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“That’s what I’m saying,” I mumble to myself, snapping the front door closed.
Dare floats his hand up to her neck. “I know, baby. But look at the guy. He can’t even stand up straight.”
“That would be Cassia’s fault,” Mace says, pivoting and stiffly walking to the kitchen. “Who wants a drink?”
The inside perimeter of the library is lined with shelves full of books. There’s way too much non-fiction for my liking, but unlike my future, that can be remedied. Rose and I are tucked away on a plush leather couch, far away from whatever conversation the guys are having on the other side of the room. Mace clutches a bag of ice to his nuts.
Good. I hope they fall off.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Rose asks when I’m done telling her everything.
I sigh into my second glass of wine. “I’m managing.” Shrugging, I take a sip and set the glass on the side table. “I’m pissed at Ian, but mostly mad at myself because I knew better. I shouldn’t have helped him. He was so scared, though, you know?”
Ian hasn’t responded to my latest round of texts.
Rose nods. “You have a heart. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Look at where it’s gotten me,” I grumble, dropping myhead onto the cushion behind me. “Cassia fucking Astor? What kind of last name is that, anyway?”
“It’s the worst,” Rose murmurs. “Maybe he’ll take your name instead.”
I roll my neck and let out a humorless laugh. “We both know that won’t happen.” Mace is an Astor. That name holds power.
She grimaces and sips at her wine. “So, the marriage?—”
“Don’t remind me.”
“Too late. It’s not the worst thing that could have happened, right?”
I blink. “Witnessing a murder, being threatened with death, and unceremoniously engaged to a guy I’m considering setting on fire isn’t the worst that could have happened?”
Rose wrinkles her nose. “Okay, well, when you put it like that, it sounds bad?—”
“Because it is,” I cut in. I appreciate her attempted pep talk, anyway.
“BUT,” she continues, “at least Mace is nice. He’s a good guy—well, forced marriage aside, he’s a good guy.”
I recall those shadowed secrets in his eyes no one else seems to notice. “I don’t know about that.”
“Okay. But what about hate sex? Weren’t you the one who told me that it was amazing? Now look at me!”
I do, taking in the genuine grin on her face. She fell in love hard, and so did Dare. They’re meant for one another. They started off as enemies, too, probably hated each other more than I hate Mace, but what are the chances of that type of relationship happening again? Slim to none.
Mace is from a different world.
I don’t know how to let people in.
The best I can hope for is avoiding a lifetimeof fighting, and so far, the outlook isn’t promising. And if that’s not depressing, I’m not sure what is. Picking up my wine, I gulp the rest down and stand up, offering Rose my hand. “I need more wine for your pep talks to work.”
She slips her hand into mine. “I’m sorry I’m not good at this.”
“Well, what changed with you and Dare? Like, what made you stop hating him?”
“He helped me find myself. He reached through the haze that was surrounding me and dragged me into the light, kicking and screaming. He fought for me, even when I didn’t understand why.”
Ugh. It sounds so dementedly romantic. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
She gives me a devious grin. “The sexdefinitelyhelped.”