Returning home, Valerie threw her heels aside and pulled Greg to sit on the sofa, while she went into the kitchen and returned soon enough with a first aid kit.
As she tended his bruises and cuts, she began. "Why did you get into a fight with him?"
Of course, she didn't believe that story he cooked up earlier. She didn't want to call him out in the presence of James, so she played along.
Greg wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in. His head settled on her stomach, interrupting her process of tending his face.
"He begged for a beating and I couldn't resist."
Valerie's gaze narrowed. Pulling him by the hair, she pushed his face away from her stomach and pressed the antiseptic cotton harder against his scraped cheek.
Greg winced, more from the sting of the antiseptic than the pressure of her grip. He could feel she was being deliberate. Was she angry? He took in her expression, as he thought she was really annoyed.
