I saw Abby grit her teeth together, but she didn’t say anything. She grabbed her bags and followed me upstairs while Devon stayed in the living room looking supremely uncomfortable. I pointed out the door on the left to my room.
“That’s you,” I said.
Abby nodded once and headed towards it. I leaned against the doorframe and watched as she dropped her bags by the side of the bed. She looked around critically and glanced at me.
“How long have you lived here?” she asked.
“Two years.”
“That’s it?” she asked, seeming surprised by that.
“Yes.”
“And how long have you been president for?”
“Six months.”
“That was a fast rise,” Abby pointed out. “Your father was president before you right?”
“That’s right,” I nodded.
“Nepotism at its best, huh?” she asked, regarding me coolly.
She was just doing what I had done a moment ago… she was trying to get a rise out of me. It might not have worked if only for the fact that I was already touchy about my position in the club considering my family history with it.
“That’s a matter of opinion,” I replied. “My men don’t seem to think so.”
“Is that what they say to your face?” Abby asked. “Because I wouldn’t take them at their word. I don’t think your men feel free enough around you to be honest with you.”
“And you know this because of all the time you’ve spent with my men?” I asked sarcastically.
“I read people pretty well,” she countered.
“Says the woman who’s running from her psychotic ex-boyfriend.”
Abby’s face fell immediately, and I realized that I had struck the nerve that had won this war of words. She looked down for a moment as though to collect herself, and when she looked at me again, I saw that the fight had left her eyes. She just looked sad and tired. I shouldn’t have cared about how I had made her feel…but much to my chagrin, I did.
“You’re right,” Abby said softly.
“It’s your own fault,” I said before I could stop myself.
“Excuse me?”
“You should have known.”
“I should have known?” Abby repeated incredulously.
“Every person…man and woman alike, exhibit signs…telltale signs that tell you exactly who they are,” I said. “You obviously weren’t paying close enough attention.”
“I was paying attention,” she snapped defensively. “But some people—particularly men—are just really good actors.”
“That’s just a lie you repeat to feel better about the mistakes you’ve made,” I said without softening my words in the slightest.
“So what you’re saying is that I should have taken one look at him and just… known that he was an asshole?”
“Yes,” I said shortly.
“How long were you with this guy?” I asked.