“Thereisno us. You made sure of that.”
The words are sharp and deliberate, slicing through the last fragile thread that’s been holding us together.
Riley stumbles back a step like I’ve struck her, but I don’t move toward her. I don’t offer her comfort or a helping hand. I don’t offer anything.
The man who would have is gone, buried beneath layers of betrayal and anger and a lifetime’s worth of lessons about trust and what happens when you give it too freely.
“Kieran,please.You have to understand… I-I didn’t tell you because I was scared!” She covers her mouth with a hand to muffle her sobs.
“Don’t dress this up as fear. Youchoseto keep this from me. You decided I wasn’t part of this.”
“I was trying to protect you?—”
“From what? From the truth?” I laugh, but it’s laced with bitterness. “That’s not protection, Riley. That’s betrayal.”
I step back, needing to put some distance between us.
If I stay too close, I might say something worse.
If I stay too close, I might forgive her. And that’s something I can’t allow myself to do.
“We’ll sort out the logistics for the next appointment.”
“Logistics? Is that what this is now?” Her tone is sharper, as if some of her hurt gives way to anger.
I fish my keys from my pocket. “I’ll have Jace take you back to Ronan’s place.”
“Where are you going?”
“I need to clear my head.”
“Are you coming back?”
“Why does it matter?”
“Because…” Her face crumples as she tries to hold back her tears.
“You should get in the car.” I tuck my hands into my pockets.
Riley wipes her cheeks with the sleeve of her jumper before sliding into the back of the SUV without another word.
I stand on the curb, watching long after the car disappears into traffic. Only then do I climb into my own and drive in the opposite direction, toward my penthouse.
My hands are tight on the wheel, and my jaw aches from clenching it so hard.
Every second I spent in that clinic replays in my head on a sickening loop as I try to make sense of it all.
The heartbeat, the tears, the lies.
Especially,the lies.
By the time I park in the underground garage of my building, my body is aching from the tension radiating through my muscles.
I don’t know whether I need to hit the gym or down a bottle of whiskey. Maybe both.
As I step out of the elevator, I decide that booze is the better option. I’ve never been good at dealing with my emotions, and right now, I want nothing more than to feel numb.
I haven’t been back to the penthouse since Riley and I moved into Ronan’s estate, and being here without her feels wrong somehow.
