Page 86 of Hard Rock Fling

Chapter Thirty

Iwalkedout of the Etude building, intending to take public transit home. I hadn't expected to see Ian's expensive Spider Venom, or whatever, parked out front. I certainly hadn't expected to see Ian waiting for me. He leaned casually against the passenger side door, shades covering his eyes.

I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, unsure how he was going to greet me. I'd gone behind his back to August. Everything had worked out in the end, though. Would Ian see it that way?

"Need a ride?" was all he said.

I bit my lip, but nodded. Ian opened the door for me. I slid in, clutching my bag nervously.

He didn't say anything as he drove. I snuck glances at him, but he didn't look my way.

After several minutes I realized we weren't going in the right direction.

"You missed the turn off," I said with a questioning tone.

"We're not going to your place."

"Oh."

Surely Ian couldn't be upset with me if he were taking me to his place.

"I want us to be able to talk in private," he added.

Oh.

My heart sank. I slumped back in my seat. Maybe he wanted to yell at me without anyone overhearing.

We made it up to his condo in silence. I fidgeted, taking off my shoes, putting my bag on an end table, checking my phone, all to avoid him. When I finally couldn't put it off anymore, I lifted my gaze to his. I found myself staring into narrowed, brilliant green eyes.

"Why?" he said simply.

"Because I was worried about you."

"I told you not to worry."

"I couldn't stand by and do nothing. If something else had happened, if you'd gotten seriously hurt, I'd never be able to forgive myself."

His mouth was twisted. He was upset with me. "Nothing else was going to happen."

"You said the wholetwinsthing made it worse. Now you don't have to worry about that. We all talked about it. Your brother agreed. No more Damian. You'll just be Ian and Damon Drake."

He stared at me silently for several long moments, before flopping onto the sofa with a heavy thump.

"I know I said The Twins thing bothered me. But I don't know if…"

I understood immediately. I went to him, tucking myself next to his side. "You don't know if you can just be Ian anymore?"

He nodded hesitantly. "We've been Damian for so long. I don't know who Ian is anymore."

I threw my arms around his neck. "I know who Ian is."

"What if just Ian isn't enough?"

"Youareenough. You're not your brother, Ian. You're different. You're your own person. Even if no one else can see it, I can."

Ian brought his hands to my face, cupping my cheeks. "You're the only one who does."

"Soon everyone else will, too."