Page 122 of Merry Fake Bride

Devon looks smaller somehow.

Like something has deflated her, and my anxieties slowly calm only to be replaced by intense worry.

“Devon?”

“Mmhmm?” She glances up at me, her eyes lacking the warmth I’ve come to appreciate.

“Something is wrong.”

Her brows lift and she looks at me fully this time, then her eyes dart across my shoulders. “Are you sick?”

Her concern for me would be warming if I wasn’t so worried about her. “No, I’m fine, Devon. But I think something is wrong with you.”

Her brows dip. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. You’re different. You can barely look at me. You won’t stand near me. Earlier when I dropped by, you gave the impression that you just wanted me to leave. Now… I understand that what we did after the gala was a huge step for you, and it will take time to process. If I’ve done something to hurt you, upset you, or make you feel unsafe in any way, please don’t hesitate to tell me. Surely, I deserve that kind of honesty after everything we’ve been through.”

“I’m fine,” Devon replies instantly. “I’m just tired. Christmas is at the end of the week and it’s exhausting getting everything done.”

She speaks honestly, but I don’t believe her.

She doesn’t meet my eyes and her hands twist together then drop down beneath the table.

What did I do?

Pressing the issue feels like a bad idea, but I can’t stop myself.

This jarring change is sending constant twitches up my spine and I need to know if I’ve ruined the one good thing that came into my life.

“Did I go too far when we were together?”

Devon freezes and shakes her head so quickly that she almost dislodges her ponytail from its home in her hood.

“Not at all!”

“Did something happen at the doctor’s? Are you unwell?”

“Low iron,” she replies instantly. “Nothing serious.”

“Then what changed?” As I lean forward, I raise my hand to deter the waiter I spot beelining toward our table. Thankfully, they get the hint and immediately do a one-eighty.

“Kairo—”

“Don’t I deserve honesty? I thought we?—”

Catching myself, I press my lips together. “Please don’t lie to me. When I last saw you, you couldn’t keep your hands off me, and you were smiling and happy. Now, you’re acting like you can’t stand to be around me and it doesn’t matter what it is, even if it’s small, I can take it. And I will work on it.”

“Kairo!” She raises her voice slightly, silencing me. “It’s not… It’s not what you think. It’s not you, not at all. You’ve been nothing but kind and lovely and sodecentto me.”

“Then what is it?”

Her lips remain parted as she hovers over words she can’t say.

Whatever is stopping her is obviously heavy and important enough that she just can’t blurt it out.

My chest tightens.

All my life, I’ve dealt with this kind of attitude switch from my mother.