“But their relationship must have had its problems even before I came into the picture,” I mused. “Why else would she cheat on her husband?”
Molly’s eyes widened. “You were…”
“A product of her infidelity? Yes.” I swiped my hand down my chest. “And they never let me forget it. Mikhail once said all of my behavioral problems at school were because I was born rotten to the core. Said I had the worst of my mother in me, and the worst of my father, and that I would do everyone a favor if I just killed myself.” My throat burned. I’d never repeated his words aloud to anyone before. “I don’t know why I’m telling you—”
Arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a painfully tight embrace. “I’m so sorry, Kaz. It sounds awful. You’re better off without them in your life.”
“I know that,” I said, my lips brushing her shoulder. “We’ve had half the world between us for years. She sent me away to a boarding school when I was fourteen. I should have forgotten about them by now. It’s funny, isn’t it? I’ve avoided nearly everyone who could possibly hurt me, but I’m still hanging on to the one who hurt me most.”
It must be the half bottle of vodka in my veins, because I was laying it all out for her to see. Her eyes shone with tears on my behalf, as if she really cared about me.
“I should have avoided you too,” I said as I tucked a strand of pink-tipped hair behind her ear. “But maybe some fucked-up part of me enjoys the pain. Maybe it’s what I deserve.”
A tear slid down her cheek. “It’s not. No one deserves to feel unwanted by their family.”
“They made me angry,” I said, trailing my fingertips down the wet path of her tear across her cheek. “So fucking angry. Making music has always been the only cure for it.” I wrapped my arm around her slim waist and tugged her into my chest. Fuck, it felt good to have her here. She was so warm and comforting. I wanted to lose myself in her, to make her moan my name and forget all about this day.
My hand crept up her ribcage to palm her breast. She sucked in a ragged breath, sending a rush of blood straight to my cock.
“Kaz! Look, I know you said you needed space, but it’s been a few hours, and I’m worried, man.”
We pulled apart, straining our ears to hear Mason’s voice as it streamed from somewhere inside the house. Molly wiped away the residual wetness under her eyes, smoothed her hands over her dress, and put a few inches between us.
A moment later, Mason burst onto the deck. “There you are. Jesus, I got worried when I didn’t see you inside.” He became aware of Molly. “Oh.”
“Hey.” She cleared her throat and pointed at the vodka bottle beside her. “I think we’re done with that.”
Mason nodded, flicking his gaze between the two of us.
When I tried to get up, my head began to spin.
“Whoa, hold on there.” Molly slid her arm around my waist, somehow managing to steady me despite being at least a head shorter. “Let’s get you back inside.”
“You don’t need to stay. Mase is here,” I said, unable to resist pressing my nose into her hair. Lilacs. She smelled like flowers.
“I can take care of him,” Mase added, coming up on my other side. “You okay to walk?”
“I’m fine,” I said roughly, embarrassed that Mase was acting as if I were incapacitated. “Just got a bit dizzy.”
“Not much of a drinker, are you?” Molly asked as she and Mase walked me to the living room.
“Last time he got like this, he nursed a two-day hangover.”
I shot him a glare. Or at least I tried, but his attention was on Molly.
“Well, we can’t have that. You two got a big week ahead.”
They got me to the couch, where I immediately lay down on my back. My stomach roiled. “Can you get me that water?”
Molly padded away to the kitchen, while Mase got down on his haunches beside me. “You okay?”
“Fine.” I slung my forearm over my eyes. “I’ll sober up in a few hours.”
“I’ll keep you company.”
“Wewill keep him company,” Molly announced, handing me a glass and helping me sit up. “Drink this, and then I’ll make you something to eat.”
I chugged the entire glass of water, suddenly eager to get out of this altered state. It had made me spill my guts out to the woman I really didn’t want to push away.
