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Still, I keep thinking about our conversation and arguing with Dominic in my head. There, unspoken and in private, I win every argument. With every imaginary win, my desire to wipe his face clean of that self-assured grin multiplies.
If I don’t get over this frustration soon, I may attack him again in the hallway. This time there would be nothing sexual about it, though.
I should never have kissed him. That one moment of weakness gave him ideas. Not going to happen.
“She knows. Some of it.” My father snaps me back into our conversation, and I forget the dark eyes and the confident half-smile.
Dad avoids me, looking down, fidgeting with his book.
“Some of it? What the hell, Dad?” Did he seriously think Bianca could handle being blindsided like this? “I’m calling her right now.”
I’d never admit it out loud, but as much as I love my stepmother, I would think twice before crossing her.
“Don’t.” Dad stretches out his arm, his look bewildered like he is stopping me from pulling a trigger on an innocent victim. “I’ll talk to her. I don’t want to worry her.”
“Dad, you need to accept that we’re dealing with…” I can’t say it. I can’t. My eyes dart around, hoping a better-sounding reality will materialize out of thin air. “A serious illness. You need to let us all in. You can’t shut us out.” The last words reverberate around the room, bouncing off the wall and mocking me. “You can’t shut us out. I won’t have that. Not again.” Tears of anger gather behind my eyes, but I blink them away.Not again.
Dad extends his arm. I’ve never been one for displaying affection, but I squeeze his hand. To reassure him. And me. Of what? I don’t even know.
“I’m glad to be here, Lo.”
I kiss his forehead. “Okay, I’ll try to be back in two, three hours tops. Paris will come soon to stay with you. Is there anything you need before I leave?”
He opens his book and waves me away, like I’m intruding on his personal time. That’s for the best, perhaps.
Of course I’m lucky enough to run into Patagonia leaving Dominic’s apartment. He nods, his eyes cold and distant. No snarly remark, no greeting. He shuts the door, and it feels as though he closed it right in my face. Okay then.
Can he possibly be upset I sent him away on our date? Not a date. It wasn’t a date. There was no kissing. What? I didn’t want him to kiss me. Even my mind is out of control when it comes to that jerk.
“Good morning,” Patagonia chirps, digging for something in her large backpack.
“Morning,” I growl. “So, you’re a researcher?” Why? Why do I ask her that? I don’t care. She can be his whatever.
She looks up and smiles, extending her hand. “I’m Patty. I’m a law student and Dom has been kind enough to help me out. I share a three-bed with five other people, and with my job at the club, I get little sleep or room to study.”
I shake her hand, marveling at the speed of her speech. Is she high or just generally perky like this? “A club?” Not sure why my mind assessed her verbal vomit and gripped that particular crumb.
“Yeah, I work at Roxie’s in Chelsea. It pays for the school.” She widens her eyes, as if surprised by how well it pays. “That’s where I met Dom.” She yanks her headphones out of her bag and plugs them into her phone.
The elevator comes, and we get in and don’t talk anymore, aside from the cheerful goodbye she offers.
Despite myself, I pull out my phone to find out what Roxie’s deal is. Of course, he found hisresearcherwhile getting a lap dance or more from her. Fuck him. Andheis judgingme?
* * *
By the time the car pulls up in front of the Madison Club, I’m determined to cut all contact with Dominic fucking Cressard. Even if I have to move.
The hostess ushers me into the dining room. Gio is not on his phone—instead, a sleek laptop is perched on the table in front of him.
“Good morning.” I plop down and ask for a coffee.
Gio nods his greeting but keeps his eyes on the screen. “Why did my mother call five times this morning?” His voice is laced with annoyance.
It’s not that Gio doesn’t get along with his mother. He’s a good Italian boy, respecting the matriarch as much as anyone else who grew up with a strong mother, but he doesn’t let Bianca meddle in his affairs. Not as much as the others.
“If you answered, she would tell you.” I cross my arms over my chest, scanning the room.
He sighs and closes his computer. “What’s going on? And be fast, the lawyer is here in two minutes.”
