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My hands still gripped his broad shoulders, and I couldn’t help but notice the muscles, clearly defined under his form-fitting shirt. I leaned in as the urge to rest my head on his shoulder hit me. In all the years we’d known each other, he’d been my rock, my friend.
And the mixed-up feelings inside of me were confusing.
“Tris,” Peter’s sharp voice cut through the moment like a knife.
I gasped and tried to twist out of Killian’s grasp, panic rising in my throat.
Shit.
These two within five feet of each other was a powder keg waiting for a spark. “Hey, Peter. Guess who I ran into? It’s a funny thing. I tripped, and Killian?—”
“Was right here to catch her,” Killian interrupted, his fingers tightening almost imperceptibly on my waist and his eyes locked on Peter’s. “Just like old times,” he said over the top of my head.
The air grew thick with tension as years of unresolved conflict hung between us. I was frozen, caught between my past and present, unsure of which way to turn.
“Well,I’mhere now.” Peter’s narrowed gaze flicked between me and Killian. A muscle ticked in his cheek.
“Too little too late, Peter. Although, that’s nothing new with you.” Killian smirked.
I hated watching them fight. “And everything is?—”
Peter cut me off. “Fuck you, Killian. Trying to take what’s not yours. Typical.”
I waved my hand just above my head to get their attention, wishing I had a white handkerchief or something to indicate they needed to back down. Call a truce. At least if they were focused on me, I could distract them.
But it was like I wasn’t even here.
“Let her go, Killian.” Peter’s frown and menacing tone were the opposite of what I was used to hearing.
A growl left Killian’s mouth. “Make me.”
Killian’s touch still burned my skin, awakening surprising feelings I didn’t know what to do with. Yet Peter’s presence was a reminder of the life I’d chosen.
Being with Killian and Peter was as natural as breathing. The three of us together felt right. Even with the two of them arguing.
I still held this deep-seated belief we were always meant to be in each other’s lives. I swallowed hard, my throat tight, as I wondered,what if?What if I’d made a different choice or found a way to keep my friendship with Killian?
The two men glared at each other. God, it was like being caught between two crowing roosters trying to gain dominance.
“Um, hello, you Neanderthals. I’m right here.”
Killian’s hand shifted to my elbow. With him distracted, I was able to slip out of his grasp. I pointed at the two of them with one hand and rested my other hand on my hip. “Enough.”
Peter blinked a few times, his easygoing smile reappearing on his face. “Our table’s ready.”
Killian’s hard gaze shifted from me to Peter, yet he didn’t say a word. His jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn’t quite catch.
“It was really nice to see you, Killian, but we should probably get to our table,” I said, wanting to say more, but not knowingwhat. It was almost amusing how we each slid into the roles we last played with each other with me trying to keep the peace between them. I reached out to touch his arm for one final pat, a hug? I had no idea.
I didn’t miss how Peter tugged me far enough away to make that impossible. Knowing how awkward I probably looked, I slid my outstretched arm around Peter’s waist, recognizing my mistake within seconds.
“I see nothing has changed.” Killian grabbed his glass off the bar top and gulped the remaining liquid.
Pain burst in my chest. His words were like an arrow through my heart. I swallowed and sent him a tight smile to mask the hurt his words caused. I wanted nothing more than for us all to be friends and to know why we’d drifted apart.
Peter had never seemed to question why Killian distanced himself from us. I wondered if part of him assumed the rift between us wouldn’t be permanent, and that’s why he didn’t push to make things right. But Killian had cut us both off without a word.
Peter guided me toward our table, chatting about how his conversation with the band had gone the entire time. He acted like the interaction with our childhood friend had never happened. As he pulled out my seat, I couldn’t help but glance over at the bar. Killian now had his back to us.