The mask slipped. The concerned husband vanished, replaced by the man who always defended her.
“She is trying to apologize, Karylle!” Nathan shouted, his face turning red. “She’s injured too! Look at her arm! Do you think she wanted this to happen? It was an accident. Stop acting like she murdered him in cold blood.”
“She might as well have,” I said, staring him dead in the eye. “And you put me in that car with her.”
Nathan yelled, throwing his hands up. “God, you are being so unreasonable. You’re hysterical. I get that you’re grieving, but don’t take it out on Danica. She’s family, and who knows there’d be an accident. She’d been driving drunk even before—”
“Family?” I let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Nathan narrowed his eyes. “You know what? I’m not doing this right now. You’re emotional. You need to rest. We’ll talk when you’re not acting crazy.”
He turned to Danica, his voice softening instantly. “Come on, Danica. Let’s go get some coffee. She just needs to cool down.”
He placed a protective hand on the small of her back. The same hand that used to hold mine.