Page 58 of His Obsession
“Is this because I told you your ex-boyfriend was a talentless asshole?”
“You are proving my point.”
Gia is relaxed tonight too, though I can tell she’s watching Val more than she wants anyone to notice. That makes me like her more. She got dragged into the uglier edges of my world by accident, and she still showed up for her best friend.
Nico sees it too. He’s less obvious than usual when he watches Gia, but only barely. That’s going to become a problem eventually. I’m probably a bad friend for how much I’m looking forward to it blowing up in his face.
By the time dessert is finished, Val looks tired. Not unhappy, just worn out. She hides it well until she thinks no one is watching, but I’m watching. I’ve been watching her all night. She starts tostand with a stack of plates, and I catch her wrist before she can get far.
“Leave them.”
Her eyes cut to mine. “You hosted this dinner for me. The least I can do is the dishes.”
“I have staff for this reason.”
“And I have manners.”
“That’s debatable,” Nico says.
Val points at him with the plate. “You’re on thin ice.”
Gia takes the plate from her hand. “I’ll help.”
“No,” I say. “Seriously. I pay my staff way too much for you to take their jobs away.”
Gia looks at me, completely unimpressed. “I wasn’t asking your permission, Dracula.”
Matteo laughs outright at that.
Val looks far too pleased. “I like when people bully you in your own house.”
I narrow my eyes at her.
Gia insists on helping. Nico insists on helping Gia because he doesn’t know how not to follow her around like a lost puppy. Matteo carries exactly two glasses to the sink and acts like he deserves a medal for manual labor. Val does the least amount of work and still somehow manages to direct everyone like she’s running one of her events.
Eventually, I convince everyone to get the hell out of my house. Gia hugs Val goodbye near the front door and holds on longer than usual. Val doesn’t make a joke about it. She just hugs her back, face hidden against Gia’s shoulder for a few seconds. Nico watches them with his hands in his pockets, and for once, he doesn’t try to rush in and fix something.
When Gia pulls away, her eyes are a little glassy, but she points at Val anyway.
“Call me tomorrow. And if you pretend you’re fine, I’m driving back over here.”
“I would never lie to you.”
Gia gives her a look.
“I would only lie a little,” Val corrects.
Nico kisses Val’s forehead before he leaves. He gives me one pointed stare over her head, like I need another reminder that he’s still capable of becoming a problem if I hurt her.
“Goodnight, menace,” he whispers to her before he walks out.
Matteo is the last to leave. He pauses beside me while Val and Gia say one more goodbye.
“I’ve got updates,” he says.
“Tomorrow.”
His brows lift slightly, but he nods. “Tomorrow.”
