Nefretiri,
I finished telling him what my mom had said to me about my next birthday, feeling my vindication ebb quite a bit. I could use the excuse that Ivan hadn't been around enough for me to tell him, but the more I think about it, the harder it is to hold onto that excuse. I could've asked him to stay because it was necessary, but I never did. That meant I was as guilty of the same thing I'd slapped Ivan for. That made me feel like a jerk.
I'd hit him pretty hard.
"I think that means you get to slap me back," If we played eye for an eye, that's what had to happen. Not only that, it had to be in front of everyone.