“Huh. It suits her.” Better than Margaret, anyway. Mugsy the babysitter. No wonder she acted like she was in charge of Charlie. Jean closed her eyes, hoping that would slow the flood of irrelevant thoughts. “And Emma? The human one?”
“Oh, no. I would never. And neither would she,” he added.
Somehow, his excuses made Jean angrier. She didn’t want to be rational or understanding. Charlie owed hersomething, and even if she wasn’t sure what that was or how to ask for it, Jean was spoiling for a fight.
She grabbed his hip, squeezing hard. “What about me?”
“Which you?”
“The one in front of you right now.”
“My one and only.” His hand cupped her cheek.
She shook him off. “Meaning Eve.”
“If you prefer.”
“So you’d cheat on me with her?”
“That’s hard to say.” He was clearly trying to avoid incriminating himself, whether he meant it or not.
“And yet here you are,” she pointed out, “in bed with her.”
“But Jean, sweetheart, I know she’s you. Or you’re her. Both, I guess.” He traced the shape of her ear, following the line of her jaw to her chin.
She grabbed his wrist. “You didn’t know if I knew that you knew it was me. How do you explain that?”
“I thought—um. Well. I guess I didn’t know that you knowing I knew was part of it. Or me knowing that you knew that. About what I knew… or didn’t. And also you.” He made a sound of frustration before trying again. “I thought I was doing what you wanted?”
“So it’s my fault?”
“No! I assumed it was part of the game.”
“Is this a game to you?” she demanded.
“Never! Unless you want it to be. I just want you to stay.”
“Then why did you leave? You didn’t even say goodbye.” It felt like yanking out a chunk of her own hair, asking such a vulnerable question.
“I was afraid.”
“That your girlfriend would find out you were two-timing her?”
“I would never two-time you.”
“I’m not talking about me!”
“You mean… Eve?”
“No! I hadn’t even invented Eve yet.” Honestly. Did she need to bring in a whiteboard?
“Jean.”
“Is that my name?” she asked, waspishly.
“I think so, yes.” He cleared his throat. “Why are we arguing?”
“Because you tricked me. Several times over. And then kicked me to the curb like I was worthless.” It sounded like the beginning of a cowboy poem. “Why? Is there something you’d rather be doing right now? Am I messing up your plans?”
