Page 101 of Cruel Pleasures
“It’s the Hostess?”
I scowl. “If you refuse to cooperate, I’ll leave.”
She laughs. “I’m sorry, Ryu. How dare I not let some man sneak into my room in peace? The audacity.”
A tickle of amusement hits my stomach, though I resist from joining her laughter. Even if, secretly, I don’t mind the sound.
It’s harmonic and a little bit silly, like she doesn’t share it often.
“You should accept I’ll never answer you,” I say stiffly.
“Are you always up late? Most of the manor’s asleep.”
“Not always. But often.”
“Archer mentioned he’s an insomniac too. I’m picking up on a pattern.”
“Is there a point to this conversation?” I ask, plunging my hands into the pockets of my overcoat. I step to the window and peer out at the grounds.
“I haven’t been sleeping well either. This king-sized bed is comfortable. But I haven’t been able to turn my brain off. Except for the nights I’ve used spice.”
“Spice tends to succeed in turning brains off.”
“I keep thinking about my friend,” she confesses, sighing. “I know you said I shouldn’t. You said she’s never coming back. But it’s the lack of closure that…”
A second, weaker sigh blows out of her.
I’m still scowling as I warn myself I’ll likely regret this. “There is rarely closure when losing loved ones. That includes loved ones that have passed and living loved ones no longer in your life. You’ll have to find your own closure.”
“Is that what you did? When you lost the woman you mentioned?”
“Do you think I don’t know what you’re trying to do? You should accept now I don’t behave like most people do. I don’t share.”
“Who was she? She sounded very special.”
“I’m leaving.”
I make it all the way to the door with her imploring stare following me. Probably with a frown gracing her beautiful face. Disappointment filling her up that the man she’s trying to connect with is so stonily shutting her out.
I stop at the door, though I don’t turn back around, and clench shut my eyes in frustration.
…this is ridiculous. I shouldn’t care.
“She was my wife,” I grit out. “The woman I mentioned.”
Imani gasps. “Oh, that’s terrible, Ryu. I’m so?—”
“Save the apology. I don’t need your prayers and thoughts or condolences.”
“Just go. Shut the door after yourself.”
The abrupt dismissal makes me forget how agitated I am. I’m more taken aback. Looking over my shoulder, she’s curled back up in bed and rolled over as if no longer interested in anything I have to say.
Can you blame her? You’ve been less than pleasant.
“Look,” I say. “If there is one thing to understand about me, it’s that I prefer to keep emotion out of situations.”
She springs upright, ready to argue. “I do too. But there’s keeping emotion out of it and then there’s being fucking rude.”
