"You little glutton, you didn't wipe the corner of your mouth clean."
Naomi said, "Baby, there's so much good food, and I ate it all, so it's not wasted."
"Your Alex looks like an injured puppy—come pick him up."
In the messages Naomi kept sending, I could hear so many fragmented bits of Alex's voice—Alex laughing at her for being like a little pig, and Alex saying she was very cute.
And even Naomi questioning, "Between me and Stella, who's cuter?"
And Alex said, "My god, why are you getting jealous of my wife."
"Of course you're cuter."
My heart ached until it was about to shatter, yet I watched Alex's expression go blank for a moment. Then, furious and flustered, he pointed at me and said,
"Stella."
"Naomi is your best friend, your family you've had for twelve years. How can you think about me and her with such filthy thoughts!"
I looked at Alex being righteous and stern, and I still felt hurt. My chest felt like it was stuffed full of damp cotton, about to suffocate me.
"Alex."
"I didn't say anything."
Tears fell. I met Alex's stunned face.
"What are you confessing without being asked?"