“That whole possessive man routine? It didn’t start untilafterVegas, right?”
“Right...”
“And he freaked out when he thought you were going out in a slutty dress to meet up with other guys?”
I hesitate, then nod. “Yeah… So?”
“So, the guy is jealous!”
“Are you crazy? Why would Kieran be jealous? He made itveryclear to Ronan that I was just a means to an end.”
Lucy sighs. “Riley… Have you ever considered the fact that Kieran was just trying to keep his brother off his back?”
“No, but?—”
“But that could explain the caveman behavior.”
“Or he just didn’t want me to blow our cover.”
“Oh, yeah, I guess.”
“Regardless of whether or not he was lying to Ronan, that only makes his behavior last night even more confusing. You can’t treat someone like they’re disposable and then act pissed when they don’t sit around waiting for you.”
“Some guys are just like that. They don’t want the donut, but God forbid anyone else licks it.”
“Did you just compare me to a baked good?”
“An extremely hot, off-limits baked good.”
I roll my eyes but smile. “You’re the worst.”
“Yet, you keep me around anyway.” She winks. “So, there’s no chance of us even meeting up for a coffee?”
“I don’t know. But I can ask.”
“Does it make me a bad feminist if I think it’s kind of hot that you have to ask Kieran for permission to leave the house?”
I laugh. “Now that finals are done, maybe you should direct all your energy into finding a good therapist.”
It’s nearing nine in the morning by the time I end the call with Lucy and emerge from my room.
Kieran came upstairs to bed last night, and I was half-hoping that he would knock on my door and offer me an apology, but of course he didn’t.
So, once again, we’re back to avoiding each other.
After making myself a coffee, I take a seat at the kitchen island and wait for Kieran to show his face.
My right hand automatically goes to fiddle with my ring, and I frown when I find it missing.
I had completely forgotten that I had taken it off last night. It’s still sitting at the bottom of my underwear drawer, and I told myself I would put it on when I got home, but after the fight we had last night, I want to wear it even less.
I don’t need another reminder of how I let myself get too close to someone who clearly never cared for me in the first place.
I also took it off because I wanted Kieran to notice. I wanted it to sting the way his words did when I heard them.
My coffee mug is almost empty by the time Kieran appears at the bottom of the stairs, barefoot and wearing a pair of black slacks and a shirt that is half-unbuttoned as if he just threw it on. His hair is messy and damp from the shower and is starting to curl in that way that I secretly love.
I hate that he looks good. This would hurt so much less if he didn’t look like he just walked off the set of a cologne advert.
