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Kent edged closer to her. He was standing in the middle of the living room, hovering just behind the coffee table with his hands clasped behind his back. She could see that he wanted to say something but he was too afraid to do it.
“What is it?” Birgitta asked.
“Is he your friend?” Kent asked. “Have I met him?”
Birgitta suppressed a sigh and leaned forward to place her phone on the table in front of her. Her elbows dug into her knees as she looked up to her husband.
“A little while ago I helped him and his mother at work,” Birgitta said. “He saw me at the store and yelled at me until I stopped.”
Kent laughed, a hint of unease in his voice. “That must’ve been awkward.”
That wasn’t the way she saw it—at the time, it had been flattering. Someone was calling out her name, shouting for her attention despite the stares and glares he received. “A little,” Birgitta said. “Anyway, apparently I turned his whole life around. I didn’t even know.”
Kent seemed to be getting more from the conversation than Birgitta was. He sat down on the couch beside her and looked deeply into her blue eyes. She could see a slight shadow around his jaw, speckled with one or two strands of gray.
“I think he’s lonely,” Birgitta said eventually. “I think he just needs some friends.”
“Good,” Kent said. “I’m glad I invited him then.”
He paused, his mouth slightly parted, before shaking his head. A small, nervous laugh came out of his mouth. Again, Birgitta knew he was too afraid to say what was on his mind.
“Say it,” she urged him, ever so gently. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Kent shrugged and made all kinds of disgruntled sounds, dismissing her. “It’s nothing,” he said, looking down to the floor. “Something Julia said.”
“It’s bothering you,” Birgitta said, losing her patience a little. “Say it. It will feel good.”
“She . . .” Kent sighed and leaned his back into the couch cushions, causing his chin to press against his chest. “She suggested that you had a crush on him.”
“A crush,” Birgitta repeated, trying to sound as sarcastic as possible. “Kent, please. Are youseriouslythinking about it?”
“No,” Kent said, elongating theo-sound a little too long for Birgitta’s liking. “Not at all.”
“Kent,” Birgitta sighed. “Don’t listen to her. I love her but she doesn’t know the first thing about relationships.”
All of the worry vanished from Kent’s face. For a moment, Birgitta thought she could relax. But then the worry was replaced with anger and hurt.
“Why would you say that?” He snapped. “That’s ourdaughter.”
Birgitta tried not to roll her eyes. “She’s never had a serious relationship,” she said slowly. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Whatever she’s saying to you, don’t take it so seriously.”
She was done with their conversation. Kent and Julia weren’t far off the mark. She did want Malik and he wanted her too. The thing that bothered Birgitta was the fact that he’d asked her in such a pathetic way. Why couldn’theask her, instead of making it sound like it had come from Julia?
With her phone clutched in her hand, she went back to scrolling through her social media accounts. Whatever else Kent had to say, Birgitta didn’t want to hear it. She wasn’t sure if she was feeling guilty or if she was fed up with his questioning. Either way, she wasn’t going to listen to him anymore.
Kent finally got the message. He got up from the couch, huffing and muttering beneath his breaths. Birgitta didn’t listen to his protests, she just kept on scrolling. His footsteps thundered through the house as he made his way to the kitchen, vibrations undulating through the walls to rattle the ceiling above her head.
Birgitta was thankful that Julia had gone out with her friends for the day. Otherwise, she’d have been down there in seconds, policing their arguments. It was easy to see where Julia was coming from. Seeing your parents endlessly bicker couldn’t be pleasant for her.
A thought ran through her mind then, wondering if she should even bother trying anymore. Both her and Kent were so unhappy. Was it worth fighting for this, or should they give up and let each other find a sliver of happiness somewhere else?
The time dragged by as Birgitta tried not to think about her failed marriage or the man that was coming to her house soon. She knew that if she wasn’t careful, things would quickly go sour. It would be so easy to allow herself to fall into Malik’s arms, to let his big, soft lips kiss the most private parts of her skin.
No, Birgitta thought suddenly.No, I can’t think about that.
Just imagining him touching her was too much. She could feel herself growing aroused, her underwear turning wet. That was all it took, just the thought of him. All of the muscles in her lower body clenched. Hard. Birgitta couldn’t remember the last time she was this crazy about someone. Perhaps when she’d been younger and had first met Kent.
Back then, she’d thought he was the perfect gentleman. He was so easygoing, so attentive, so caring. All of those traits she had come to detest. Where was the fire, the passion? Everything was boring, simple, humdrum.
