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‘Lou, how’s that creative guy from Milan working out? Still think he’s after your job?’
Em, Tim and even Jack shot me hateful looks. Lou was going to make the next few hours about her, so I got comfortable and tuned her out. Em wasn’t done, and kept sneaking me suggestive glances and winking whenever Ariella wasn’t looking. I retaliated with stern looks and telepathic messages tostop.
Em was slyly mouthing something to me when Ariella’s voice interrupted my lip-reading.
‘That’s abhorrent, Louisa,’ Ariella said, sounding intensely disappointed.
The smile disappeared from Em’s face. Oh. Shit.
‘Excuse me?’ Louisa questioned with venom. Jack shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
‘I said, that’s abhorrent, Louisa. It’s totally unacceptable.’ Ariella spoke calmly, as if she was dealing with a toddler. If Louisa’s blazing stare was having any effect, she didn’t show it.
‘How dare you?’ Louisa’s voice rose. ‘Don’t lecture me on what’s acceptable!’
‘Putting your hands on someone like thatisunacceptable, Louisa. Jack, are you okay?’
Louisa held Ariella’s gaze as she smacked the side of Jack’s head with the back of her palm. We all heard the thwack. So that’s what happened. Tim, Em and I froze.
‘It’s fine. She’s just playing around,’ Jack said.
‘It really doesn’t seem like it,’ Ariella responded softly. ‘She shouldn’t be hitting you.’
Louisa started to get off Jack. It was escalating. Fuck.
‘Ariella, Louisa’s always doing that. It’s not a big deal.’ I tried to laugh it off.
‘If Jack hit Louisa like that, would it be a big deal then?’
‘He’d never do that,’ I replied, trying to minimise the fallout. Truthfully, I desperately wanted to cheer Ariella on and call Louisa a monster to her face.
‘Then she shouldn’t either, Caleb. It’s violent, it’s abusive and it’s wrong.’
‘Don’t talk to him. Talk tome, bitch!’ Lou got to her feet.
‘Lou!’ we all roared at the same time.
Ariella turned to her slowly and calmly delivered the lines that shook us all.
‘I would, if I thought I could get through to you, but I can’t, so I’m talking to the people who love you and Jack instead. They owe it to both of you to intervene.’
‘Jack. We’re going home,’ Louisa demanded.
‘You’re welcome at ours, if you don’t want to go,’ Ariella said reassuringly to Jack, as if Louisa wasn’t screaming the place down.
Jack forced a laugh. ‘It’ll only be worse in the morning.’
‘That’s frightening, Jack. If you don’t want to come home with us, maybe you can crash here? Give yourself some time?’ She looked pleadingly at Em and Tim.
‘Who does this bitch think she is?’
‘Okay, calm down, Louisa,’ Em finally came in. ‘Maybe it’s best for you and Jack to have some space, for things to calm down a bit.’
‘Things were calm beforethatopened its mouth.’ Louisa jabbed her finger at Ariella.
‘Hey!’ I interjected.
Ariella stood calmly and walked past Louisa, into the hallway.
