‘Not on my account, mate. I’ve seen it before. Might even have some pictures somewhere.’ Shane ends this statement with a smile three parts sneer, the absolute shit. ‘And who the fuck are you?’
Our awkward party of three watches Kai’s finger as it glides across my bare collarbone, drawing down the small distance between bone and breast. His finger comes to rest at the edge of the sheet, where he rubs it between forefinger and thumb. I’ve barely the opportunity to suppress the resulting shiver when Kai opens his mouth and spoils the effect, his tone derisive—a cut-glass contemptuous drawl.
‘Do I really need to spell it out? If you were any closer, you’d undoubtedly smell me on her skin.’
I’m aware my mouth is open, probably flapping like a landed fish, instantly reminded of the conversation that forced me to open the door wearing this bloody sheet in the first place.
‘You... you... just... stay out of this,’ I grate out, anger shimmering across my skin as I try to pull away as his arm bands across me, locking me in.
‘I get it.’ My head snaps back at Shane’s at his contrite tone. He slides a hand roughly through his dark-blond hair, his gaze now on his shoes as they worry the edge of the welcome mat.Ironic, or what?‘He’s a revenge fuck. Didn’t take you long though, babe.’
If I’m a fish out of water then he’s a bottom feeder. A crud-sucking leech.
‘How the fuck dare you!Youscrewed a stripper! In our new home!’
Tears prick like glass in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks. I dash them away with the back of my hand, determined not to sob, to not be that girl. To not give him the satisfaction.
‘I’m so sorry—I got caught up in it all, it was a huge mistake!’ Excuses continue to fall from his mouth as he holds out placating hands. ‘Iamso soverysorry, babe. I was an arsehole—I get that. I told myself what happens on a buck’s night—’
‘Stained my sofa!’ I yell, feeling like this is an important point to make, for some reason. Maybe I’m mourning the loss of my corner suite as well. ‘And your buck’s night was the week before, you prick.’
With this, at least, he has the sense to look contrite. ‘I know. That’s what I was trying to say. I panicked, got cold feet. Screwed up! The thought of only ever being with you...’ Horror swims through his eyes as he pleads again. ‘Katie, I need you to give me a second chance. I’m sorry—’
‘Sorry you got caught, more like. Just... just leave.’ I clench my fists by my sides, determined not to lash out further, despite my right fist tingling with the desire to meet his square chin.
‘What happened to for better or for worse?’
And I laugh. One hand on my chest. A deep laugh that sounds like it’s been dragged from the depths of my toes.
Really? I don’t remember him being that dumb.
‘We didn’t get that far before you got caught with your dick hanging out. Guess who caught the worse end of that?’
I don’t want to hear his bullshit, don’t want to relive the whole ordeal, that’s why I left.Poor Kate cheated on by her fiancé. Poor Kate couldn’t keep her man.
Shane smiles back at me, uncertainly. Or it could be wind. Looks painful enough.
‘But, babe—’
I hold up a hand, the other reaching for the door handle. ‘Don’t. I mean it; you’ve got nothing I want to hear.’
‘—I came all this way for you. For us.’ His tone is so sorrowful, his words would convince most. But then again he’s proved himself to be a pretty adept liar in the past.Fool that I am.
‘On your way to that conference? Gee, I feelsospecial.’ Maybe he thinks I’ve forgotten he’s due in the UK this week for work. He hasn’t flown all this way to see me. He’s just stopped off on the way.
‘No, I came early,’ he adds hurriedly. ‘Rearranged the whole thing. I needed to see you, Katie. We need to talk.’
I spin back on my heel. ‘That was the whole point of me leaving. I never wanted to set eyes on you again.’
‘Babe, you don’t mean that.’ His hand reaches out and before I know it’s happened, I find myself behind Kai, his fingers tight on my wrist as he tucks me close.
‘You heard her. She’d like you tofuck off.’
His voice is murderously low, the muscles of his bare back, coiled and tense, shift like a current under my hand.
‘What you gonna do about it, pretty boy?’
I’d give Shane points for bravado if he wasn’t seriously pissing me off.
