Page 38 of Sweet Retribution

I should feel comforted that he’s looking out for me, wanting to distance me from that part of his life.

But I don’t. I’m hurt. I’m confused.

“You love him,” Sebastiana says from the slider doorway.

“What? Who?”

“Oh, please. Don’t play stupid.” She has a wine bottle tucked under her arm and two wine glasses in one hand, and a loaf of sourdough bread in the other. “I didn’t have time to make a fancy platter. I’m good with tearing off chunks if you’re cool with that.”

She hands me the bread and I set it on the end table with a chuckle. Sebastiana is a good distraction, although smarter than I give her credit for. I’m quiet as she pops the cork and pours two glasses of rich, red wine.

When she’s settled in the chair next to me, she says, “You do.”

“No.” Love is too strong. I barely like Stone. As soon as I soften towards him, he does something to piss me off.

“Well, he’s in love with you.”

I snort wine out of my nose and cover my mouth with the back of my hand. “The only person Stone’s in love with is himself.”

“Actually, the opposite. I don’t think he even likes himself. He loves you and is trying like hell to fight it.”

This is an awkward conversation to have with his current lover. “You’ve been watching too many movies.”

“Please. I could tell from the first day I got here. The way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching. The way a vein pops on his forehead when you say something to tick him off.”

“You’ve noticed that too?”

“Yeah. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen any sign of emotion from the man. Well, other than when we’re fucking.”

The wine sours in my stomach. I tear off a chunk of bread and shove it in my mouth.

“You’re jealous.”

“No.” I shake my head.

“You are.” She grins as if excited to make this discovery, which sickens me even more.

“What you two do is none of my business. He’s wanted nothing to do with me since you’ve been here. I don’t blame you, Sebastiana. You can give him what I can’t.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” She tips her head back and takes a healthy gulp of wine.

“No strings sex. I can’t do that.”

“Because you love him.”

“No. Because I can’t separate sex and feelings.”

“I suppose Stone and I have that in common.” She runs her finger around the rim of her glass.

We’re quiet as we sip our wine and eat bread. I sense Sebastiana’s discomfort with the silence. Her foot hasn’t stopped moving, and she keeps making clicking noises with her tongue.

“You know, sometimes your niceness can be really annoying.”

“Sorry?” I lift my shoulders in response.

“See? You’re never up for a cat fight. You’ve been killing me with kindness all week even though you think I’ve been having sex with Stone.”

I scrunch my brows in confusion.Thinkshe’s having sex with him?

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