’ve been thoroughly un-distracted.
It’s a good thing, I keep reminding myself while I finish my food.
But that doesn’t mean I have to like it…
Once I’m done, I finally decide to get dressed. Digging through the dresser, I’m marveling at all the stylish garments, and I decide to play dress-up instead.
Life-sized Barbie that I am.
There’s quite the variety in here, and I still don’t get it. Either Ivory knew Ari was me, which heclaimshe didn’t, or he was prepared to kidnap the intruder regardless of who she was, and all of this was done, not for my benefit, but for the benefit of some mystery girl.
I’m not sure why the latter bugs me so much, but it does. I’d gotten myself used to believing he did this for me. Stocked thisplace with amenities he thoughtI’dlike, and as creepy as it is, it pleased me.
Sure, that makes me a moron, but I’d rather be moronically swooning over el diablo for wanting to kidnapmethan swooning over him when all he wanted was to kidnapsomeone.
He said the cage was made for me, in hopes he would one day get me back.Am I to believe he knew I wanted to dress like a girl before I even did??
Ugh.I’m sick of defending him in my mind, but I’m more sick of dissecting his behaviors. I’ve been doing it since long before I even met him, and it’s exhausting… As if he behaves inany waylike a normal person.
