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Too late.
My dick, the traitorous bastard, stood up and took notice. My eyes traced the curve of her jaw, landing on the dip where her neck met her shoulder. I clamped my teeth together, fighting the urge to run them and my tongue down her exposed skin. A flash of heat consumed me as a light sheen of sweat gathered on my brow. I clenched my hands into fists and began mentally rearranging a piano version of Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 3. It had been a while since I last played a classical piece and I hoped it would be sufficient to distract me.
“Tink … ” My voice roughened.
She giggled, having no idea the effect she was having on me. “I probably need to say something different. I think Peter would look at me like I had two heads.”
His name on her lips was the bucket of ice thrown at me I needed. “Riiiight.”
She tapped a finger against her mouth, oblivious to the turmoil rioting under my skin at her nearness. “I meet with Peter and Wendy tomorrow.” Her mouth twisted as she said Wendy’s name. “I could try this out on him then.”
“Perfect.”
Perfectly awful.Peter didn’t deserve her.
She smiled. “Thank you, Killian. I appreciate your help more than you know.”
I grit my teeth, hoping my grimace passed for a smile. “I think this is a good start.” I drained the last of my coffee. “I should go. I have to be somewhere.”
“You do?” Her lips turned down into a frown, and my fingers twitched to smooth it out. I needed to remind myself that she loved Peter. I needed to get the fuck out of here before I said or did something I’d regret. And I needed time alone to build back the wall I’d created to keep an emotional distance from Tris. It had worked when we were teenagers.
Somehow, though, I doubted it would work now.
This was supposed to be all about me purging her from my system. The second I saw her romantically involved with Peter it would be enough to shut down the way I continued to feel about her. It had to. “Sorry, Tink. I should’ve mentioned it earlier.”
“It’s okay. So we’ll talk later, then?” She slipped out of the booth to allow me to get up.
I threw a few bills on the table, realizing it was too much for two coffees in addition to what I paid the owner to have an hour of privacy. Whatever. I stepped away. “I’ll text you tonight about the next lesson.”
She laid her hand on my arm and startled when I pulled away from her. Jesus, she was going to kill me if she continued to use me as her practice dummy.
“Is … uh … Should I do any homework or practice?” she asked.
I knew my abrupt standoffishness had jarred her. The purse of her lips and the tilt of her head conveyed that to me loud and clear. “Sure. Then you can report back to me later.” With a two-finger salute, I grabbed my leather jacket and bolted for the door.
I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. Where was the suave guy persona I had adopted? How had I let a little bit of eye contact and light touch unravel me?
Chapter Fifteen
TRISSA
The familiar hum of phones and muffled conversations filled the air as I walked down the hall to one of the meeting rooms at VS Music Production. But today, it felt different.
Today, I had a meeting with Peter and Wendy.
As I approached the conference room, I spied them through the glass walls. Peter leaned toward her, a little too close for my liking, while Wendy sat primly in her chair, a polite smile on her face.
My heart sank at his blatant attempt to get her to notice him.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said, pushing open the door. Peter’s head snapped up, his eyes widening as they fell on me. I’d made an effort today—a new blouse with a few buttons undone, a tight skirt with a flirty ruffle at the hem, and my hair falling in soft waves around my shoulders. I also had Ana help me figure out makeup. I loved that we were becoming friends.
“Hey, Tris … ah, you look different.” Peter continued to eye me with a quizzical look.
I chuckled nervously at his reaction and attempted to toss my hair over my shoulder like I read about in books. I just hopedit didn’t look like I was having a weird spasm. “Good different, I hope.” I even added a few bats of my eyelashes. I’d tried the magnetic lashes, too, and I was pretty damn proud of myself at how well they turned out.
“Of course.” He stood and pulled out a seat for me to join them. I loved how he was being such a gentleman. But I hated that he still took the seat next to Wendy, leaving me by myself across the table.
This wouldn’t do.