Only then did Daniel look at me, frowning. “What’s your problem? She just ate a shrimp or two. Bella’s just joking around.”
I smiled faintly. “Yeah, and I find her jokes filthy.”
I pulled out my phone, opened a medical appointment app, booked myself an appointment with gynecology, and Daniel one with urology.
Then I turned the screen to the table. “Better get checked. With this whole ‘sharing’ thing, who knows what you might have picked up. Anyone else who’s played with them can join in—the bill’s on me.”
Daniel’s face turned purple as he lunged for my phone. “Olivia Scott, stop being so damn dramatic! Bella and I are just friends. Can you not be disgusting?”
“Friends, huh? You’re jealous over that? And what’s wrong with sharing? It’s not like we’re married yet. When I do get married, you’ll still be the bride, isn’t that enough?”
“We’re just buddies. And even if we had slept together, so what? Why make appointments? Don’t you think I’d know if she had anything?”
That’s when I noticed the half-box of strawberry candy peeking out of his pocket—Bella’s favorite brand.
Last week, when I was on my period and asked him to bring me some chocolate, he said he’d “forgotten.” Yet somehow, he remembered to stock Bella with candy.
What a fool paired with a parasite. I ignored him, bent down, and started packing my bag.
Bella nudged Daniel with her elbow and said in a mock-innocent voice, “I won’t eat shrimp anymore. Don’t be mad at Olivia, be a bigger man.”
When Daniel didn’t move, she quickly turned to me. “Olivia, let me apologize for him. He’s just used to peeling shrimp for me. I hate peeling them myself, and if he doesn’t, I won’t eat them. He didn’t mean any harm. I won’t do it again.”
She even tried to pick the shrimp out of her bowl to give to me. I didn’t take it. Instead, I flipped the plate, sending the shrimp splashing into the hotpot. Oil popped, and a few drops hit Bella’s hand.
Daniel instantly jumped up, grabbing her hand and flipping it over anxiously. His voice shook. “Did it burn? Does it hurt? Let me get you to the sink!”
Bella bit her lip, but her eyes weren’t showing pain. Instead, she said deliberately, “It’s fine, I’m tough. Olivia didn’t mean it…”
Daniel didn’t hear her. He dragged her toward the restroom, but not before shooting me a glare. “Olivia, if you ever hurt Bella again, I’ll make you pay!”