I disliked Oren's friends, Khai and Juliette Alcott, immediately. Khai and Oren had been in class together at the University of Padua. "How Juliette and I had the nerve to get married when we were still in school, I'll never know," Khai said with a laugh. "I can't believe we're coming up on the tenth anniversary this Sunday."
I joined them in a glass of water. They tactfully stayed away from asking me about my marriage with Oren. All I said about it was how happy I was and how I enjoyed meeting them.
I think Oren realized, however that I was terribly uncomfortable because after a few minutes he stood up. "Speed the parting guest," he said. "My wife hasn't been feeling well lately,and we have a doctor's appointment tomorrow."
We drove back home in almost total silence. Oren refused to talk to me ever since he came back from that room. He even stayed in a different room which honestly bothered me more than I cared to admit. But at a quarter past seven, as we got close to town , he said, "you do have to eat, Lorelei. What do you feel like having?"
Although I hadn't thought about it, I realized suddenly that I was starving. "A hamburger, is that okay?"
Ai Mercanti, the famous old Venice restaurant on Corte coppo, 30124 Venezia had recently reopened after a total overhaul. We stopped there. After we ordered, Oren said, "Something's bothering you, Lorelei. Want to talk about it?"
"Not yet," I said. Tears started filling my eyes. "It's still kind of spinning around in my mind."
"Is this about your conversation with my father?"
Oren's voice was gentle. How I wish everything wasn't so complicated. How I wish I could tell him that I hated the way Juliette looked at him. She clearly wanted him. I wanted to ask if he was okay or hurt... but I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to forgive him.
"Yes and no." When our hamburgers arrived, I said, "Maybe it's better if we do talk it out. You see, the problem is that you won't tell me what happened in that room, and I think your father's threats are something I should be taking seriously."
YOU ARE READING
I Can't Remember To Hate U
RomanceWhen Lorelei's mom suddenly dies at the hotel in Venice where she worked, Lorelei is left devastated and refusing to accept that it was merely an accident. Reports that the hotel might have disguised the death of her mother and eleven others as an a...
