Chapter 180
“Amber, you can’t be thinking of wasting all this food,” I said.
“I’m not,” she replied. “I was just weighing the options p>
“What options? The only choice is to stay here,” I said. “With your daughter.” With me. I couldn’t say that
part aloud, not trusting it wouldn’t blow up in my face.
“I didn’t say I was going. I was just thinking about it p>
“Why even think about it?” I said, a touch on the harsher side. Maybe it was the jealousy. Or maybe I’d been feeling more possessive of her since we’d slept together.
I didn’t know, but… it felt like the harder I tried to hold onto Amber, the more she pushed me away. And it was entirely frustrating, so much so that I had trouble holding onto my tempter.
Amber, too, was glaring at me, like she was as mad at me as I was at her.
Meanwhile, Alice sniffled, looking between us with her large doe eyes. Then, unfortunately, the tears started to fall.
“ I–I d–don’t want y – you to g–g–go, Mommy!” Alice said, holding both hands out for her mom.
Amber and I both cooled at once, like a cold bucket of water had been thrown over our heads. Amber moved to hold Alice, while I sat down, trying to make myself less intimidating and imposing.
Gods, I felt terrible. I had been angry at Amber for distancing herself from me, but I didn’t mean to frighten or upset Alice.
“D– don’t f –fight,” Alice said, crying into Amber’s shoulder.
“ I’m sorry, Alice,” Amber said, combing through her daughter’s hair. “Everything’s okay. We’re going to stay right here and eat the dinner Julian prepared. Right, Julian? ”
“That’s right, Amber,” I said softly, for my daughter’s sake. “Everything’s okay now. No one is fighting p>
For a while, Amber and I played nice in front of Alice, talking as friends, all smiles for Alice’s benefit. Halfway through dinner though, Amber pulled away.
“I forgot, I should call Rafael and ask for a raincheck,” she said. At my darkening look, she insisted, “It’s only polite after his invitation. I don’t want him to be expecting us when we aren’t going. I’ll be right back. ”
Amber stood, grabbed the phone from her purse, and, to my surprise, simply went out into the living room area to make her call. Something that private, I thought she would take in her room.
Seeing she wasn’t hiding anything helped me relax somewhat, though I still felt on edge at the presence
1/2
Chapter 181
+15 BONUS
of Rafael at all, through phone call or in person, invading our little private hotel space.
Amber’s POV
“Rafael, I’m sorry, I should have called sooner,” I said, the minute I was able to get the man on the phone.” Alice and I are going to need a raincheck p>
I meant to say that next time, Julian should be included too, but Rafael cut me off before I could.
“It’s fine,” he said. “I thought you might be busy tonight. I know it was last notice p>
“Still, I am grateful,” I said.
“Good,” Rafael replied. “In that case, please know that the offer is always open to you. You are welcome to
come to the estate whenever you like, day or night. You and Alice. I will always be happy to see you p>
That was generous, but… “Julian p>
“ You and Alice,” Rafael said, cutting me off again.
I didn’t need to say the words to be understood, it seemed, nor did he have to say more than he did.
While Alice and I were always welcome, Julian was not.