Now We’re Even

As I set the paella down on the table, I couldn't shake the sense of unease that settled over me like a dark cloud. Meeting Jasper's friends was one thing, but facing my past head-on was a daunting prospect—one that I wasn't sure I was ready to confront calmly.

Jasper's nervousness was palpable as he introduced me to Mike, his friend, at the table. Despite his attempts to maintain a cheerful facade, I could sense his unease, and it only served to exacerbate my own growing tension. As Mike smiled and exchanged pleasantries, I struggled to mask my frustration beneath a thin veneer of civility.

When Mike innocently remarked on the exclusivity of Lombardi's and the unusual circumstances of being there on a closed day, I couldn't resist the urge to assert my authority.

"It will be okay if I say so," I replied curtly, my tone laced with irritation. As the conversation continued, Mike's curiosity led him to inquire about my connection to the restaurant, and I let slip the truth—that I was the owner of Lombardi's. The revelation seemed to catch both Mike and Sam off guard, their eyes widening in surprise. But any semblance of civility quickly evaporated as Sam's presence triggered a surge of anger within me.

"You own Lombardi's?" Sam gasped.

"Yeah, so I don't understand why Jasper invited someone like you here," I snapped, unable to contain the disdain in my voice. The mere sight of Sam Reynolds, a reminder of a past I'd rather forget, ignited a firestorm of resentment within me, and I found myself lashing out without restraint.

Sam's sigh carried the weight of disappointment as he acknowledged the breakdown of our attempted civility. "So much for being cordial," he sighed.

"Did you really think I would be?" I retorted sharply, my words laden with contempt. The idea of feigning cordiality with Sam Reynolds was laughable, considering the animosity that simmered between us. "I think you know me better than that."

"Oh, I've only seen your ex wife glare at you like that. Did you two used to date or something?" Mike asked.

"Absolutely not," I snapped, my response dripping with disdain at the mere suggestion of any past romantic entanglement between Sam and me.

Jasper's feeble attempt to mediate the situation only served to underscore the futility of the gesture. As he turned away, retreating into his food, I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment at his lack of support.

"Is it that serious?" Mike asked.

"Didn't you agree to move on at my house?" Jasper interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension.

"Don't bother Jasper," Sam scoffed, his words laced with cynicism. "I knew Alex was the type to hold a grudge. I've got something coming."

The accusation stung, eliciting a defensive response from me. "You aren't exactly first on my list," I shot back, my voice tinged with bitterness. The memory of past grievances loomed large in my mind, a testament to the unresolved tension that lingered between us.

But Sam's next words pierced through the tension like a knife, reminding me of the lingering animosity that festered between us. "He won't drop it until he gets revenge on me. I'm honestly surprised it hasn't come yet," he added, his tone laced with nervous laughter, serving as a grim reminder of the unresolved animosity that festered between us.

"You aren't a priority," I scoffed, dismissing Sam's presence with a wave of irritation. The mere mention of his name dredged up memories I had long since buried, reminding me of past grievances I had hoped to leave behind.

"That's good to hear," Sam breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders visibly relaxing at my words. His relief was palpable, as if he had been bracing himself for a confrontation that never came.

"Yeah, let his ex-wife kill him instead," Mike interjected, his attempt at humor falling flat in the tense atmosphere of the room. His awkward chuckle served as a feeble attempt to diffuse the tension, but it only seemed to exacerbate the discomfort.

"Why does his ex-wife want to kill him?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued by the mention of yet another layer of drama in Sam's tumultuous life.

"She thinks she should've gotten more in the divorce. I didn't want to give her more after learning about her affair with your brother," Sam explained, his bitterness evident in the furrow of his brow.

"Tony slept with her after you sold me out?" I asked, incredulity coloring my tone.

"They were sleeping together longer than that. And I told you I thought I was just helping out a family member who was worried about you and your antisocial personality," Sam defended, his words laden with justification.

"Why was that your business?" I demanded, my frustration mounting as I grappled with the complexities of Sam's involvement in my past.

"Weren't we friends?" Sam countered, his voice tinged with hurt as he sought to justify his actions. Despite the bitterness that lingered between us, there was a hint of longing in his words, a desire to reclaim the camaraderie we had once shared.

"Yeah, which disproves the antisocial part of things. The reason you need to be taken down a peg is because you like to stick your nose where it doesn't belong. It explains why you became a cop though," I asserted, my voice laced with a hint of bitterness as I addressed Sam directly. The resentment I harbored towards him simmered just beneath the surface, fueling my pointed words.

"Damn," Mike muttered sympathetically, offering a consolatory pat on Sam's shoulder. His gesture of solidarity was a subtle acknowledgment of the tension that hung in the air.

"Is there any way this can be resolved?" Jasper interjected, his voice tinged with a note of desperation. He was ever the peacemaker, always seeking harmony even in the midst of conflict.

Fuck peace though.

"No," I retorted stubbornly, unwilling to entertain the notion of reconciliation in the face of past grievances.

"Geez, was I that much of an asshole that you can't even think about it?" Sam queried, his tone tinged with a mixture of frustration and incredulity. He seemed genuinely perplexed by the depth of my animosity towards him, as if struggling to reconcile the person I once knew with the one standing before him now.

"Should've thought about it before you crossed me," I replied with a sardonic smile, my words laden with the weight of unresolved resentment. The wounds of betrayal ran deep, and I had no intention of granting absolution so easily.

"There must be something," Jasper pleaded, his earnestness evident in the furrow of his brow as he sought a resolution to the conflict unfolding before him.

"Will you do anything?" I directed my question towards Sam, my gaze piercing as I awaited his response.

"If it means I'm off your list and we can be friends again," Sam acquiesced, his words tinged with a note of resignation.

"Hold out your hand," I instructed Sam, my tone devoid of any hint of remorse or hesitation. Without hesitation, Sam complied, extending his hand towards me with a sense of trepidation mingled with curiosity.

In one swift motion, I brought my fork down into his hand as hard as I could, the metal prongs sinking into his flesh with an ease that was almost concerning. The fork pierced through his skin like butter, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from Sam and causing Mike and Jasper to leap from their seats in shock.

Sam gritted his teeth behind clenched lips, his jaw tensing as he fought to suppress a scream of pain. It was a testament to his resilience that he managed to maintain his composure despite the searing agony that undoubtedly coursed through his veins.

Jasper wasted no time in springing into action, swiftly extracting the fork from Sam's hand before it could cause any further damage. With practiced efficiency, he wrapped Sam's injured hand in a napkin, applying pressure to staunch the flow of blood and provide some measure of relief.

As the adrenaline-fueled rush of the moment began to subside, a heavy silence descended upon the room, punctuated only by the muted sounds of Sam's labored breathing and the occasional clink of cutlery against porcelain. In the wake of my impulsive act, the reality of what had just transpired hung in the air, casting a pall over the already tense atmosphere of the table.

"The sink is in the back, you can wash up there," I sighed, gesturing towards the kitchen with a weary expression. "Oh, and we're cool now Sam, all is forgiven."

Jasper sprang into action, guiding Sam towards the kitchen with a sense of urgency as I remained seated, processing the events that had just unfolded. Mike, still visibly shaken by the altercation, remained by my side, his expression a mixture of concern and bewilderment.

"Was that really necessary?" Mike ventured quietly, his voice tinged with apprehension.

"He said he'd do anything," I reminded him tersely, my tone reflecting the lingering tension in the air. "You going to arrest me or something?"

"No...I don't think Sam wants to press charges," Mike replied cautiously, his gaze flickering between me and the kitchen where Jasper was tending to Sam. "Can I ask what he did to make you do that?"

"He crossed a line he shouldn't have," I replied cryptically, my words laced with an undercurrent of unresolved anger and resentment.

"That's Jasper's best friend," Mike pointed out, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"What's that got to do with me?" I retorted, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. Despite Mike's attempt at rationalizing the situation, I remained steadfast in my conviction that Sam's actions warranted retribution, regardless of his relationship with Jasper.

"I guess you are pretty antisocial. Here I was thinking that Jasper was just exaggerating," Mike murmured, his words hanging heavily in the air as he contemplated the implications of my behavior.

"It's a problem between Sam and I. It shouldn't effect you," I told Mike firmly.

"Jasper looked pretty affected by it. Just get a handle on your impulses and your anger. They're just as wild as your eyes." Mike advised.