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Without saying another word, she gathered her things and stormed toward the front door. Kent was too shocked to run after her, glancing between Malik and Birgitta. It was obvious he was contemplating his past, present, and future circumstances.
Birgitta didn’t care about any of it. She knew that Malik would never do such a thing. She ignored both of the men and left the kitchen, slowly taking herself to bed.
Too much wine,she thought as she climbed the stairs.I’ve had too much wine.
Chapter thirteen
You're a mess
AhandslappedagainstBirgitta’s thigh, gripping and shaking her from side to side. She opened her eyes and rolled over feeling aggressive. Who had dared to disturb her? Her head was pounding, her mouth dry as a desert, and the bright light filtering through the open curtains was burning her eyes.
“What?” Birgitta snapped.
Her eyes settled on Kent’s face. He was already dressed, wearing a plaid shirt and loose-fitting jeans, leaning over the bed as he shook her.
“We need to talk,” he said.
Birgitta groaned and rolled over to face him. There was no way she was going to actually sit up, not when her head felt like it had been caved in with a baseball bat.
“About Malik,” Kent added.
“Of course,” Birgitta sighed. “What about him?”
Kent sat on the edge of the bed, perching there as he twisted his back to look over at her. “I think we need to find him somewhere else to live.”
Birgitta could only scoff in reply.
“Gitta,” Kent said, his voice turning slightly harsh. “We need to seriously talk about this. He assaulted our daughter.”
Birgitta shook her head and forced herself to sit up, despite the blinding pain in her head. “He didn’t,” she insisted. “I know him. He wouldn’t do that. He’s respectful of boundaries.”
Kent frowned, his eyes narrowing at her. “How doyouknow?”
“I’ve spent a lot of time with him,” Birgitta said, trying not to make the lie too obvious. “While you and Julia might have your issues with him, he’s a very nice boy. Very respectful. He understands that things are different here.”
“That goes against everything I’ve seen so far,” Kent argued. “He’s been rude, demanding, and sexist.”
“Sexist,” Birgitta repeated, feeling a horrible laugh rising in her throat. “He’s been nothing but a gentleman to me. I think you’re just jealous, Kent.”
Birgitta wasn’t going to stay in bed and take this. She shoved the sheets off her legs and rose from the mattress slowly, trying to give her head a chance to catch up with the rest of her body. Her nightgown fell down to the middle of her thighs as she walked toward the dresser, unsteady on her feet.
“Gitta,” Kent sighed. “I think it’s you who’s in denial. We need to ask him to leave, for the sake of our family.”
Birgitta stopped in her tracks, her arm outstretched reaching for her robe. “For the sake of our family?” She repeated bitterly. “When have you ever cared about this family?”
“He needs to go,” Kent said, harsher this time.
“No,” Birgitta snapped. “I’m not talking about this anymore. He stays.”
Kent stood there for a moment, not sure what to do or say. He gazed at his wife, a strange look in his eyes. Wordlessly, he left the bedroom and made his way downstairs. Birgitta listened to the sounds of his footsteps through the house as she dressed. By the time she was ready to emerge from the bedroom, Kent slammed the front door shut.
Frowning, Birgitta moved to the head of the bed and peered out of the window there. She watched as he walked to his car, his shoes crunching against the gravel. He had on his winter coat and a bright red scarf. Birgitta felt nothing as she watched him. He was clearly annoyed but she didn’t care.
They couldn’t just throw Malik out of their house. He had nowhere else to turn. How could he be so heartless? Especially since he didn’t do a thing to Julia. Why would he touch her when he was so close to having Birgitta? It went against everything she knew about him. She started questioning herself, her judgment, and their blossoming relationship.
Why would he betray her like that? Or had Julia made it all up to get back at her? It didn’t make any sense. They had such a passionate affair growing between them. Why would he throw all of that away for a quick grope in the kitchen? Did he expect Julia to just bend over and let him have his way with her?
Birgitta stood up straight, away from the window. Kent was getting ready to drive away and she wasn’t going to stop him. She had more pressing things on her mind. The idea that she’d caused this flitted across her mind. After all, they’d been romancing each other for weeks now. They had darted around the act but they’d never actually committed.
