Page 241 of By His Play

“Morning,” a deep voice sings, and while it might be familiar, it isn’t the one I really want.

A pained breath escapes as I take a step back, my shoulders sagging in disappointment.

“Effie?” he questions when I don’t respond. “Shit. You thought it was Kieran, didn’t you?”

“N-no,” I lie. “Come on up.”

I’m vaguely aware that I should probably refuse and send him away.

It’s probably stupid to think that Kieran might be watching, trying to confirm what he already thinks he knows, but I can’t help but be suspicious.

It doesn’t stop me from hitting the button that will allow Brax entry to the building, though.

I leave the door open for him and walk into the kitchen to wash my mug and restart the coffee machine.

“No need for that,” he says after his heavy footsteps move through my apartment. “I brought coffee and pastry.”

A smile pulls at my lips before I spin around and look at him.

“Oh my god,” I cry. “Brax, what the hell?”

Racing over, I stretch up on my toes to get a better look at his swollen eye.

“Tell me he didn’t,” I beg.

Brax shrugs one shoulder. “It’s nothing. Barely even hurts.”

“Bullshit,” I snap. “Your eye hardly opens.”

“Okay, fine, it’s a little tender. You should see him, though.”

My breath catches at the insinuation that they’ve been physically fighting.

I can’t remember the last time Kieran got into a physical altercation, but it has been known to happen in the past. Brax, though, doesn’t scream brawler.

I have, however, been known to be wrong in the past.

Concern for Kieran rushes through me, and I reach for Brax’s hands as he places the takeout tray and paper bag on the counter.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I don’t find any evidence of him hitting anyone.

“I’m joking. Kieran is fine.”

Irritation rolls through me that Brax has been dragged into this bullshit and ended up hurt.

“You should have hit him. He deserves it,” I mutter.

No, I don’t really want them fighting. But I can’t help the small, violent part of me that wants Kieran to be hurting just as much as I am right now.

“He’s an asshole. I won’t deny that.” Brax laughs. “Have you spoken to him?”

I shake my head. “Nope. And I have no intention of doing so for quite a while.”

“Go on then,” he says after passing me my coffee and bag of pastries. “Tell me everything.”

58

KIERAN

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