Page 249 of Valentino

“Hit you with what?”

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Is everything alright?” he asks.

“Yeah, why?” Uninterested, I keep typing. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You’re just….” His voice trails off.

“What?”

“Quiet.”

“No.” My eyes rise to meet his. “I’m great.”

“You don’t seem great.”

I shrug and turn back to my computer.

“You’ve been off ever since you came back from the wedding two weeks ago.”

Leave me alone.

“Just…” I choose my wording carefully, “…got a lot on my mind, I guess.”

“Anything I can help with?”

“Nope.” I force a smile. “My dad’s down and…” I exhale heavily, “…I worry about him living alone.”

“It’s not easy losing your mom,” he replies.

“It isn’t.”

“You know, you were there for me when I lost mine. Let me be there for you.”

“I’m fine, Jules.” With my fingers on the keyboard, I stare at the computer monitor in front of me.

“You can talk to me.”

Talk about what? How your girl loves you enough to live this life…. And mine doesn’t?

“I know that.” I drag my eyes to meet his. “I appreciate your concern…but really, I’m okay.”

“You don’t seem okay.”

“Fuck,” I snap, impatient. “If I want your help, I’ll fucking ask for it. There is nothing wrong but if you don’t mind, I have a lot of work to do.”

His eyes hold mine and guilt fills me, here he is trying to be supportive and here I am being a prick.

“It’s just a glitch,” I eventually sigh. “I’m having a bad week, that’s all. Everyone has them.”

“Okay.” He watches me for a bit as I work. “Do you want to come over to dinner tonight?”

“I can’t, sorry.” I keep typing. “I have a date tonight,” I lie.

The very last thing I could handle right now is watching him and his wife be all pathetic and in love.