Chapter 10
Mia
I’m surprised that I’m having fun.
Things between me and Killian have been so hot and cold, and I truly never know what version of him it is that I’m going to get. He has moments where he softens towards me, but he flips the switch so quickly it almost gives me whiplash.
I look over at him now, laughing and playing pool with his high school friends, and he looks so much lighter than I’ve seen him. It’s nice. I like his smile, I like hearing his laugh. It loosens something tight inside of my chest, which honestly worries me.
I can’t fall for Killian again. He literally hates me.
“You love him,” Taylor says now, looking at me.
She’s Hunter’s wife – the guy we met at the Italian restaurant. I didn’t realize she was watching me, and I feel a blush creep across my cheeks.
I remember that we’re engaged, and I nod.
“I do,” I reply, swallowing nervously.
I can’t stop playing with the ring on my finger.
I don’t know why I didn’t anticipate it coming, since I am Killian’s fake fiancée, after all.
But when Killian slipped it onto my finger earlier, I felt something flare inside of me.
Happiness? Excitement? Honestly, I’m not sure.
I keep reminding myself that it’s not real.
“I’m so glad,” she says, smiling at me. “He’s such a good guy. He deserves a good one.”
I take a sip of my beer, giving her a look.
“I’m a good one?”
She laughs loudly. “You’re a good one. Trust me, my intuition is never wrong.”
For a moment, I let myself pretend that this is real. That I’m sitting here, meeting my fiancée’s friends and their wives, and I’m watching my soon-to-be husband across the room, thinking how nice it is that I’m so happy and in love.
For a moment, I genuinely wish that me and Killian were real. That he didn’t loathe my existence. That he wasn’t only engaged to me out of pure convenience and maybe even a little bit of spite and revenge.
Apparently, he won, because he’s laughing now as he makes his way up to the bar. They had a rule before they started playing that the winner buys the next round of drinks.
Hunter looks over at Taylor, then at me.
“Come play!”
Taylor shakes her head adamantly. “You know I hate pool.”
“Mia?”
I contemplate it, and I pause long enough for Hunter to notice.
“Come on!”
“Go,” Taylor says, nudging me towards the pool table. “I’ll be right back; I have to call my mother-in-law and check on the kids.”
I smile at her as I make my way over to the pool table.
There are a few other guys playing, and I was introduced to them earlier in the night, but Hunter’s name is the only one that I remember.
When it’s my turn to shoot, I get into position. I’m aiming my stick at the ball when I feel someone’s hands wrap around my waist. My entire body tenses and I freeze. I know that it’s not Killian; I don’t know how I know this, but I do.
“Go on, baby,” a voice says low in my ear. “Show me what you’ve got, sugar.”
“Get off me,” I manage to grit out, but the man’s grip on me tightens. His fingers are digging into me so hard they’re probably going to leave a mark.
I don’t even see Killian, but I hear him.
“She just told you to get your fucking hands off of her,” he snarls.
The man immediately lets go of me, and I surprise myself by stepping towards Killian, who puts his arm around me.
“Sorry,” the guy says, his hands up in a gesture of defense. “I didn’t know she was your girl.”
“She has a fucking ring on her finger,” Killian snaps angrily. “Not that it matters. She said no, that should’ve been enough for you.”
He steps towards the man, his fist clenched.
I tug on his arm, stopping him.
“Please don’t,” I whisper.
He turns to face me, his gaze softening as he looks at me.
“You’re so lucky she’s here,” he growls at the man who’s backing away slowly. “Otherwise, I would’ve beaten your ass. Get the fuck out of here.”
He takes off, and Killian looks me over, examining me.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I nod.
He nods, too, then he looks at his friends.
“We’re leaving,” he says.
“Don’t let that prick ruin your night,” Hunter replies, shaking his head.
Killian ignores him. He slips his hand into mine, and then he’s practically pulling me out of the bar.
“I didn’t say bye to Taylor,” I protest, but he ignores me.
We get to his car, and he opens the car door for me, and then he buckles me inside. Once he’s in the driver’s seat, he finally looks over at me.
“It took every ounce of strength I had tonight to not murder that man,” he says. His voice sounds absolutely lethal, and I blink at him in dismay.
I thought he was acting back in the bar. It takes me a moment to realize that this isn’t an act.
“Killian, it’s okay,” I say quietly, gently reaching out and putting my hand on his arm.
“No, it’s not,” he says, shaking his head. “He had no right to put his hands on you. What would have happened if I wasn’t there?”
“I would’ve taken care of it,” I say carefully, and he looks at me.
“He had a foot on you, Mia,” he says quietly. “And fuck Hunter, too. He did nothing while that creep put his hands on you.”
He’s not wrong. It all happened very fast, but Hunter was standing right there. He made no move to help me.
Killian starts the car and backs out of the lot.
“I’m sorry,” he says to me now, and I stare at him incredulously.
“Why? It wasn’t your fault.”
“I shouldn’t have left you alone,” he replies, shaking his head angrily. “I know better.”
“Killian, it’s fine.”
“Stop saying it’s fine,” he practically growls at me. “It’s not.”
I don’t know what to say to that. I feel like I might cry, and I turn my gaze away from him, looking out the window.
I feel more confused than ever, and I lean my head back on the seat, closing my eyes.
Killian’s mixed signals are too much for me, and I feel like I’m spinning.
As we drive back to the estate, I can’t help but wonder if my heart is going to be broken again. I’m trying so hard not to let him in again, to not fall for him again, but it’s a battle that I’m clearly losing.
I think Killian Savage could ruin me, and the saddest part of it all is that I’d let him.