Page 147 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

“How was it?” She asks.

I hesitate, not because I don’t want to, but because I don’t know where to start.

But then, it spills out of me.

I tell about the cookout, Him and Blue, and the way he talked about marrying me. I skip the way I felt and hit straight for Atelia, the wine, story, proposal, and contract.

Aisha doesn’t interrupt even once. She just listens, her expression shifting in small ways, catching the important parts without needing me to point them out.

And when I’m done, when the words finally run out, she exhales slowly.

Then she shakes her head.

“Atelia needs to sit down somewhere,” she offers flatly.

“That’s your takeaway?” I blink.

“That woman was subtly trying to stake her claim,” she continues, completely serious. “Didn’t you catch that?”

“She wasn’t…” I shake my head, not even trying to imagine that.

“Believe me,” she presses. “I know how these things work.”

“You make clothes, not read minds or tell intentions by just listening to a one-sided story.”

“I can be both.” She corrects, tilting her head slightly. “And I also think she knows Robert has officially moved to the next hall.”

“The next hall?” I echo.

“Yes,” she nods. “Like she knows he’s not for her anymore.”

I laugh, shaking my head.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m hardly wrong about these things.”

We fall into the easy back-and-forth and for a moment, it feels like I can breathe again. Like everything isn’t stacked on my chest waiting to collapse.

My phone vibrates, pulling me out of it.

I reach for it automatically, my thumb brushing the screen as I glance down.

It’s a text from another unknown number.

My stomach drops as I open it.

: We know where you live. Leave Robert before you and your child get caught in another fire.

“Christine?” Aisha’s voice changes immediately.

I don’t answer yet, because I’m reading it again, maybe it’ll change.

“Christine.” She circles the counter, stepping closer now. “What is it?”

I don’t trust my voice, so I just hand her the phone.

I watch her face change.

Watch the color drain, her eyes flicking around the room like whoever sent it might be standing right here with us.

That’s all I need.

There’s nothing to think about.

Robert and I end right here.