Paralyzed, she stood, shocked, unsure what to do next. That was definitely a dismissal. Intending to leave with what was left of her dignity, she turned to go. And there was Ricardo, blocking the door, dressed all in black.
Ricardo took a step inside and pushed the door shut behind him. And waited, looking bored. There was no anger, no joy, no sadness, no disgust in his eyes. Just calm indifference, as if she were a complete stranger.
She hadn’t expected that.
“Hi,” she said. Everything she’d rehearsed poofed into dust.
He inclined his head, reached inside his pocket and extracted a pack of Marlboros. Surprised, she watched him tap out a long cigarette, light it with a miniature lighter.
“I didn’t know you smoked.”
“Now you do.” He took a puff and exhaled a white cloud toward the cei
