PROLOGUE #2
The three brothers stare at me with caution, their eyes flicking to each other and back to me as if they’re waiting for me to lash out.
Or break down.
Either one is a possibility.
I run a frustrated hand through my hair, meeting Noah’s deer-in-headlights gaze. “When?”
“When what?”
“When is she coming back?” I ask through gritted teeth.
His eyes flick around the room nervously and I swear to fucking God I might throw up all over Hunter’s not-girlfriend’s freshly painted walls. “She’s already back, man.”
Yup, I’m going to throw up.
“Fuck.” I drop my paintbrush into the pallet and take a seat on the covered sofa, trying and failing to contain my wild thoughts.
Why is she back?
Is she back for good?
Do I fucking care?
Of course you care, asshole.
“Dude, what the hell happened between you two?”
I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut. “I don’t wanna talk about it, Noah.”
“No, seriously. What happened? ‘Cause one minute you guys were happy and getting married and shit, and then she was gone, and you completely closed off. What did she do to you, man?”
I don’t know why but his words piss me off.
I don’t need him to fucking remind me of how it went down.
I fucking lived it.
I’m on my feet and glaring at him as I shout, “She left! That’s it! She left and didn’t say a fucking thing. No explanation. No warning. Nothing. She was just gone, Noah.”
And then, I turn and storm out the door.
I don’t need to ask where she is. I already know. And I only have one destination in mind as I climb into my truck and pull out of Savannahs driveway.
I make the ten-minute drive to The Dusty Boot in five.
I’ve barely got the truck in park before I’m out the door and stalking towards the entrance without thought for anything other than laying eyes on her.
I need to see her for myself.
I need her to see me.
There is nothing subtle about the way I push through the heavy wooden doors of the bar.
It’s a particularly quiet night, which only makes my entrance that much more obvious.
Every eye in the room swings in my direction, but I’m only focused on one person.
The person who has haunted my every waking moment since the last time I laid eyes on her.
Gloss covered lips part in a gasp as her chocolate-coloured eyes meet mine and I watch as her surprise quickly melts into confusion and then horror as she registers my approach.
That’s right, baby. I’m coming for you.
One thousand, two hundred and ninety-five days.
Three and a half years.
It’s been three and a half, long years since I’ve felt those eyes on me.
Once upon a time, I saw my future in those dark pools. Until she tore it all away from me.
At first, I yearned for her.
For us.
For everything we had planned out.
Now, they just make me mad.
I hear my sister mutter something under her breath but ignore her as I come to a stop beside them, my focus centred on the woman that used to be my entire world.
She looks different. Maturer. And somehow, more beautiful than the last time I saw her.
My heart cracks inside of my chest and I fight not to close my eyes as her voice reaches my ears for the first time, wrapping around me like a blanket of melancholy. “Killian. You’re here.”
It’s a statement, not a question.
Like she’s trying to convince herself that I really am here and not a figment of her imagination.
I keep my face entirely blank as I look down at her and respond. “So are you, apparently.”
My tone is cold, dripping with sarcasm, and her eyes are pleading as she blinks up at me. “Can we not do this here? Not now.”
Is she fucking serious?
I cock my head. “When should we do this, Dais? In another three years?”
I’m being an asshole.
I know I’m being an asshole.
But I can’t seem to stop.
There’s years worth of heartache, questions and rage brewing inside of me, all directed at the girl that ran away and took my fucking heart with her.
“Killian, I don’t think this is the time or place,” Bella speaks up from beside her friend and for the first time since I walked through the doors, I pull my eyes away from Daisy and train them on my traitorous little sister.
“Hmm,” I hum, nodding. “That what you told yourself when you chose not to tell me she was comin’ back? Not the time or place?”
A sarcastic smile curls my lips as I look back to Daisy. “Or did you ask her not to tell me? Figured you just sneak in for a visit and sneak out again without me finding out?”
A blonde head pops up in my periphery as Savannah, who has sat silently watching the exchange, gets to her feet. “Killian, I don’t know the story here, but I think you’ve said enough.”
I’ve said enough? Ha.
I open my mouth to tell her that I’ve not even started but another voice interjects. “Oh, hey, Killian. Want a shot?”
I look over at Savannahs best friend, Olivia, who is completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere around her, or the standoff currently taking place between me and her three friends, and then down at the tray of shots she’s carrying.
Fuck it.
I pick up one of the glasses, train my eyes back on Daisy and throw back the liquid, relishing the burn as it slides down my throat.
She doesn’t take her eyes off my face as I slam the glass against the table and walk away.