Ivo watched me pack my things with a cup of tea in his hands and a look of mild interest on his face.
"Did you remember your toothbrush?"
He was acting like I was going on a short holiday. I said nothing.
I jumped when he leaned over me to help put things in my backpack.
"Relax," he laughed. "Just going for the socks."
"What are you doing?"
"Helping you pack," he said calmly.
He reached up then to touch my face and I flinched. His head tilted to one side as he appraised me. I could almost feel his hands on my neck when I looked at him. The mental image of him leaning over me as he pushed me under the water was stronger than the actual view in front of me. I swayed slightly and he caught me.
"Don't touch me," I hissed and his eyes narrowed.
He held up his hands in mock innocence and backed away from me.
"Do you need money?"
"Fuck off Ivo," I replied, pushing past him in the doorway to the hall.
"Where will you go?"
I struggled to find any sort of concern in his tone, it seemed more like amusement. I stood at the front door for a moment, wondering the same thing myself.
"I don't know."
"I meant what I said."
I turned to look at him.
"What?"
"If I can't have you then neither can she. I mean it."
I hesitated in the doorway, debating whether to follow the usual pattern of apologising and promising that I would be better behaved just for the sake of a quiet existence. I laughed to myself at that thought and left.