From the kitchen, I overheard his mother calling out, her voice warm and indulgent. "Oh, Polly, let Alyce handle these things. You're a guest here—how could I let you do this?"
Polly, clinging to her arm, replied with a soft smile. "Auntie, I missed you."
"Missed me, did you?" Erik’s mother teased, casting a quick glance in my direction before pulling Polly closer. "Then why don’t you visit me more often? I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about Erik and me."
Turning to me, she added with feigned innocence, "Oh, Alyce, have I properly introduced Polly? She’s my adopted daughter, Erik’s dear sister. You really shouldn’t worry about their closeness—it’s perfectly natural! In fact, there's no need to keep tabs on Erik when he goes out. Don’t you trust Erik?"
She stood before me, a subtle command lacing her voice. "Yes, Alyce, you’re always checking up on me. It makes me feel uncomfortable, you know? We’re all decent people here; none of us are dragging Erik into trouble."
Colin Allen, one of Erik’s closest friends and an ardent supporter of his "perfect match" with Polly, chimed in smugly, "Besides, we’re just getting our company off the ground. Long nights are part of the deal, right? Polly even ended up in the hospital after drinking with a client! And if those two ever had feelings for each other, they would’ve been together ages ago. No need to worry, Alyce."
My eyes narrowed. What company? What start-up?
Wasn't Erik doing well in his stable job? Since when was he part of a "start-up"?
Realizing he’d said too much, Colin instantly fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances with the others as the room went quiet.
The meal felt flavorless, and a heavy silence settled over the table after the earlier confrontation.
Once we finished eating, the rain began to pour outside. Erik approached me cautiously. “Alyce, it’s not safe for Polly to go home alone. Why don’t you stay here with Mom for a bit? I’ll drop her off and come back for you.”
I nodded, watching him intently. He hesitated, as if searching for the right words, but ultimately he just squeezed my hand before letting go and escorting Polly out.
As they walked away, I turned on my phone and ordered a ride home, ignoring Erik’s mother’s insistence for me to stay. The rain poured down around me, and I felt utterly exposed and embarrassed.