Page 14

Finally, Trissa pulled away, her eyes soft. “I’ve missed that. I’ve missed your hugs. I’ve missed you, Killian.”
Her innocent comment tore at me. I hated and loved hearing she missed me. The feelings I’d buried deep inside my heart tried to peek out from the darkness they had resided in since the day I walked away from her and didn’t look back.
She rested her hands on my chest. With her low heels on she was only a few inches shorter than my six foot three frame. “I’m okay.”
I pressed my lips into a hard line, wishing Peter were in front of me so I could punch him like he deserved.
“Really,” she insisted. “He didn’t mean anything by it. Thank you for worrying about me though.”
I gritted my teeth together. It wasn’t up to me to burst the bubble she wore, deflecting all of Peter’s asshole decisions.
She patted my pecs, and I fought the urge to cup her hand and hold it there. “It’s really good to see you, Killian. I hate that we just stopped talking to each other.”
My head jerked back. That’s what she thought happened? I’d walked away to preserve what was left of my sanity. She’d chosen Peter one time too many times and I couldn’t stand there and watch it happen for the rest of our lives. Maybe a part of me thought she’d come after me. That she would refuse to let our friendship die.
“Everything okay?” she asked, a furrow formed between her brow.
“Yeah, of course.” The words I wanted to say stuck in my throat.
“Okay.” She stepped back not looking convinced and stumbled.
As I set her on her feet laughter bubbled out of her. “This is why I barely wear heels.”
A warmth filled me at her laughter, a sound I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed.
Trissa’s eyes darted toward the entrance. “I should probably?—”
“You should probably tell me what’s happening with you and Peter.” The words came out demanding, and I had no intention of softening my request, or even knew why I asked. It wasn’t my business.
Her eyes narrowed. “What is going on with you?”
“Tink.” Her name came out as a plea, heavy with unspoken words and regrets.
Her shoulders slumped. “Nothing. Unfortunately, nothing. I’ve loved him for years, Killian. Ever since we were kids… After all this time, I thought that if I stuck by him, he would eventually see me as more than his assistant or childhood friend.”
A sharp pang hit me in my abdomen. I’d always known this, but it still hurt to hear it out loud.
I drew in a sharp breath, determined to be her friend, even if it was just for this moment. “But he doesn’t, does he?” I asked.
She shook her head, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “No.”
“You’ve always been too good for him, Tink.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Reminiscent of all the times I told her this.
She sighed, her gaze fixating on a painting behind me. I could practically see the gears in her head turning as she thought over her next words. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” Little did she know I could deny her nothing. It had been the purest form of hell for me to walk away from her that day.
“Do you think that I might have the smallest chance with Peter? If I try a little harder, maybe change myself, would he finally see me?”
My stomach clenched into a hard knot, acid churning uncomfortably. Despite everything and the evidence to the contrary staring her in the face, she still held out hope for a future with Peter.
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her no, to make her see she deserved so much better than Peter. But looking at that tiny thread of hope in her beautiful blue eyes, as much as I wanted to disagree, I couldn’t dash her dreams.
“Tris. Is that what you really want? Is pining for Peter making you happy?” I asked, not disguising the bitterness in my tone.
She bit her lip, a gesture so familiar it made my heart ache. “I think so. He’s been a part of my life for so long, and I’ve had these feelings for just as long. It’s hard to envision my future without him in it.”
I took a step back, her words like a million tiny nicks slicing my heart into a bloody mess. A heart I’d hardened over the years, and now with an innocent, unintentionally hurtful sentence, it lay open and bleeding. The spiteful retort skated through my mind,she’d been able to see a future without me in it just fine.