Page 55 of Ruin

Rich mentioned dinner after drinks.

“No problem,” he says, his words a little clipped. “Is it okay if I still take Gigi to dinner?”

“Pwease, Mommy, can I go with Zweus?”

“Of course you can,” I tell her.

“Yay!” Gigi claps her hands together.

“What time should I have her home?” he asks me. There’s still an edge to his voice, which is starting to annoy me.

Why does he have such a problem with Rich?

You know why, a little voice whispers in my head.

Go away, Voice.

“Seven thirty at the latest,” I tell him.

“And who’s watching Gigi while you’re out with Deputy Dick?”

“Who’s Deputy Dick?” Gigi asks.

“No one. Zeus is just being silly.” I glare at him.

He steadily stares back at me.

“Aunt Elle is watching her,” I tell him, my voice harder than it was.

“Fine,” he says roughly.

“Fine,” I echo.

He pushes his chair out. My eyes follow him up.

“I gotta go, Gigi girl. But I’ll be here at four thirty tomorrow to pick you up.”

“Where we gonna eat, Zweus?”

“You can choose.”

“Yay!” She claps her hands together again. “I’s fink and tell you tomorrow.”

His face softens, and he ruffles her hair with his hand. “Sounds like a plan.” He casts a glance my way. “Thanks for dinner.”

“No problem.” I push to my feet. “I’ll see you out.”

“No need,” he says. “I know where the door is. Bye, Gigi.”

“Bye, Zweus.”

I watch him leave and then sit back down in my seat, my stomach swirling with emotion.

It’s clear that he’s pissed because I’m going out with Rich.

And he has no right to be pissed.

The guy cheated on me, for God’s sake!