The way he looks at her. Like he owns her. Like he treasures her.
This whole time I’ve been trying to get Declan to fight for me, but I’ve made things so easy for him. I’ve handed my heart and my body to him on a platter. On his terms. For his pleasure.
Maybe this is what we need.
Maybe this is what I need.
“You must be Colin,” a drunk voice says in a thick Scottish accent. I look up to find Killian watching me as he sways in his spot. I recognize him from photos, but I’ve yet to officially meet him until this moment.
“Umm…” I clear my throat. “Yes, I am. And you’re Killian.”
“Aye,” he says before scanning the room with unfocused eyes. “Where’s my brother?”
“Upstairs,” I reply. “He didn’t want to come.”
“He never does.” Killian takes a long drink from his glass, and I swallow down my discomfort. This doesn’t feel right, talking about Declan with his brother. Being here without him. Doing something I know he doesn’t want me to do.
“He used to love parties,” I say, more to myself than to him.
“I know,” Killian replies. “And you’re the reason he’s changed so much.”
My eyes shoot wide. “Me?”
“Aye. You made him grow up. You made him boring like you.”
Glaring at him through narrowed eyes, I mutter, “Declan warned me that you could be cruel.”
He only laughs. “Good. I’m glad he warned you, but I wasn’t being cruel. I was being honest. Beforeyoucame along,” he says, jabbing me hard in the chest with his finger, “he had nothing. He was fun and wild. Then, he started carrying himself differently. Trying to be better than he was. Drinking less. Bettering himself.”
“Those are good things and not at all boring,” I argue.
“I didn’t say they weren’t good,” he says, his voice slurred. “But I’ll sure as fuck never fall in love. Sounds miserable.”
“He doesn’t love me,” I mumble to myself.
“What the bloody hell are you talking about?” he bellows. “He loves you more than anyone. For fuck’s sake, he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t.”
“Huh?” I ask, looking at him quizzically.
Killian nods his head toward the door I just walked through, and Declan stands there watching me with an angry expression. For a moment, I feel intense relief. Any room he’s in feels instantly more comfortable to me, but I won’t let myself fall back into these old patterns. Not tonight.
Instead of going to Declan, I turn back to Killian. “Pour me another, please.”
“You best get back. He looks quite cross.”
“I don’t care,” I mutter through clenched teeth. “If he wants me, he can come and get me.”
With eyebrows raised, Killian pours wine into my glass, and I quickly drink it, although it burns.
It only takes Declan a moment before he stomps toward me, latching his fingers around my arm. “Let’s go, Shakespeare.”
I pull my arm from his grip. “No. I’m having fun, and you don’t own me.”
“I’m serious, Colin.”
Spinning toward him, I press my face toward his. “So am I. Upstairs, I asked you to give me something, Declan. Anything.And you couldn’t. Maybe someone down here can. In fact, maybe making you watch me with someone else will finally give you the pressure you need to fight for me.”
I watch his molars clench. “What did I do to you?” he asks. “To make you want to break my heart?”
