"No," I said, scrambling some eggs for our breakfast. "He hasn't spoken to me since you and I started seeing each other."
"Fran tell you anything about how his business was doing?"
I scooped us each some eggs and brought the plates to the table. "She did tell me that he had to clean out his bank account to make the rent."
Steve put a forkful of eggs into his mouth and was smiling as he chewed.
"I'm glad you like these."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Great eggs."
Steve finished his breakfast and kissed me good-bye. "What time are you going to be home?" he asked.
"I don't know. About five."
"Don't be late. I'm making my Thai chicken pasta."
He went out the door.
Steve just stared at me.
He'd been doing it ever since I got home. I was twenty minutes late and now Steve was giving me the silent treatment.
He sat at the other side of the table munching on his salad.
"I said I was sorry."
CRUNCH!
"My last client was late."
CRUNCH!
"I couldn't just leave. He'd paid for it. I had to give him his massage."
CRUNCH!
I stopped saying anything and began to eat my dinner.
"What you meant to say was you had to screw him because he paid for it."
The fork full of pasta hovered near my mouth. Now it was my turn to stare at him. "What?"
He wiped his mouth and stood up. "You heard me. I know what you do there. You did it to me, remember?"
He walked behind me and placed his hand on my shoulder. "I know what goes on with you at work. I know what you are-- a whore."
I tried to get up.
Steve dug his fingers into my shoulder. "Hey, I'm talking to you."
"Let go of me."
"Did I say you could speak?"
"What's the matter...you're acting crazy."
I let out a yelp as his nails broke skin. His free hand swung down and swatted the back of my head. "Crazy? You bet I'm acting crazy. You would too if your lover was spreading his legs for any and every guy who looked at him."
I turned my head to look at him.
He stared me down, eyes full of rage, as if he could lose control any moment. I stepped away and moved to the couch.
He sat back down at the table, finishing his dinner in silence as I picked up the television remote. Some bad sitcom suddenly filled the uneasy quiet.
I didn't care what I watched. I just wanted to be left alone.
