Page 107 of Bound Lies

I chew the inside of my cheek. “Maybe. I just…I don’t know if I can handle it. What if I was right and that is how he really feels?”

“You will deal with it like you’ve done every other hardship in your life.”

“Did you ever feel like this about Ronan?”

Ciara looks up from where she’s gently rubbing her stomach in slow, absentminded circles. There’s a far-off look in her eyes, soft and thoughtful, before a small, knowing smile curves her lips.

“Oh, definitely. Ronan and I had a rocky start, that’s for sure. I mean, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of becoming a Sullivan, either. For a long time, I felt like an outsider.”

I nod slowly.

That part feels painfully familiar.

Her voice turns softer. “But, somewhere along the way, I started to care for him in a way I never had for anyone. Not in the way I expected, and not all at once, but bit by bit, he became this constant for me. A rock, when everything else in my world felt like chaos. He gave me something to hold onto when I was barely holding myself together.”

I chew on her words, glancing down at my hands. “It worked out well for you.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Riley. It wasn’t a straight path. It took a lot of work and talking to Ronan about feelings was like talking to a brick wall most days.”

I smile faintly. “That sounds familiar.”

“I bet it does. Kieran and Ronan are more alike than they want to admit. All that brooding and control and pretending they don’t feel things? It’s all just a front.”

“So, how did you do it? How did you get through to Ronan?”

“A hell of a lot of arguments, but mostly just calling him on his bullshit when he tried to push me away.”

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It was.” She chuckles. “But it was worth it. Ronan needed someone who wouldn’t let him hide behind the walls he built. Someone who wouldn’t see him as just the heir or the boss, but as a person with emotions and flaws. It just took him longer to admit it.”

I exhale, fiddling with the edge of the throw pillow beside me. “Kieran’s like that. He pushes and pulls, and I never know where I stand. And I—” I hesitate. “I just want to scream at him most of the time.”

Ciara grins. “Then scream at him. Seriously. These men grew up in a world where emotions are seen as weakness and sometimes, you have to shake the foundation a little to get through.”

My smile wavers. “What if I shake it and it all falls apart?”

Ciara tilts her head, her voice gentle. “Then it wasn’t strong enough to begin with. But from what you’ve said…there’s something real between you two. Maybe it started out as fake, but it doesn’t look fake now.”

I look up at her, my chest tight.

“You’re scared,” she adds. “That’s okay. I was, too. But if he makes you feel safe, not just physically but emotionally, you owe it to yourself to see where it goes. Talk to him, Riley. Don’t let silence decide for you.”

I nod slowly, trying to swallow the lump forming in my throat.

Ciara’s grin returns. “Besides… If he hurts you, I’ll waddle over there myself and kick his ass.”

“I would pay to watch that.” I laugh, and Ciara winks at me.

“Come on. Let’s forget about the Sullivan boys for the rest of the day. I need a distraction, and you need sugar.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Elena?” Ciara calls out. “Can you please bring us all the junk food we have? Literally all of it.”

There’s a muffled response from outside the door and five minutes later, Elena appears carrying a tray so overloaded with snacks it looks like it belongs at a birthday party for ten-year-olds. There’s everything from chips, cookies, popcorn, chocolate bars, and several types of candy.

“Elena, you’re an angel.” Ciara sighs as Elena sets down the tray on the table in front of us.