Chapter Twenty-Four
KILLIAN
M y heart pounded as Max pulled up to Trissa’s apartment building. After our surprisingly intimate sleepover, I’d made it a point to keep texting, and used impromptu gift-giving as my main source of contact. Especially since Peter had kept Tris busy the past three weeks and we’d only been able to grab a quick lunch every so often.
Yet strangely enough, I realized that the familiar, hollow ache that had often settled in my chest over the years, had eased a little now that I focused my attention on our pseudo-relationship—and on her specifically.
My phone dinged with an incoming text message. It was Judd. He’d been checking in fairly regularly to let me know they still hadn’t found Nikol Petrosian and to watch my back just in case he’d figured out I was involved with the DEA. I knew he felt guilty bringing me into all this. I’d reminded him several times I’d known the risk.
JUDD
Checking in with you.
KILLIAN
Any word on Petrosian?
JUDD
Not yet. No movement on your end, right?
KILLIAN
Nothing. Got to go. Heading out with Tris.
The moment she stepped out, time froze as I took her in. That stunning burgundy dress from the night Lexi came to my penthouse hugged every curve, flowing from her waist to her knees. She made my throat go dry.
I stepped out of the car to open the door for her. “Wow,” I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. “You look … gorgeous.” Her cheeks flushed.
“Thanks, Killian. This dress … it’s beautiful. I still can’t believe you bought me all of those clothes.”
I tried to play it cool. She couldn’t suspect that she only had to ask and I’d do anything for her. “What’re friends for?”
Even if I had to force that f-word out of my throat over and over, I’d continue to say it. Friends . She couldn’t know what was really in my heart. It was bad enough I was setting myself up for utter devastation. Logic told me history would repeat itself.
The drive to the club was filled with charged silence. I snuck glances at her, and each time forcefully dragged my eyes back to the window. The moments when I caught her looking my way only to turn away as soon as we made eye contact tugged at my heart.
Too long into the drive, I’d had enough of the silence. “How’s your week going so far?” I asked.
“Good. Peter’s sort of cooperating.” She gave me a hesitant smile, as if she hated to bring up Peter.
That was new.
I thought back to our text exchanges. When we texted and talked on the phone, I realized her few mentions of him didn’t twist my gut as bad as it used to. “Guess you better go along with that for as long as you can.” Even my sarcasm wasn’t as caustic now. I really was mellowing.
Tink laughed, a radiant sound, that I loved hearing. “I know, right? I’m sorry for blowing you off so much these past few weeks.”
“I get it.” I’d been busy, too. Although, not enough that I didn’t stop having recurring fantasies about storming over to wherever she was, throwing her over my shoulder, and carrying her out. “I figured a good boyfriend would make sure his girl had constant reminders of him if they weren’t together all the time.” After the disastrous delivery, I cleared with her how and when I sent items that made me think of her.
I’d gotten the impression that Peter wasn’t thrilled with my constant stream of gifts. Which should have made me fucking elated, but the victory in pissing off Peter after that first gift paled in comparison at how that move had tainted Tris’s enjoyment of something I knew she’d love.
Tris laid a hand on my knee, angling her body closer. I stirred, my dick stiffening at her light touch. “You know you’re not really my boyfriend. You don’t have to keep buying me things,” she teased.
I placed my hand over hers and intertwined our fingers, acutely aware of how easily our hands fit together. “I didn’t have to. I wanted to.”
Her cheeks flushed pink once again. I decided it was my new favorite color. “Killian. I loved all of it, and especially the books, and this exquisite necklace, but really, you can dial it back.”
“Why?” I had the money, and even though she broke my heart all those years ago, Tris still deserved to know what she should expect from the right guy.
Her gaze never left mine. It was like she was looking for something.
“Well … We’re not … You and I … ” She stumbled over her words. “We’re not real. You shouldn’t spend money on me as if we were.”
“Then clearly this lesson hasn’t gotten through to you.”
Her brow furrowed. “What lesson?”
I brought her hand to my mouth and lightly kissed her knuckles before placing our hands on my knee. Apparently, I enjoyed torturing myself. “You should expect this from whoever you’re dating.” When she opened her mouth for what I assumed was a protest, I cut her off. “Real or fake. Until you figure out what you’re worth and how the guy you’re with should be treating you, the gifts continue.” I didn’t dare let her know that I’d made that up on the spot. I bought her those things because I loved seeing her face light up when she sent me videos of her enjoying them and when she called or texted to thank me. It was more than a dopamine hit. I truly enjoyed making her happy.
And I wished I could do it forever.
She rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
I grinned. “Mm-hmm, and I’ve decided our next date should be you reading me your favorite scenes in one of your new books.” I was pretty sure at this point I’d gifted her all the books that had been in her cart. Out of curiosity, when I was torturing myself thinking about her, I’d bought my own copies to read.
I hadn’t realized how steamy they were. I’d taken myself in hand more times than I could count as I read some of the scenes.
“Killian,” she admonished me, a sexy laugh following it. She lightly bit down on her lip and regarded me under her lowered lashes before laying her head on my shoulder, effectively hiding her face from me. She had to be thinking about the same chapters I was and I delighted in her bashfulness.
My low chuckle rumbled against her ear. “Are you getting shy on me, Tink?”
“No.” She and I both knew she was a mix of innocence and fire. “Besides, I highly doubt most of the things in the books happen in real life.”
“Is that right?” Her head snapped up at the challenge in my tone.
She may not have realized it, but I took her surprise as a dare. I wondered how I could get her to let me do something about it. If she ever gave me the chance to prove her wrong, I’d be sure to show her just how those actions did and could happen.
Now that I was thinking about what I could do with my tongue and fingers to make her scream, my dick decided he should get in on this. I forced myself to think about Beethoven’s 5th symphony, picturing its intricate rhythm and dynamic shifts to distract my mind from the thoughts that were causing a very physical reaction.
Maybe I should brush up on all the classics if I was going to need to use this as my defense against my attraction to Tris.
As we pulled up to the small, nondescript building in downtown Providence, Trissa gasped. “Wait, is this?—?”
I grinned. “Yep. The old Sonic Cellar. I call it ‘The Comeback’ now.”
“Oh, my God.” A beautiful smile lit up her face. “This was my absolute favorite place to watch you and Peter play. The atmosphere here was so much fun. The bar used to play ‘Closing Time’ when we had to leave.”
Something dark twisted in me at her mention of Peter.
So much for being over that. “Yeah, it was one of my favorites too,” I muttered, then cleared my throat. “I bought the place a few years back when it went up for sale.”
Trissa turned to me, her eyebrows so high they disappeared beneath her bangs. “Shut up! Why?”
I averted my gaze, suddenly feeling exposed and wondering why I felt the need to share that piece of information. “I don’t know. Nostalgia? I guess because they used to let us play here when we were starting out.”
Shit.
My brain shorted and I almost asked Tris if she heard the ringing in her ears too, but when she didn’t flinch, I realized it was just me.
How had I not figured out that there was more to why I purchased this club? Some part of me had to have remembered how much Tris loved the place. How happy she was when she watched us perform.
Fuck it all.
“Do you still play here?” she asked.
She had to repeat her question twice.
“Sometimes. Owning the place has privileges and we keep the guest list small any time I play or decide to show up. I hire extra bouncers and keep capacity at a minimum,” I said, knowing I didn’t hide my distraction well.
“You okay?” Her worried gaze shifted up and down my body.
“Never better,” I lied.
Max dropped us off, and Tris waved goodbye to him as I placed my hand at the small of her back. “Does he ever come in with you?”
“Sometimes.” Max did what he wanted when there was extra security at the club, like tonight.
“Mr. Hook,” the bouncer, Tuck, greeted me as he pulled the door open for us.
With a chin nod to him, I swept Trissa inside. The familiar scents of stale beer and decades-old cigarette smoke hit me with a tidal wave of memories. I had toyed with the idea of doing a complete overhaul of this place, but something had held me back. Maybe it was a subconscious wanting to let Tris see it one last time in its old, tired state.
Luke, Archer, and Jack were already at a table. A bucket of beers served as a centerpiece. We’d all hung out here back then, too. At the time, it was easy to get in and the drinks were cheap.
“Trissa, great to see you.” Luke stood up and gave her a hug. He was a professional actor so at least he sounded convincing but I knew better.
“Great to see you, too. Any big acting gigs in the works?” she asked, squeezing him back.
“Actually, yeah,” he replied. “I just signed on to Lincoln Erickson’s new project.” His hand still lingered on her arm.
“Oh, how wonderful! I just met his wife, Harper. She’s in the book club I joined.” Tris beamed at him.
That was enough of that.
Possession hit me hard. I wanted to deck my old friend. He must have sensed it because he quickly backed up. I knew Luke wouldn’t do anything, but right now his natural charm and pretty boy good looks that made fans drool were pissing me off.
I’d warned all of them to be cool or we’d have problems. Jack would be my biggest issue, followed by Archer.
Not Luke.
“Funny, after all this time how you pop up again, Tris.” Jack scowled, his brown eyes hard and unforgiving. His large physique was intimidating on a good day, and I didn’t like how he forced himself into Tris’s space. She wasn’t an opposing player he was trying to wrangle a puck from. I understood that hockey players were some of the most loyal friends on and off the ice, and that he was trying to look out for my best interests, but it was a bit too much.
She stiffened beside me, surprised at his reaction. I wrapped my arm around her waist, silencing Jack with my glare. “Play nice,” I warned.
Jack grunted a response that was neither affirmative or negative. But at least he sat down.
Archer seemed to be taking his cue from Jack, but in the opposite way. He pretty much ignored her. “Hey.” His brown gaze barely registered our arrival before he went back to drinking his beer.
There were days I both loved and hated that Jack and Archer were so close.
Tris gave him a strained smile. “Hey.”
I tugged her into the seat next to me and murmured, “You okay?”
“Of course.” She swallowed hard and turned her attention to the front of the room where the first act was taking the stage.
While we watched the up-and-coming band play, the next hour was a strange mix of nostalgia and tension. The guys were civil enough to Tris, but I felt a clear underlying current of resentment. And if her tight shoulders were any indication, so did she.
They’d been there for me to pick up the pieces after I left. Not that she knew this.
My manager approached. A look of concern crossed his features. “Mr. Hook. I’m so sorry to bother you. We need you in back. The wrong shipment arrived and our distributor is giving us the runaround.”
“I’ll be right there.” I apologized to Tris and gave each of my friends a stern look. “Be nice.”
“It’ll be fine,” Tris reassured me, although the way she didn’t meet my eyes told another story.
I hated leaving her, but didn’t have a choice. If I couldn’t trust my childhood friends with her, they’d regret it by the time I was done with them.