Page 54 of No Greater Oblivion

My answer stuns him. “Oh…”

I reach into my wallet and leave a hundred at the bar. “Good luck, O’Neil. God knows you’re going to fucking need it.”

14

INSTRUMENTS OF TORTURE

Dahlia

The Past

“Cuñada, I know nerdy architecture stuff is kind of your thing,” Lettie says. “But this is mind-numbingly boring.”

I set my half-finished champagne on the floor beside me as I slump down onto the nearest bench. “Tell me about it.”

The showing was spectacular. The photographer—Joelle Cotillard—has an eye for detail. What she managed to capture with her camera was pure artistry. Excavated two-thousand-year-old Roman tiles found at a construction site in Italy, the ruins of a 13th-century monastery in Monaco, the intimate details of the cloisters of Notre Dame before the fire. Each photograph came with a dedicated page in the event program, outlining the history of the piece as well as highlighting its unique architectural details. However, I find little joy in the evening as my thoughts are consumed by the conversation I had with Alejandro earlier.

He didn’t concede to my attending class next week but I don’t recall asking for his permission either. My injury is temporary and he’s lording it over me for some reason. How am I okay to take a weekend trip but not to attend class? The only difference between the two is he can surveille me all hours of the day on a weekend trip. On campus? Not so much.

I can’t figure out why that is. I know he trusts me and I haven’t given him reason to think I was hiding something from him. He also doesn’t have a jealous bone in his body. Unfortunately, the green monster in this relationship is me.

So what is it? What’s wrong with him?

We wander around the gallery a little while longer but my foot begins to hurt and Lettie calls Pedro to bring the car around. We drive home in silence and Alejandro isn’t back yet so after showering and slipping into a pair of pajamas, I join Lettie in the living room to watch a movie.

“Here.” She hands me a pair of cucumbers and I almost bite into one when she swats my shoulder. “For your eyes!”

“Oh…” I tilt my head back and put them on.

“My friend in Seoul sent me a whole box of these. You’re looking a little sallow under the eyes.” Plastic crumples and a bag rips and zips. A second later, something cold and gooey coats my face.

I gasp from the sudden shift in temperature. “Leticia!”

“Stay still or the mask is going to fall off!”

“Ugh!” the cucumbers fall from my eyes but I catch them just in time. Before she can protest, I pop them into my mouth. “Give me a heads-up next time.”

She smooths her fingers over my cheeks and along my jaw, making sure the sheet mask covers every inch of skin. Then she adjusts her fuzzy headband and applies a sheet mask, only hers is soaked through with what looks like a watered-down version of green clay. Mine doesn’t dry down in the same way hers eventually does.

Lately, we’ve been watching Destilando Amor and right now, Gaviota is wondering why Rodrigo hasn’t shown up after they agreed to run away together. Poor thing doesn’t even know his slimy—albeit hot—cousin is about to turn Rodrigo against her by claiming they had an affair.

Lettie contents herself with her beauty kits. She picks up my right hand and dabs a bit of lotion on my cuticles. After a few minutes, she starts pushing them back and squints her eyes, deep in concentration.

“You’re in desperate need of a fill in. This is disgraceful.”

I frown and look down at my left hand. “This set isn’t even a month old.”

She gapes at me, horrified. “I’m going to pretend like you didn’t say that.”

Probably best I don’t tell her that before I had a rich boyfriend, I used to go six weeks between fill ins.

“How’s your grandfather?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Stubborn as a mule. I’m so glad I’m home.” She pulls out a file and starts touching up the shape of my nails. “I love him to death but my God is it boring up there. Griselda is great and she takes good care of him. I’m of much better use down here.”

“It’s been kind of lonely without you.” I smile. “I missed my buddy.”

Her nose crinkles. “Don’t make this awkward.”