Bella didn’t back down entirely. Her tone softened, but the smile remained. “You’re misunderstanding me,” she said, holding his gaze. “I wasn’t trying to insult her. I’m just pointing out that she’s not what I pictured for you, that’s all. You’re overreacting.”
She turned her head toward me, her brows lifting slightly. “Even Faye doesn’t seem to mind.”
That earned her my first direct glance since her little performance began. I met her gaze evenly, my voice calm. “Oh, I mind, Bella. I just don’t think it’s worth dignifying with outrage.”
Her smile ceased for just a moment before she turned back to her plate.
Alexander’s eyes lingered on me for a fraction longer than necessary before he returned to eating, as if silently filing the moment away for reasons I couldn’t quite read.
I could
