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“I’m just so stressed out from the wedding, and I thought with my new medication that I’d be losing weight by now, but I’m not. And Noelle is always so upset about things going on with Iris, but she won’t listen to reason, and she can be so nasty when you tell her that you don’t see what she does… I know it’s just because she feels hurt and betrayed, but it doesn’t make it easier to deal with. And Jeremy has been spending all these extra hours at work, and I really needed a good cry tonight, but Zach is going through it, and he’s not here, and I don’t want to scene with anyone else, and that makes me feel horrible because I should be more concerned about what he’s going through?—”
“Breathe,” Brian murmured, rubbing her back. He wasn’t sure she’d actually taken a breath while she was talking. He’d understood all the words she’d said, but not exactly why she was upset about all of it. There was one thing he could reassure her about. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have your needs met. You’re not horrible for needing a scene.”
She sniffled again, taking a deep breath the way he’d told her to.
“I’m sorry for word vomiting all over you.”
“That’s okay. Word vomit is easy to clean up.”
Self-high-five. He’d managed to make her giggle.
Rae
“I’m gonna kick her ass,” Rae muttered.
“What? Whose ass?” Domi’s head swiveled around, finding what Rae was looking at immediately—Amy wrapped up in Brian’s arms on his lap. “Amy’s?”
“No, Noelle’s. If she made Amy cry, I’m gonna kick her fucking ass.”
It didn’t matter that they weren’t really friends. There were a few people in the club everyone liked, including Rae, and Amy was one of them. She was sunshine and rainbows and puppies and kittens, and right now, she was crying. It made Rae want to punch someone. The fact she was pretty sure the person who had upset Amy was someone Rae already wanted to punch was just icing on the cake.
“Oh. I thought maybe you were jealous because Amy is sitting on Brian’s lap.”
“Sitting on his lap because she’s crying.” If she’d just started sitting on his lap for no reason, Rae might have felt jealous. If anything, right now, she felt envious. She wanted to sit on Brian’s lap and cuddle up. But she was also concerned about Amy and whatever the fuck Noelle might have said to her. She definitely didn’t think there was anything going on there other than a distressed submissive and a caring Dom.
“What do you think Noelle said to her?” Iris asked nervously. Law’s fingers stroked up and down her arm, obviously trying to soothe her.
“Whatever she said, it’s not your fault,” he said sternly.
“I know,” Iris huffed, looking a bit mutinous. Even if she did know, she sometimes took Noelle’s behavior onto herself, as if it was her fault Noelle was a shit-stirrer. “I just…” She sighed.
“You can’t control her behavior. The best thing we can do is ignore her. Next time, we’ll make sure you’re seated so your back is to her. That way, even if she’s shooting you looks, you won’t have to see them,” Domi said.
“Plus, she really hates being ignored.” Rae shook her head. “I think she got off on causing drama tonight. She enjoyed making that little scene. She wants the attention.”
“You think she enjoyed it?” Iris asked, looking pained.
Domi and Rae exchanged a glance. Yeah, Rae thought Noelle had been enjoying being the center of attention and having all eyes on her. Iris sighed when neither of them answered and put her hand in her hands.
“I think you’re right. I don’t know how I ever considered her a friend. She really was a good friend sometimes, though.”
“Of course she was. No one toxic is toxic all the time. That’s what makes them toxic. The fact is they’re really good at pretending to be a kind, caring person for a lot of the time, usually when they’re getting something they want from you or to make themselves look good.” The way Law broke it down so quickly was impressive.
Rae’s fingers itched, wanting to make notes for her book, but she didn’t have any paper with her.
Turning her head, she found herself staring at Amy and Brian again. They’d gotten to their feet, and Brian was giving her a hug and a forehead kiss. Her heart ached. Was she really going to give up such a sweet, caring, good guy so easily?
Was it time to learn how to fight for someone?
28
Rae
“Are you going to go over and talk to him?” Iris asked.
“To who?”
“To the man you keep staring at.” Iris raised her eyebrows at Rae. “Brian, obviously.”
