Page 3 of Rescued By the Beast
"He's gaming."
I feel the blood rush to my head.
"He's gaming while you’re busting your ass working, cooking, cleaning, and even serving him? "
"He's been stressed at work, Sandra."
I let out a dry laugh, incredulous.
“Today is Saturday. He doesn't work, but you do.”
"Playing with his friends helps him relax..." My friend tries to defend him, and it makes my chest tighten.
"What about you, Lucy? When do you relax? Or does your well-being simply not matter in this relationship?"
She lowers her eyes and shrugs, seeming to hold back tears.
"He's my family now, Sandra. What's left of it."
The words hit hard. I don't have anyone either.
The memory of the cancer that took my grandmother is still an open wound.
I lost everything, but at least I have Lucy.
Except she... She has that idiot Brian.
"I'll talk to him later." Lucy's voice pulls me back. "We’ll split the housework better."
I mumble something in agreement, trying to swallow my anger.
"I miss you," I say, changing the subject.
"Me too," Lucy sighs. "I'll try to visit you soon to see your new flat. Life has been so busy, it's been almost a year since I've been there, I need to go back."
Despair rises in my throat.
"Oh, you don't have to come so soon. Actually, I'm thinking of moving again. Better to wait."
"Why?"
"I want something closer to work." The lie slips out before I can stop myself.
Lucy smiles, seeming to believe my lame excuse.
"All right. I'm going to lunch, we'll talk later, okay?"
“Okay, I love you.”
"I love you more," she says, blowing me a kiss.
I hang up and stare at my phone in silence.
I hate lying to her. But how could I tell her the truth?
That sometimes I don't eat properly, that this flat is almost a cubicle and that the job at the tavern barely covers my debts?
Lucy already has too many problems.
