Page 114 of The Photograph

“No, it’sforme.” After a heavy sigh, she steps back. “John, I can’t be having this conversation again. I’m going back inside.”

She pivots halfway toward the door when John catches her arm.

“He’s not good for you, angel. I know you were in hospital, and we all know that your website wasn’t down for maintenance. He hurt you. I told you you’d get hurt. That’s what people like him do.”

Rolling her shoulder back to get out of his grasp, Aelin dips her head before looking back at the lovesick man before her. “You’re hurting me now, John. I’m not in love with you. I was never in love with you, but I love you. You’re one of my dearest friends. Please … don’t make me lose you.”

The pain in her voice makes me almost wish the bastard would stay in her life.

“I want more, Aelin. I love you and if you can’t love me back, we’re done.”

Her voice breaks. “Goodbye, Johnnie.”

As she returns inside, I follow her to the kitchen where she’s staring at a glass of water in her hands.

“Aelin.”

She snaps her gaze up and plasters a smile that stays on her lips as I get closer.

The grief she tries to hide is gnawing at me and I want to punch the bastard all over again. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, I brush my knuckles on her satiny cheek.

“Are you okay, baby?”

“I’m all right.” She walks back to the party.

An hour later, I’m past done with the crowd. I stride past the stairwell, and veer toward the cordoned off stairs leading to the bedrooms.

Once there, I pull off my tie as I enter the darkened lounge separating the main bedroom from the other bedrooms. And stop to scan the large room before I make my way to the balcony.

“How do you find the best hiding spots in places you’ve never been before?” I ask Cal who’s sitting back in the lounge chair with a beer in his hand.

“Good training, second nature. Your pick” He lifts a brow as I settle on the second chair. “Did you talk to the ex?”

“Yup. She’s apparently divorcing hubby because she loves me.”

“Huh. Ballsy.”

After undoing the first buttons of my shirt, I roll my sleeves up and grab a beer from a pack Cal has brought up.

“I love this room.”

At the sound of Aelin’s voice, Cal and I sit up and look at each other.

Who’s she talking to?

Emma’s voice comes a little slurred. “Babe, you love everything about the house.”

“I do.”

I can finally have some time with her. I push on my knees when a third female voice snaps through the quiet. “There you are.”

Vanessa, making a pest of herself.

As I step toward the French door, ready to kick Vanessa out, Cal’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Aelin can take her.”

“I need to talk to you, Elaine,” my ex says.

“My name’s Aelin and the party is downstairs, Vanessa. If there’s an issue, I’ll meet you there.”

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