Page 57 of The Unraveling

I’m so surprised by his tone, by his colloquial nature, thinking it’s so different from how it was a couple weeks ago. Then I realize—he’s already had a few drinks. It’s him loosened up. We didn’t even finish the bottle at dinner the other night.

“So do you all know each other, then?” I ask, when I see Arabella’s intense gaze staying on Alistair.

She lights up then.

“Claro! Of course we do! His wife is on the board, and I’m close with Clementine. I must have told you that, no?”

“No,” I say.

Cynthia looks uncomfortable.

“He tags along with her to all the parties to meet the beautiful women.” She winks at him. “He’s like a puppy.”

He doesn’t get defensive, but he narrows his eyes ever so slightly.

I can’t help but think he looks even more handsome when he’s brooding.

Arabella then picks up her glass and slams the rest of her champagne. It actually hurts to watch her waste it like that.

She slams her hands on the table.

“Well, we’ve decided to go somewhere else.” Her words are neutral, but something about her tone isn’t. “And it looks like you’re quite cozy here. You two. You’d make a cute couple, you know.”

I’m mortified. It’s such a weird thing to say. Such a strange power move.

I give her a look that means What the fuck is wrong with you. She ignores me.

“I’ll be just fine. Thanks,” I say, coolly.

“Be careful with that one,” she says to me. “He bites.”

He leans back, staring daggers at her. If she were a man, I would think Alistair was about two seconds from knocking him out.

I am extremely grateful that I didn’t tell her the one-night stand with Max was actually Alistair.

“Bye-bye,” Arabella says, grabbing Cynthia’s arm as she struggles to get down the rest of her own champagne. She chokes on it and sets it down.

“Thank you,” she says.

They turn to leave, but then Arabella turns back and says, “Alistair, this one is going to be a lot of work.” She points at me. “She’s into girls. But trust me, she’s worth it.” She glances at me. “Her pussy tastes amazing.”

The smile has faded from Cynthia’s face and she pulls Arabella away from us, and the two vanish into the crowd.

I have no idea what to say. I am absolutely mortified.

I knew Arabella had something fiery in her. I knew she couldn’t be as nice as she seemed. I know she’s drunk. But there was something dark in everything that just happened.

I have no words.

I turn to Alistair when I finally get up the guts to look at him. I’m humiliated.

When he finally looks back at me, he says, “I know we’re not supposed to say women are psycho anymore. But Arabella…”

“She’s a fucking psycho. There, I said it for you.”

I feel like if I was made to stand up right now, I’d collapse.

But then he smiles, and then he starts to laugh. After a moment, I can’t help but start laughing, too.

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