Page 60 of The Bargain

She sniffs the air. “I smell Marcos. He loves that place. I see he’s recreating our little habits with you. Where is he if he’s not here?”

“He went to see Grant.”

“Ah. Right. Good thing. Grant’s so fucked up. He’s nothing like Ethan.”

It hits me then, that if Grant was suicidal, she’d be with him. Wouldn’t she? What kind of game are they playing? Are they in on it together or both coming at Ethan with a different deckof cards? Ethan has made it clear that both of them like their games.

“I guess you’re not going to invite me in?” she dares suggest, as if I’d consider any such thing.

“It’s late.”

“Right. Well, let me just give you a few words of advice, since we most likely won’t get any more one-on-one time. Be agood girl.Keep being a good girl. He likes that. Perform for him, and you will end up on his arm and in his home, just like you are now. Don’t slip. I forgot how important it was for him, and he kicked me to the curb. Enjoy that pizza.” With that, she turns on her heels and walks away.

I slam the door, and my back hits the wood surface. He calls me a good girl. Is that what this is? Him replacing her with me?

Was she really his good girl, too?

Clearly, the answer is yes.

The end…for now