Page 233 of By His Play

My lips part to tell him everything, but my words are quickly swallowed when he beats me to it.

“Just because I called you a whore, it didn’t mean you needed to turn into one.”

His words are like a knife through my heart.

I stand there staring at him in disbelief as hurt rushes through my veins like a tsunami.

“How long has it been going on?”

“It’s not. Nothing is?—”

“Is that why you didn’t tell me that you came back? Did you come back for him?”

My mouth opens and closes like a fish, but the words are stuck.

His accusations are ridiculous.

“Kieran, I would never?—”

“Fuck. This is my fault, isn’t it?”

His constant changes of direction give me whiplash.

“I asked him to check in on you. You weren’t responding to me after I left and…FUCK,” he bellows, sinking his fingers into his hair and tugging until I’m sure he’s about to pull it out.

“Kieran, stop, please.”

This time, he’s the one to laugh, but there is no joy in it, only pain.

“I was going to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you tonight. I was going to tell you that the only reason I’ve never wanted anyone else is because I was waiting for you. I was going to tell you that you were it for me.”

He shakes his head as tears fall from my lashes. Finally, I allow my arms to fold around my ribs as if they’ll help to keep me together as a mixture of red-hot fury and utter disbelief battle within me.

“Kieran,” I whimper.

He glares at me. There is none of the love he mentioned previously. There is nothing but hurt and hate.

“No, I’m done, Effie. I’m so fucking done with all this bullshit. You want Brax? Fucking have him.”

Before I can respond, he’s gone, storming through my apartment.

“Kieran, stop, please,” I beg, but it doesn’t help.

The front door slams behind him, and my knees buckle.

“KIERAN,” I sob. But it’s too late.

He’s gone.

56

KIERAN

Iscream the second I step out of her building. The few people that are on the street look over in fear before rushing away. Probably the wisest decision they’ve made all day.

Unable to stand still, I take off toward my abandoned car, but I don’t stop when I get to it. I can’t. I need to move. I need to burn off some of this anger.

I drag my hand down my face.

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