Chapter 39 : Understanding

**Mateo "Okay," I said, indicating for Lucia to enter the bedroom. She didn't. "Lucia?" I asked, beginning to stand. Lucia waved me back down. She looked at the floor, biting her lip. "I… I guess I'm a little pissed off at you." "Okay," I said again, feeling my temples begin to throb. Was there anyone who wasn't pissed off at me today? "How can I help? Do you… need a hug?" Lucia snorted. "Don't even try it." Her words hurt. When she was a child, a hug would have healed everything. Now, I couldn't even touch her. "Alright, I won't." Lucia was quiet a long time, then she finally bit out, "I guess I'm pissed off at you about a lot of things." "I understand," I replied. "I—" "Stop saying that! I already told you, you couldn't possibly understand!" Lucia barked. I mentally counted backwards from twenty. "I just meant I understand you are pissed off at me, and I understand why you would be. And I'm sorry we haven't worked that out yet. But I do have to go soon, and I th