~Aaron~
“Aaron! Aaron!” Angelina’s voice rose behind me, a bite to it and relentless.
As soon as Joan had disappeared from sight, Angelina had pulled away from me, immediately following me while I strolled to my room.
I pushed the door open and walked in. She followed, her steps echoing behind me.
“I’m your girlfriend! And you did nothing even after I told you she disrespected me!” Angelina snapped.
I moved towards my bed, before glancing back at her.
I unbuttoned my shirt with slow, deliberate movements, trying to keep my irritation in check.
My skin prickled, my patience stretched thin. She was too close, in my space again. Moments like these reminded me why I didn’t share a room.
“Who are we talking about here?” I asked, shrugging out of my shirt. My voice was calm, too calm, like a storm waiting to break out.
“Your sister’s friend. Joan or whatever she calls herself,” she said with a sarcastic bite, crossing her arms. Her eyes flicked over my chest before meeting mine, her gaze heated with more than just anger.
“She disrespected you?” I repeated, walking to the nightstand and slipping off my wristwatch.
Angelina huffed, the sound thick with indignation. I could picture her rolling her eyes even before she spoke.
“That was obvious, Aaron. You saw it! She referred to me as a puppy. Me!” Her voice climbed higher. I had no idea if she was genuinely angry or she just wanted to get on my nerves.
I paused, glancing at her over my shoulder, my irritation flaring again. God, I needed her out of here.
“What did you say to her?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral as I moved toward my wardrobe.
Her arms flew up in disbelief. “I did nothing!”
“Not true,” I said flatly. Joan didn’t strike without reason. In the three years she’d been friends with Rhoda, I’d learned she didn’t just “dish out trouble” for sport. She responded when provoked.
“You don’t believe me?” Angelina’s voice shook now, a dangerous mix of anger and hurt. “You’re choosing her side over mine?”
I sighed, the pressure of the day weighed harder on me. Between dealing with difficult clients in Spain and now this, I was nearing my limit.
“You must have said something to her,” I said, slipping on a T-shirt and brushing back my hair with my hands. “Joan doesn’t just attack people out of the blue.” Well, except me-but that didn’t count.
“She did to me!” Angelina pressed, her face contorting with frustration. I stared at her, my expression blank.
“Drop it, Angelina,” I said, my voice firmer now.
Her eyes narrowed. “So you’re going to do nothing?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, deciding silence was my best defense. Nothing I said would change her mind.
Her next words sliced through the air like a blade. “You having an affair with her?”
My head snapped toward her, my lips pressing into a thin, unforgiving line.
Oh, come on.
I turned and walked toward the door. She wasn’t finished.
“Aaron, are you fucking your sister’s best friend?” Her voice rose, sharp and insistent. The last shred of my patience snapped.
I halted, spinning to face her.
“Stop. Getting. On. My. Nerves.” Each word landed like a hammer. Her eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise.
I exhaled slowly, pulling myself back from the edge.
“I said drop it. We both know you said something to her.” My voice was cold now, like steel.
I turned, resuming my walk, but glanced back over my shoulder.
“And, Angelina?” Her angry eyes locked on mine. “Stay away from Joan.”
The warning in my voice was unmistakable. Joan didn’t make empty threats. She was dangerous in her element, and I wasn’t about to let this escalate further.
Now, I just had to figure out how to handle both of them.