But this time, I just looked at her and shook my head. “No need,” I said, my voice even. “If you’re tired, go rest. I’ve got to head to work anyway.”
Her casual smile faltered, her brows knitting into a frown. “Fine! Forget it,” she snapped, glaring as she stood up abruptly. She didn’t storm off right away, though. Instead, after seeing that I was unmoved, she flung her bag at me in a fit of irritation. It hit me hard enough to sting, and with that, she slammed the bedroom door behind her, the sound echoing through the quiet apartment.
I stood there for a moment, watching the remnants of her anger settle. After that, I calmly picked up her bag, returning the scattered contents—her makeup and her phone—to the coffee table. Then I turned back to the table and began clearing away the dishes that had never been touched.
Sacha had this habit of lashing out whenever she knew she was in the wrong. She’d wait for me to make an excuse for her behavior, to apologize for her. Then, graciously, she’d forgive me. It had worked for her countless times, but like any well-worn strategy, it was bound to fail eventually.
As I was gathering the plates to bring them to the kitchen, her phone chimed with a message.
[Craig: Sacha, you left your lipstick in my car’s passenger seat. Want to come get it tonight?]
I didn’t mean to look at it, but the preview flashed on the screen, too obvious to miss. Before I could react, Sacha burst out of the bedroom in a panic. “What are you doing?” she shouted, shoving me roughly aside as she snatched her phone from the table. Caught off balance, I dropped the dishes in my hand. They shattered on the floor, a sharp piece of porcelain slicing deep into my leg.
A small gasp escaped me as blood instantly soaked through my pant leg.
Despite that, Sacha’s face twisted in annoyance, not concern. “That's karma for you. You shouldn’t have been snooping through anyone's phone.”
“I wasn’t snooping, and I’m not blaming you,” I said quietly, pressing a piece of cloth to the wound. But blood seeped through it rapidly; it was deeper than I thought. I might have to go to the hospital in this state.