Page 77 of Love Spell

That was all it would be.Some kind of misunderstanding and Noah was perfectly fine.Timo didn’t need to panic, didn’t need to — whatever this pain was.

He fumbled his phone onto the kitchen island, caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and looked up.

Noah stepped around the corner, emerging from the hallway that led to the bedroom, zipping up his toiletry bag, having heard Timo come in.Shoulders hunched, he did not look pleased to see Timo.For his own part, Timo didn’t know what this pain feeling was, and he certainly wasn’t going to express the panic or flood of relief at the sight of Noah that made him hold the island for support.

That left him with one feeling right now that he did understand and knew how to express.

* * *

“What the fuck is wrong with you?Clearing out your things and leaving work in the middle of the morning without a word of explanation?”

Any shred of hope for being able to salvage the situation or allowing Timo to apologise and talk him round, vanished from Noah’s mind the instant he heard Timo’s tone.

“Of course it’s my problem,” Noah ground out.“Plus all about work.Never Timo’s problem — no, Timo can do no wrong.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?I haven’t done anything!”

Noah’s bag was packed — his old bag, leaving the new gift — and he should have turned right then, stuffed in the last bundle, gone to a hotel in person to get a room, and sorted out his flight from there since he’d run out of time here.

He should have left and he knew it.He knew Timo was really angry this time, that Noah had never been on the receiving end of Timo’s anger and he didn’t need to start.He knew it was pointless to stay.But he’d been pushed around by this man since the moment he’d been hired and he had nothing left to lose.

“You’d say that if you drove over s-someone in your car!”Noah shouted back.“Couldn’t possibly beyourfault.”

“If you’re upset about something, just tell me!”

“I’m upset about everything you’ve done in the past t-twelve hours!Did it even cross your mind to ask howIfelt about you announcing our engagement?”

“Ask about what?That’s what people do.They tell the people they see every day when something noteworthy is happening in their lives.”

“No.First, they discuss s-such an announcement with their partner.If we went to look at a house together and decided to make an offer, would you t-tell the world that night that we were buying a house?”

“Yes!Why the hell would we be secretive about it?”

“It’s not about secrets!It’s about both being on the same page and ready to discuss something publicly!”

“We went to the attorney together!You said yes!If I’d needed written permission to share that with friends and colleagues,thatwas the time to mention it.Not the next day.”

“I never said yes.”Noah’s voice dropped.He was also holding the cold marble counter edge, physical barrier of the island between them.

“You told Anjali to go ahead!”

“Because you b-b-backed me into a corner, as you always, always do!You should have asked me before sharing with other people!We should have t-talked about it!”

“This can’t be a secret!We’re not members of rival factions.People can know.Peopleshouldknow —”

“And then you had a reporter ambush me!”

“Especially when part of the reason for this is legal —”

“A damn reporter the next morning!”

“The more people who know, more obvious and on record, the better.Of course I jumped at the chance when Nari messaged me.And Ididtell you about her.I tried to in my office but the market was opening and you weren’t listening.”

“You weren’t listening!You’re not lis-ss-tenting now!I do not want people to know!”

“Why?”

Silence blanketed the kitchen beyond their rapid breaths as they stared at one another across the island, chests rising and falling.

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