Annoyed, I look to Arrow. As if knowing what I’m thinking, he shakes his head.
“Arrow is the father,” I say, pretending to start crying. Then I run to my room, unable to stop laughing.
I’m halfway through a packet of Oreos when Dex walks in, looking extremely unhappy.
“Babe,” he says on a sigh, rubbing a hand down his face.
“What?”
“You couldn’t make things easy on me, could you?” he says dryly, lying down on the bed next to me.
“I like Mary,” I say.
“What does this have to do with Mary?” he asks, sitting up. Oh shit, I guess Arrow didn’t snitch on me.
“I saw Arrow with someone who isn’t Mary,” I say in a quiet voice. Dex goes stiff next to me, then pulls me closer to him.
“That’s not our business, yeah?”
“If someone knew things about me, things that would hurt me, but looked in my face every day and pretended to be my friend, I’d be hurt. And pissed off. And feel betrayed,” I tell him.
Silence.
“It’s not you hurting Mary. It’s their business, and you shouldn’t judge them. Has anyone here ever judged you?” he says.
I think on it. “I guess not.”
“We have a don’t ask, don’t tell policy here babe,” he says, leaning back once more. “And that goes for you too. Just mind your own business and everything will be fine.”
I gulp, wondering what Arrow was going to do to me.
“Okay, you’re right; it’s none of my business. If it was me—I’d want someone to tell me though.”
“Is this about Eric?” he asks in a gruff voice.
I scoot closer to him and look him in the eye. “I guess so. I was with him forever, you know? I realize now it’s just what we were used to. I just wish he’d broken up with me before sleeping around.”
“He doesn’t deserve you Faye. He never did.”
“He’s been calling non-stop,” I say, tracing the tattoos on his knuckles.
“I’ll get you a new sim card tomorrow,” he says instantly.
“Okay. Are we still going out somewhere tonight?” I ask, fighting a yawn.
“Are you tired? We could just order something in,” he replies.
“Sounds good,” I say, smiling.
“What am I going to do with you Faye?” he says, leaning forward and kissing me on my nose.
“I could think of a few things,” I say dryly, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
He pulls back, his expression going blank. “There are some things I need to sort out before we even think of going there babe.”
“What things?” I ask. I move closer, close enough that I can smell a hint of his cologne.
“Nothing, babe, nothing,” he says, brushing it off and rolling away from me.
I groan in frustration.
What the hell is he hiding?
*****
When I wake up in the middle of the night, Dex isn’t in bed. Feeling thirsty and a little curious, I tip toe into the kitchen to get some milk then look around for him. I hear voices outside so I move the blinds to the side to take a peek. I can’t hear, but I can see Dex’s lips move as he talks to a man I’ve never seen before. His hand is around his neck, squeezing.
I gulp.
Would Dex kill him?
Finally, he shoves the man to the floor and then points to the gate. Next, Dex turns to Arrow, says something to him, and then punches him in the stomach.
What the f**k?
I get back to bed before they can notice me.
An hour later, Dex slides back into the sheets and pulls me into his arms, hugging me. He even kisses the top of my head.
Which Dex is the real Dex?
Chapter Twelve
The next day, after a morning of studying, I exit my room and walk straight into Mary.
“Oh sorry honey,” she says in her sweet voice, her arm going to my waist.
“Sorry,” I mumble, giving her a small smile. She is looking beautiful today in high waisted shorts and a singlet top with a picture of a pin up girl on it. She’s so hot! How could Arrow cheat on her… with that!
“I was just coming to get you actually,” she says. “You’ve been cooped up in your room all morning; do you want something to eat?”
Could she get any nicer?
“Sounds good,” I say. “How have you been?”
“Good, busy with work,” she says as we walk side by side into the kitchen. I look down at what I’m wearing, track pants and a singlet top with a chocolate stain on it. I look like shit compared to her.
“Where do you work again?” I ask her, sitting at the table.
“I’m a vet,” she says, opening the fridge and pulling out a large container.
“Wow,” I say, impressed. “Beauty and brains.”
Except for dating Arrow.
She laughs. “You’re sweet. Here, Sin told me to make this for you and make sure you eat it.”
She puts the container in front of me, a healthy looking chicken salad. “Thanks.”
“I’ve never seen him care for someone so much,” she says, staring at the salad.
I smile but decide to ignore that comment. “Where’s Arrow?”
She loses her smile. “Club business. Listen he told me about what happened yesterday.”
My jaw drops open. “He did?”
She laughs at my expression. “Yes, he did. We aren’t exclusive, him and I. But thanks for standing up for me all the same.”