Page 30 of Scarlet Vows

But I am.

And that’s a shitty place to come from.

The marriage may be fake, but the sentiment from me shouldn’t be. It should be as businesslike as it is to her.

I keep walking out the door and to my car. I make myself turn the key in the ignition. I don’t need to speak to the staff. They’ve got her now. She’s safe.

I drive the fuck out of the property because I don’t want to do something I regret, like go back in there and kiss her.

One thing’s for sure—I’m going to need to keep my feelings in check.

Isaak’s waitingfor me Saturday morning at the gym. I’m usually the one there first, especially when I ask him to work out on a weekend. Our weekend workouts are not as set in stone as our weekday workouts.

It’s still dark out, and when we end a brutal ride on thePeloton bikes, and I’ve told him about Alina and the night before, he wheezes with laughter.

“Oh, man…that’s fucking hilarious. The big, brutal strongman I work out with got lassoed and roped up by little Alina? She’s…what? Five-four. You’re six-three? She’s a lil thing. And yet she roped you into this? Did you crumble like a cookie?” Isaak laughs some more, his whole body shaking.

I narrow my eyes. “I couldn’t get out of it.”

“Right, you couldn’t get out of her offer, so you had to agree to her help.” He gets off the bike, stretches, and goes over to the weights. “You…what? Fought hard?”

“Isaak, I will kill you.”

I join him, and he shakes his head.

“You were so hellbent against asking for her help when I suggested it. But when Alina, the girl you definitely don’t have a crush on, offered, you couldn’t say no? Hilarious.”

I pick up the dumbbells and start doing curls. “Shut your mouth.”

He stops grinning. “You know, in all seriousness, this might be your best chance at starting something with her.”

“If I wanted to.”

“You want to, whether you admit it or not.”

I don’t argue his point. But I’m just not ready to make a move. I never will be because it’s not worth it.

I don’t want to start something with Alina and lose her friendship when it all goes wrong.

Chapter Seven

ALINA

The next morning,I drink about seven coffees and still drag my suddenly heavy body around, my eyes still bleary.

It’s already ten. I got up half an hour ago, and I’m just…exhausted.

I go back to my room and slide under the covers, willing myself to sleep.

Last night, I tossed and turned, and it didn’t seem like I slept more than half an hour.

And the thing is, I still can’t sleep.

My heart lurches as my stomach spins, and my nerves seem to scrape against my skin.

Did I make the right decision offering to help Ilya out?

I love him, and he’s my friend. We’re so close, and I know that’s why I offered without hesitation.