“Fabulous,” I toss my silverware aside. “So, what’s going on? Why is everyone acting weird?”
“Care to fess up?” Ivan asks Kaden. “She deserves to know.”
“Know what?” I whisper, focusing all of my attention on the man I love. “Are youhidingsomething from me?”
Kaden slams his hands on the table, rising quickly. “Dinner is over. Get the fuck out.”
“Kaden—”
He cuts me off with a cruel expression that makes me gasp. I’ve never been on the receiving end of his anger. It’s an unspoken rule that he’s followed since we were kids.
“We’ve overstayed our welcome,” Ivan sighs, rising. “Walk us out, Melody?”
“Sure,” I mumble, pushing my chair out.
“Stay,“ Kaden whispers as his fist clenches beside his plate.
I ignore him, my face screwing up as I follow Ivan and Saint to the foyer. I open the door for them, muttering a goodbye before Ivan takes my hand and slips some paper into my palm.
“Be there at midnight,” he whispers before making his exit.
There’s a beat of silence as I unfold the note. An address is scribbled messily across it, and I tuck it into my pocket before rejoining Kaden.
I don’t sit as I place my hands on my hips. “What was all of that about?”
I’m giving him a chance to explain himself. I trust him. He’ll do the right thing.
He runs a hand across his mouth before pulling the chair beside him closer. He pats the seat for me, and I pad over before easing down. Our knees bump, but he can’t even look at me.
“There’s something I need to tell you…” He trails heavily.
I take his hand hesitantly, expecting him to pull back again. He doesn’t as he intertwines our fingers tightly and takes a deep breath. He finally glances at me, something I’ve never seen before swirling in his eyes.
Fear.
He’s afraid…
“Umm…” He shakes his head, looking away. “Fuck, I can’t even say it.”
“Kaden,” I whisper softly, chasing his eyes. “You can tell me anything. You know this.”
His gaze snaps to mine, his eyes rounded and desperate. “I can’t disappoint you. It physically hurts—”
“Hey,” I coo gently, cupping his cheek. “You won’t disappoint me. Is this about your business with Ivan?”
At first, there’s a jolt in him, as if I’ve gotten too close to the truth. It’s a quick scrambling of his brain, a slip decision that I watch in real time before I see the shift in his being. His features smooth out, panic easing into resignation as he sighs. “Yeah. I just don’t want this to go wrong.”
He’s lying.
Kaden is lying to me.
I don’t know how I know, but it settles like steel in my stomach—weighing me down as the truth sits somewhere I can’t reach.
Why would he lie?
I release his hand, sitting back in my chair as the note burns a hole in my pocket. It’s hard, but I plaster on a wobbly smile that feels forced and sterile. “Let’s get some sleep. Tonight was a lot.”
He swallows before leaning forward, his lips graze mine, and I have to physically stop myself from pulling away. Our kiss is quick, tasting of something that resembles an unspoken goodbye.
