“It all worked out, actually,” she admitted. “Alex actually got me a job with your father’s law firm.”
Molly pursed her lips into a thin line, a sudden silence weighing down on all of our shoulders. I awkwardly placed the chicken dish down on the table, watching the steam waft off of the food. Normally, I’d tell everybody to dig right in. But the uncomfortable silence prevented me from finding the right words.
“That’s…” hesitated Molly. “That’s interesting.”
I didn’t like her tone. Accusatory. Suspicious.
She continued, squinting at me in deep thought. “You must get awfully sick of each other if you have to live and work together.”
“It’s not so bad,” admitted Tia, shooting a warm glance in my direction.
I managed to chuckle, “It’s not like I show up for work often, anyways. And besides, I really enjoy her company.” I reached over and took Tia’s hand in mine. “A lot, in fact.”
Molly stared at me, and then at Tia, and then back to me. Her face was pale, as white as snow. “What…” she mumbled. “What’s going on here?”
“We’re together, Molly,” I stated flatly.
The moments that followed felt like they were simultaneously recorded in slow motion and high speed. Molly slammed her hands on the table and stood up, glaring at me with a burning anger behind her eyes. Tia jolted at her sudden movements, prompting me to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. But I was nervous. I was undeniably anxious about how Molly was about to blow up about this whole situation.
“What the fuck are you thinking?” she screamed.
“Molly, what–” Tia tried to calm her down, but Molly would have none of it.
“I told you I didn’t want you seeing any of my friends, Alex.”
I took a deep breath, prepared for the worst. “Molly, listen, I’m not just fooling around with Tia. I–”
“You always do this!” she roared over me. “It’s just a game for you, isn’t it? A challenge. The moment I told you I thought Tia wouldn’t fall for your dumb little routine, you decided that you just had to have her.”
“Alex, what’s she talking about?” The hurt on the edge of Tia’s words was enough to start to tear my heart in two.
“And you,” hissed Molly, pointing a finger at her. “I thought you were smarter than this. But no, you just had to sleep with my brother. What about your career? What about your debts? A guy does something nice for you for a change and suddenly you just spread your legs and get on your back?”
“Enough!” I snapped. “Don’t you ever talk to her like that again.”
My sister threw her hands in the air, frustrated and clearly unable to stomach anything further.
“This isn’t just a fling,” I protested. “I lo–” I stopped myself. Was it too early to say that I loved Tia? Would that scare her? Would it push her away? “I’m not just doing this to piss you off, or whatever fucked up thing it is you think I’m trying to do.”
But Molly wouldn’t listen. Just as quickly as she had come in, she left through the front door, slamming it behind her. The frame of the apartment shook violently. I was definitely going to get a complaint from my neighbors.
10
Tia
I sat there, stunned. I opened my mouth just to close it again. Molly had left the air unbearably cold and still, perfect for silently stewing in. I didn’t know how I felt. Was I sad? Was I angry? Maybe a little of both. But I knew for sure that I felt stupid and embarrassed and betrayed.
“You’ve…” I hated how shaky my voice sounded. I was a proud woman. A smart woman. How dare I sound so pathetically weak? “You’ve done this before?”
“Tia,” Alex breathed. He turned to me, brows furrowed with worry. “Tia, what she said before… I–”
“She said you thought it was a challenge.” I chewed the inside of my cheek, biting down hard to fight off the numbness that was starting to take hold of my body. “Was I just another notch in your belt? Is that it?”
It made sense. I thought back to our first encounter. I thought back to how he deliberately greeted me at the door, half-naked and wet from the shower. It really was a power play, a tactic to get me to want him. The apartment, the job… They were all ways for him to get in my pants. And like an idiot, I allowed him in. I allowed him in because I thought he was a genuinely sweet and caring man.
“How many of her friends have you been with?” I muttered through clenched teeth.
“Tia–”
“Answer the question.”
Alex sighed. He ran his fingers through his hair, worrying his bottom lip with his teeth.
“Well?” I urged. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, as though I thought this would somehow protect my heart from his answer.