He looks at me from head to bare toe. “We’ve got dinner at Victoria’s tonight. Did you forget?”
I blink at him but say nothing.
“Did you hear me?”
I spin on my heel and walk back into my place. Plopping onto my couch, I grab my mom’s quilt and cover myself with it. “I’m not going.”
“What? Why?”
“Because. I’m tired, and my body hurts from earlier.”
“If you’re hurt, why didn’t you call Eric?”
I shrug. “I just want to stay home and rest. Please give my regrets to your sister.”
Gabriel sits next to me on the sofa. Taking my hand in his, “Lex. Seriously. Are you okay?”
“I will be.”
“Can I get you anything? Do anything?”
“You can tell me what you did to Katya after I left.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you fire her?”
“Why would I fire her?”
“Because Gabriel. She lied.”
“About?”
“About?” I squeak. “She lied to the police. She said I struck first.”
“You didn’t?”
“No!” I stand up quickly and regret it instantly. Pain shoots down my lower back. I place my hands on my back, I arch to stretch it out. Gabriel’s eyes land on my chest but I ignore him. “You saw the whole thing. Did you see me touch Christine?”
“Well, no, but I just assumed I saw what I wanted to see. Katya was more objective.”
“Objective? She lied to the police.”
“Well, that’s quite an accusation, Lex.”
“So is-is telling the police that I attacked another person, Gabriel.” My head is spinning. I’ve never felt so out of control before. This man is so confusing. One minute he seems like he wants me, for real, the next he’s calling me fat to a Chicago reporter, and now this. The final straw. Believing Katya over me.
When Cy starts to squawk, Gabriel’s expression turns dark. “That fucking bird again.”
Well, it appears I can listen to him criticize me all day long, but the minute he starts in on my pets, that’s all it takes.
“Get out!” I shout, pointing at the door.
“What? What’d I do now?”
“Get out! Don’t you dare say one more word about Cy. He’s…” I catch myself before my voice starts to quiver. “Just go.”
“He’s just a bird, Lexie.”
