“That’s good,” Lydia said.
The conversation switched to other topics, and Trihn actually found herself relaxing. She’d been home a couple of times since the Preston fiasco, but usually, she had been so uncomfortable that she would have to leave the room to get away from the tension. Preston put her on edge, and she knew he liked to do it on purpose. It must have been Damon who changed all of that.
“Trihn?” Lydia said.
Trihn jerked her head up out of the pasta she had been eating. Her mother’s food really was delicious. She hadn’t realized that she had completely zoned out of the conversation.
“What?”
“We were just talking about going upstairs after this. I’d like to try on my wedding gown, so you could see it.”
Trihn swallowed hard. “I didn’t know you had already purchased one.”
“Well, you don’t return my calls,” Lydia said softly.
“I, um…probably have to go right after this.”
“Trihnity,” Linh said. “You can stay for a bit to see her dress.”
Trihn bit back a snide retort and looked at her meal. She didn’t think she could stomach seeing Lydia in that dress. But maybe with the way things had been going, it wouldn’t be that bad. Trihn could just disconnect the who and the why and only see the amazing craftsmanship because she was sure that their mother had had it custom-made.
“Sure,” Trihn finally said. She looked back up.
Lydia lit up like a light bulb. It was like she had just come downstairs on Christmas morning. “Great. I’m excited.”
Preston reached over and took Lydia’s hand in his. “When do I get to see it?”
Trihn swallowed back the rising bile in her throat.
Lydia giggled. “Not until the wedding day, of course.”
“That seems fair.” He slowly drew her hand to his lips, and just as he placed a light kiss on the top, he turned and looked at Trihn.
She nearly choked and shoved her chair back. “Excuse me. I just have to…take my plate in.”
“Don’t be silly, Trihn. I’ll clear the table,” Linh said.
“No, it’s fine. I want to do it.” She scooped up her plate and left the table. So much for being comfortable.
Trihn tossed her plate into the sink with a sigh. Resting her hands on the counter, she leaned forward and tried to regain a sense of equilibrium.
“You made a quick departure,” Preston said, appearing in the kitchen a minute later.
“What do you want?” she asked with venom in her voice.
“Just came to check on you.”
“I’m fine. You can go now.”
“So, another new boyfriend?” Preston said, ignoring her comment.
“Yep. Damon is amazing. He really loves me.”
“I’m sure he does. What’s not to love?”
Despite her best effort, she winced at that comment.
“I read a few interesting things about your boyfriend.”
Trihn glared at him. “I really don’t want to talk about this with you.”
“Do you honestly think that he isn’t sleeping with Chloe Avana?”
“You’re an asshole. That shit isn’t true.”
“Is that what he’s saying?” he asked, leaning against the counter and looking down at her.
She hadn’t realized he had gotten so close. He was practically hovering over her. She took a steady step backward.
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“You can do better.”
She scoffed. “You don’t know anything.”
“Come on, Trihn. You and I both know that some new guy could never compare to me.”
Trihn snapped her eyes up to him. She couldn’t believe he’d had the gall to say that to her.
He’d teased her about Neal when they were together, but she had always extracted herself from the situation as soon as possible. And then she’d blocked the memory from her mind. This was different though. This was about Damon, and Preston hadn’t even fucking met him!
“You’re right,” she said finally.
Preston smiled wide.
“Damon doesn’t compare to you. In fact, I’d never, ever want to put you two in the same category because Damon is twice the man you’ll ever be.”
Trihn pushed past Preston and went back into the dining room. “I’m leaving.”
“What?” Linh said.
That was shortly followed by Lydia’s, “You can’t leave yet! My dress!”
“You can tell that to your fiancé.” Trihn shook her head. “It was good to see you guys, but I have to go now.”
After she grabbed her bag, her mother tried to stop her at the door. “Trihn, please don’t go. What’s wrong with you?”
“No one here would even believe me. So, why should I bother?”
“We’ll listen. What is it?”
“Preston! God, can’t anyone else here see what he’s doing? He’s a lying, manipulative slimeball. He just came on to me in the kitchen when no one else was around so that there would be no witnesses.”
“Trihnity,” her mother admonished.