Page 73 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

My lips twisted into a sneer. Fuck Zen and fuck Matt. I glared athim as he stormed past me and tossed his jacket onto the island.

“No, Madison,” he replied with a nasty undertone. “I will not have strange men traipsing through here.” He tugged at his tie. “And what the hell were you doing in there?”

“Stretches.” I replied, frigid as the Artic.

Matt gave me a look, a scornful sort of look. “Really? That’s what you’re calling it?”

The underlying disgust in his voice made my skin crawl.

“Because it looked like you were enjoying it a tad too much for it to just bestretches.” he hissed with a vicious intonation.

I walked over to him, shaking with rage. The sound of my palm connecting with his face ricocheted off every surface in the kitchen. Matt grabbed my wrist, painfully hard, and yanked me up against his chest.

“Don’t ever do that again.” He released my wrist and spun around, giving me his back.

I rubbed my wrist, watching his broad shoulders rise and fall as he took deep, calming breaths.

“You know what, Matt?” I drawled in a cold voice. “Let’s dispense with the pretence. We both know why you’re uncomfortable with Raheem being here and I’m not even going to pander to your irrational jealousy right now.” Glaring daggers at his back, I spat out, “What’s the obvious difference between Eddie and Raheem?”

Matt turned around. My palm print was startling red against the paleness of the rest of his face.

“I beg your pardon?” he asked, incredulous. “That’s not-”

“Whatever, Matt.” I was done with this. “Your latent bigotry is showing.” I let my gaze travel mockingly over his tall frame before returning to his shocked face. “Sometimes I forget the way you look at people who aren’t from your background, the presumptions you have; but then you always find a way to remind me. Thanks for keeping it real.”

“I’m going to ignore your previous comment and try to have an intelligent discussion with you.” he stated, his grey eyes burned with barely controlled anger.

I just shook my head slowly. It was moments like these I realized just how ingrained certain perceptions were. It was moments like these I wondered if a part of me was invisible to him. Did he not see me? Did he believe I was one of his public school educated, pissingmoney, highfalutin friends? Or did he think he could change me to fit that mould? Did he think because I didn’t act the way most people incorrectly assume black people acted that I wasn’t in actual fact a black woman who had black friends?For crying out loud.

“It’s late, I have tons of work to do and I want him gone now.” Matt commanded. The twin eyebrows were at dictator level.

I nodded once. “Don’t worry, he’s gone.” I stormed out the kitchen.

Seconds later Matt followed. I could literally feel his stare boring into my back as I headed towards my studio. Adam and Nathan were in Matt’s office, I barely glanced into the open doorway. Was I annoyed or simply too exhausted to care anymore? Honeymoon stage my ass.

When I walked back into my studio Raheem was in the middle of some complicated steps. He grinned at me, calling me over with a wave of hand. I tried hard to force the grimace from my face.

“Are we done?” he asked in confusion, stealing a quick look at his watch. “Shit. I didn’t know it was this late.”

“Yeah, um, can we pick this up tomorrow at the studio?”

Raheem nodded, walking over to me. I was very conscious of movement in Matt’s office through that glass wall.

“I’ll give you a lift home,” I continued, unhooking his iPod and handing it over.

“You don’t need to, Madi. I can get the tube.” he declined good-naturedly.

I stretched my arms over my head, unable to forget Matt’s frequent use of the word ‘my’. He was right. This was his house. He paid the household bills. He bought me an expensive closet, a car, jewellery…this was his house. For the first time in a long time, I felt very uncomfortable here. That wasn’t right.

“Don’t be silly,” I said with a frown. “It’s no problem.”

Raheem saw I wouldn’t take no for an answer and shrugged. “Alright, if you’re sure.”

I nodded and started getting my shit together. Off went my ballet shoes and on went my sneakers. I pulled back on my hoodie and shorts, grabbed my knapsack and shoved a few ballet shoes in. After I took Raheem home I would head to my studio.

“Hey, you ok?” Raheem asked quietly as he walked up behind me.

“Yeah, yes. I’m fine, just tired.” I said without turning around. Acouple of deep breaths and I was able to paste a smile on before I faced him. “Let’s go.”

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