The atmosphere between them seems tense, and I can’t help but wonder what is going on. They seemed pretty close from what I deduced from the short time I saw them interact after we got back from Hudson.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about, Abe?” June says. She sounds frustrated and more than a bit angry. “You don’t get to play dumb.”
Their relationship seems a little bit too chummy for a boss and secretary relationship, but maybe it’s the natural tendency of a girlfriend to be possessive of her man.
“What will you have me say, Jay?” Abram asks with a soft sigh. “I told you. She’s the woman I love.
Are they talking about... me?
I lean in closer, pressing my ear harder to the wall.
“I must say I’m disappointed,” June says, running a hand through her hair. “Is that the best you can do? You have beautiful and high-profile women vying for your attention. Why would you go for someone like her? Plus, she’s only about half your age. There’s an array of experienced women that you can pick from.”
“I don’t want any of those women,” Abram replies with a small shrug. “I want Melody. Why the hell are we still on this issue?”
June pushes away from the desk and goes to stand in front of Abram.
“What about me?” she asks.
“What about you?” Abram asks.
What about her? What’s she talking about?
I hold my breath, listening for her next words.
June scoffs. “Do you think I’ve been playing your fool for years just to lose to that fatty? I love you, dammit!”
“Jay…,” Abram calls, shaking his head at her. “Don’t do this.”
“What is it?” she asks, throwing her hands up wildly. “Can’t I love you? Why do you think I’ve stayed with you for so long, even when you treated me like trash when I first started out? Nobody knows you like I do.”
She’s starting to sound hysterical now, and now Abram is looking at her like she’s a whole new person standing in front of him.
“What about her has got you like this?” June asks, striving for a softer tone. “Why the hell did you bring her here, dammit! She...she doesn’t measure up. She doesn’t deserve you.”
“Enough of this, June,” Abram says in a soft command. “I won’t have you....”
She suddenly stands on her toes and presses her lips against his.
I jerk away from the door, my heart pumping hard against my ribcage. My hands are trembling, and it feels like my legs will give away from under me at any second.
She doesn’t measure up...
You’re a disappointment!
You’ll never be happy.
I’m disappointed...
The voices echo in my head.
June’s matter-of-fact voice overlaps my mother’s cold one, each fighting for dominance.
I can feel my chest start to close up and my palms clamming up.
Not now. Not here.
I haven’t had a panic attack in so long that I almost forgot how it feels. I try to regulate my breathing, but it’s not working.