Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

being nipped in the bud. It wouldn’t bring me anything to know if the two of
them ever… frolicked. It was none of my business, plus Maddox already
made it clear he wasn’t into me like that.
Yet I just couldn’t stand the thought of Maddox eating anything from that
woman.
“Right. Well he’s not here right now and even if he were, there’s no need
for you to cook for him anymore. I’m here.”
“Serve it tonight at dinner. He loves Italian.” She pushed the plate
towards me, an asinine smile lighting her gorgeous face. Ugh, couldn’t his
neighbor be eighty and wrinkly and in love with her cats or something?
“It’s too bad, I think he said he was in the mood to eat something Mexican
tonight.” My smile matched hers.
After years of attending galas and charity balls under the Raymond name I
pretty much mastered the art of faking it. Her smile didn’t falter, if anything,
she looked like she found me funny. Again, she pushed her plate at me,
forcing me to take it, which I eventually did.
“It’s okay. He can have Mexican tonight, he’ll come back to Italian food
eventually. It’s always been his favorite.” With one last wink and a smirk,
she turned around and walked back down the hall like she was on a runway.
Of course his neighbor had to look like she belonged in Vogue while I
spent my days in pajamas watching cartoons with a nine year old.
Sometimes I wished that could be me. I wished I could be in phase with
my feminine side and dress like her from time to time. But I think I still had a
long way to go when it came to that. Just another thing I’d have to work on.
Gritting my teeth because I hated that she had had the last word, I closed the
door and locked it before turning around and marching to the kitchen.
As I stepped on its lever, the trash can opened and I let the lasagna fall
into it, plate and everything. It was truly sacrilegious because it smelled