Patricia leaned forward, sneering just enough so Kelvin couldn’t see. “You always wanted people to feel sorry for you, Lucille. Everyone knows you love to play the victim.”
“You—!” The words tangled in my throat, replaced by a surge of white-hot rage. I raised my hand, and before I knew it, I’d slapped her. Hard.
Patricia’s face snapped to the side, her hand flying to her cheek. She let out a dramatic cry, collapsing into the couch, clutching her face like I’d broken something.
“Kelvin!” she wailed, tears welling in her eyes. “Did you see that? She hit me!”
Kelvin was on me in seconds. He slapped me hard across the face, the force sending me stumbling backward until I hit the floor. My vision blurred as pain exploded across my cheek, my nose starting to bleed. I held my face, staring up at him in shock.
“What is wrong with you?” he snarled, towering over me. “Patricia just got back from the hospital, and you slap her? She’s been nothing but good to you!”
I steadied myself, gripping the floor to keep from falling apart. Kelvin’s glare drilled into me, and Patricia’s smug smile only made it worse. The anger I felt burned through every part of me, but I forced myself to stay calm.