Page 46 of Indulge
She laughs into her cocktail. “Hey, no judgement here. You should hear some of my stories.”
I go to reply, but she stiffens. I stroke my hand along her bare shoulder.
“Someone hurt you, didn’t they?” I whisper.
She looks away and I take a breath.
“Just tell me who, sweetness. I can make them go away with the click of a finger.”
Her green eyes meet mine with a shimmer.
“Maybe I’ve already had that sorted. No one hurts me and gets away with it.”
I lean in closer. “But, sometimes the pain is still buried, even after they’re gone.” I whisper.
She offers me a small smile and then Lyla’s cackling laugh grabs both of our attention.
She shrugs, eyes fixed on the bar. “She’s gorgeous.”
“So are you,” I say before I can stop myself.
She glances up, half a smile tugging at her lips. “You didn’t have to say that.”
“Didn’t mean to. Truth just falls out of me.”
The silence stretches. I can still feel her hand where it touched me, still see the way her eyes darkened when Lyla spoke my name.
She might not realize it yet, hell, maybe neither do I, but something shifted tonight.
And there’s no going back.
21
BELLA
I’m actually up before Reggie today.
For a second, I debate just making myself breakfast, but then decide to be the bigger person. So I whip up the grumpy beast some eggs and bacon too.
His heavy footsteps echo down the stairs, and I slap on a happy smile just for him.
“Here you are, future husband, dearest. Wife duties for the day—a good breakfast to fuel your busy schedule.”
I slide the plate across the kitchen island.
His eyes snap to mine, and for a split second, I swear I see sincerity there.
“You didn’t have to.”
Jesus fucking Christ. That right there flips my mood completely.
“Then throw it in the trash, asshole.”
I grab my own plate and storm off into the living room, cranking the TV to full volume so I don’t have to hear him breathe.
By the time I finish eating, I can feel his gaze burning from the doorway.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” I snap.
