I stifled a sudden shiver.Who was this guy, anyway?
In what felt like a huge change of subject, he asked, "So, are you gonna apologize?"
"For what?"
He gave me a look. "For last night."
"Why?" A spark of hope kindled in my heart. "Were you worried?"
He shrugged. "Was I supposed to be?"
The spark sputtered to nothing. "Well, if the roles were reversed,Iwould've been."
"So, it was a game."
"It was no game," I said. "I just wasn't feeling great, that's all."
With blatant sarcasm, he said, "Hey, thanks for letting me know."
"Yeah? Well thankyoufor checking on me." I gave him a tight smile. "So, did you and Natalia have a nice time?"
Thatgot his attention. "What are you saying?"
I was tired of beating around the bush. "I saw you together." I let out a bitter scoff. "At the Christmas village, I mean. You looked pretty cozy."
"Yeah? Well we weren't."
When he said nothing else, I asked, "Is that all you've got to say?"
"Lemme askyousomething." A hard edge crept into his voice. "What exactly do you think happened?"
"I don’t know," I said. "That's why I'm asking."
"Except youdidn’task."
"I did, too. Just now."
"But not last night," he said. "You just left."
"Yeah, well it was a lot better than causing a scene."
"That's one opinion, not mine."
"Oh, so youwantedme to cause a scene?"
"Just so we're clear," he said. "It's not like I screwed her in your bed."
I tried to laugh. "Oh, so you used mysister's?"
His gaze hardened. "So that's what you think of me?"
"I don't knowwhatto think," I admitted. "But last night, you made yourself awful scarce."
"As opposed to what?" he said. "Inviting Natalia back to the house? That would've been rude as hell, don't you think?"
"To who?" I asked. "Me?"
"Well, itisyour house."
