LEILA'S POV
I slowly shook my head. "Mistreat me? No. She doesn't. I'm sorry if I said anything to give you that impression."
Gale said nothing for long moment. His eyes searched my face as though trying to catch me in a lie, which I supposed was exactly what he was trying to do.
"Leila," he said. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right? If living with Ruelle bothers you, I could help you make some changes-" he snapped his fingers. "-just like that."
"I meant what I said. Everything is cool. I just er- promised Ruelle that I would make something special this evening, so she sort of held me to my promise. It's not like Ruelle was actually compelling me. When I told you I couldn't have dinner with you, I just wanted to fulfil that promise." And because I knew he would snap o
