“Duh,” Maria said. “You were the one who set us up.”
“I’m not talking about Colin. I’m talking about one of the other fighters – I think I’ve seen him on campus. Of course, from where we were standing, it’s not as though I could be certain. Tell me again why we didn’t try to get closer?”
“Because I didn’t want Colin to know I was there.”
“And again… why is that?”
“Because we haven’t talked since last weekend,” Maria said. “I already told you all of this.”
“I know, I know. He yelled at the waitress and the police came and you got all freaked out. Blah, blah, blah.”
“I appreciate your sympathy.”
“I’m sympathetic. I just think you’re making a mistake.”
“You didn’t say that last Sunday.”
“Well, I’ve had a chance to think about it. And on that note, thanks for keeping me in the dark about the stalker until then.”
Her voice dripped sarcasm, but Maria couldn’t really blame her. “I didn’t know for sure until then.”
“And when you did find out? Colin was right there, trying to get answers.”
“He was doing way more than that.”
“Would you rather date the kind of guy who does nothing? Who would sit there like a log? Or would you have wanted him to take charge of the situation? Hell, if I’d been there, I would probably have yelled at that dingbat waitress, too. Who can’t remember what someone looks like a few minutes after they’ve ordered a drink?”
“I saw a side of Colin that I didn’t like.”
“So what? Do you think that Mom hasn’t seen a side of Dad that she doesn’t like? Or vice versa? I’ve seen a side of you that I don’t like, but I didn’t shut you out of my life.”
“What side?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. You always think you’re right. It bugs me.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You’re making my point.”
“And you’re beginning to irritate me.”
“Someone’s got to keep you in line and tell you when you’re wrong. And on that note, you’re wrong about Colin, too. You should call him. He’s good for you.”
“I’m not so sure of that.”
“Then why did you insist that we come watch him fight tonight?”
Why had she wanted to come tonight? She’d waffled, telling Serena that she’d promised Colin that she would, but Serena had merely scoffed.
“Just admit that you still like him,” she’d said.
Last weekend, it had been clear that she needed some space to think. Her whipsawing emotions – about the stalker, about Colin – had left her feeling wildly off-kilter, a feeling that only grew worse as the week wore on.
Even the atmosphere at work felt odd to her. Ken had been in and out of Barney’s office most of the week, looking distracted and worried, though he didn’t so much as mumble a single word to her. Barney was equally tense; both he and Ken weren’t in the offices at all on Thursday, and when Lynn didn’t show up for work on either Thursday or Friday, she’d expected Barney to raise hell as soon as he returned, if only because Lynn hadn’t so much as called to say she wouldn’t be coming in. However, Barney had simply added Lynn’s work to Maria’s plate without explanation or comment.
Strange.
Her parents, too, were a concern. Still grieving over Copo, her dad was depressed to the point that he’d stopped going in to the restaurant, and her mom was worried about him. Maria had dinner with them on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Serena on Monday and Wednesday, and on the way to Colin’s fight, they’d both agreed that something needed to be done, even if they weren’t quite sure if there was anything they could do.
The fight was supposed to be a distraction, or at least that’s what she’d tried to tell herself. Serena, too. But as soon as Colin had stepped into the cage, she’d felt an almost nauseating wave of butterflies coupled with an acute sense of regret.
All of which meant… what?