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“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m. Not. Going.” She crossed her arms defiantly over her chest, and I was transfixed by the way her breasts were heaving with her anger.
I leaned toward her and said very quietly and calmly, “You are. And that’s the last I want to hear about it.” I straightened back into my chair, and by the grace of God, our server showed up with our food.
As I took my fork in hand, I looked across the table at my petulant, immature queen. She was pouting monumentally, and I’d had enough. Very carefully, I set my fork beside my dinner and held her gaze. I leaned across the table so the neighboring tables weren’t part of our conversation.
“Stop acting like a bratty child. Eat your dinner.”
“No. I’ve lost my appetite. Give me the keys. I’ll wait in the car.”
“You’ll do no such thing. Pick up your fork and eat immediately, or I swear, woman…”
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“Yes. It would appear that way, wouldn’t it? Eat.”
“I said no.”
“Fine. But you’re not leaving this table until I’m finished. So either sit there and have a tantrum like a child and earn even more of a punishment than the one you already have coming…” I paused and took a big gulp from my water glass.
I didn’t miss the way the side of her mouth ticked up after I issued that one, but she quickly masked her excitement and went back to pouting.
“Unless you want to eat that cold, I suggest you dig in. I also won’t tolerate you being so wasteful.”
“You know what? You really need to check yourself right now,” she hissed across the small table. “I don’t know who you think you’re talking to, but I’m a grown woman, Carmen.”
“Then fucking act like one,” I said through gritted teeth and dropped my fork with a clatter.
The same nosy bastards who looked when the last outburst came from our table turned their heads once more.
“Goddammit, woman,” I seethed.
Chapter Twelve
Agatha
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered at the same time he growled something.
Once again, the man brought out more emotion than I could contain, and I felt impending tears stinging the backs of my eyes. I’d be damned if I’d let a man reduce me to tears, especially in public. I closed my eyes and took a couple of calming breaths. I could get through this rationally. I knew I could.
In an effort to salvage the evening, I picked up my fork. Carmen visibly relaxed when I did, even if by the slightest degree. He watched me steadily until I actually took a bite of the dinner in front of me. My appetite was completely gone now, but I was trying here. I really was.
After chewing, I asked very calmly, “Why would you force me to do something I don’t want to do? I don’t understand that.”
“They’re not going to care if you eat the meal or not, Storm. They’re still going to charge us for it. You may as well enjoy it. I don’t enjoy wasting money.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” I set my utensil down and entwined my fingers in my lap. “I’m not a religious person, Carmen. It’s an institution I don’t support at all, as a matter of fact. I will embarrass us both, and that’s not the impression I want to first make on your family.”
All of that was true. It was the next part that would be difficult to say without getting angry all over again.
“Also, I don’t care for the way you think you can tell me what to do.” I leaned toward him now that we had the unwanted attention of several other parties in the room. “I mean, it’s hot in bed, but not all the time. I can’t live like that. I won’t live like that.”
There. Got all that out without raising my voice or even using profanity. Look at me maturing.
“I’ve met your parents. Hell, we spent an entire long weekend with your whole family.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked, my face twisted in confusion.
“I want you to meet my family. What is so hard to understand here?” He was as frustrated as I was at that point, and I was glad. Why should I be the only one who got worked up over things?
