Dan gives me one last look, but I don’t look up. I’m still looking down, trying to avoid eye contact. I see him scuttle away with Mia, and I notice that they don’t return to their table.
For a long time, the only thing in our way was you.
Fuck. That was harsh.
The sentence replays in my head—Dan’s icy words that seemed to come out so easily. How long had I held them back?
How long had this gone on behind my back?
“Hey,” Nick says gently. He grabs my hand, and this time I know it’s not for show. “You okay?”
I nod. Because… I am okay. Or I will be, at least. I now know that Dan is not the guy for me and never was. I smile gratefully at Nick, and he just scowls in the direction that Dan and Mia left. I see him fidget with his phone for a few seconds, and to distract myself, I ask Bria about her drawing. The waiter comes for our order. Though I’ve lost my appetite entirely, Nick orders me the pasta carbonara, telling me it’s the best thing I’ll ever eat. When he’s done reciting our orders, Nick jumps up and excuses himself.
“I’ll be right back. I have to use the restroom,” he says and walks away quickly.
I look down at the basket of bread and take deep breaths—in and out. At least Mia isn’t pregnant. I can’t wait to tell Violet that she’s just fat. I know it’s petty, but it makes me feel better, and right now, I need to feel better.
“Who wath that?” Bria asks after a minute.
“Who, sweetie?”
“That mean man.”
I smile.
“Just someone that I used to know,” I say. “You’re right. He is a mean man.”
“I’m glad he’th gone,” she adds, and I smile broadly.
“Me too, Bria. Me too.”
She goes back to coloring on her placemat.
I wonder if Nick was freaked out by the stepmom comment. That was a low blow, even for Dan. If he thought Nick and I were together, and Bria clearly wasn’t my child, it could look like I was dating a guy with a kid.
God, of all the things for Dan to say in front of Nick. Dan is always like that, though, so I don’t know why I’m surprised. He always speaks first, thinks second. He was always spewing awful things and then apologizing to me immediately afterwards.
How did I ever love him?
Perhaps I never really did. I thought I did, but looking back, I’m not so sure.
Nick returns, and he’s clutching his right hand in a dishtowel. I leap up.
“Oh my god, Nick, what happened?” I spot blood on his knuckle.
He waves me away.
“I’m fine. Just clumsy. Ran into one of the busboys, got cut with some glass.”
“Let me see it,” I say, reaching for his hand, but he pulls it away.
“I’m fine, really,” he growls, and his fiery, terrifying eyes make me believe him. “Just putting some ice on it.”
I look at him, but he avoids my gaze. I throw my hands up. “Okay, if you insist.” He can take care of himself, I guess.
“Sit,” he demands.
I obey, taking a seat, but my eyes don’t leave his face. He’s sweating.
What the hell?
The waiter brings our food shortly thereafter, and we all eat silently. I chat with Bria about her dolls, and Nick sits across from us, sulking and eating quietly.
“What Dan said…” I trail off. “I want you to know that I don’t consider myself… I don’t…”
“I know, Evianna.” He smiles weakly, interrupting me.
“Okay. You just seem quiet, and I wanted to make sure that—”
“Drop it,” he says lowly. “I know. Dan just said it to hurt you. Dan is an asshole.”
Bria’s head pops up, and she starts giggling.
“Daddy! You said a bad word!”
Nick’s face softens, and he nods.
“Daddy did say a bad word. You’re right.”
“You need a consequenceth,” she says, crossing her arms. “For thaying a bad word.”
I smile at Nick. She’s right.
“Well… what should my consequence be?”
“Evi thould chooth.”
I almost spit out my water, and I look at Nick. He looks just as amused as I do. His eyebrows shoot up, and he watches me as I drum my fingers on the table.