“I didn’t realize things were that serious between you two,” Charlie said, all soft warmth and comfort. “When you started going out with Nikolai too, I figured you were only interested in casual dating.”
“Same,” Isabel agreed. “I’m sorry, Allie. I should’ve checked in with you sooner. I had no idea that you were upset.”
“I thought you were just stressed with your internship and that douchebag, Gavin,” Davis added.
My friends would’ve been blind not to notice that I was more than a little frazzled and distracted recently. They knew that I took my work seriously, and I had to deal with Gavin’s menacing glares every day I went into the office. He still hadn’t said a word to me that wasn’t professionally necessary—not since the night Max had broken his arm; the night Gavin had followed me home and drunkenly accosted me on my front porch. But my tormentor’s perpetual glower promised retribution.
A small shudder rolled through me, and I wasn’t certain if it was from the thought of my bully or the flash of Max’s dark eyes that burned in my mind.
“What happened?” Isabel pressed gently. “Did Max break things off?”
I shook my head and heaved in a breath, forcing oxygen into my constricted lungs. Iron bands had formed around my chest, crushing down on my heart. “It was mutual,” I said.
Technically, it was true. I’d told him he was a monster, and he’d told me that we were done.
His scarred features had twisted with agony when I’d pulled away from him. But as soon as the accusation left my lips—You are a monster, Max—his sharp features had frozen to carved ice, his expressive eyes going dark and flat.
I couldn’t take the words back. I’d lashed out at him, wanting to hurt him the way he’d hurt me with his insane lies about my mother’s death. But even now, I didn’t believe he was a monster. He was a man in pain, tormented by his twisted family and scarred by some terrible trauma that he’d never shared with me. I regretted my cruel words, but I would never have the chance to make it right. I would never see Max again.
I don’t want to see him again, I lied to myself for the hundredth time.
“You still care about him.” Davis’ green gaze was uncharacteristically serious as he studied my crestfallen expression, his brow furrowing all the way up to his pale blond hair.
My lower lip quivered slightly, and I blinked against the burn at the back of my eyes. “I said some things I’m not proud of,” I admitted. “But it’s over now.”
My friend’s jaw ticked. “What did he say to you?” he demanded. “You wouldn’t have said anything mean if he didn’t hurt you first. It must’ve been bad. Don’t bother denying it. You don’t have a mean bone in your body, Allie.”
I swiped at the tear that spilled down my cheek. I couldn’t tell them what Max had said. It was all bound up in his vendetta and his mafia family. My friends couldn’t know anything about that.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said thickly. “We broke up, and I’m moving on.”
A beat of silence passed before Isabel chimed in with an overly-bright tone, “Yeah, you’re moving on with a super-hot billionaire. Suck it, Max.”
“Right,” Davis declared, bolstering me. “Who needs him when you’re dating royalty?”
I released a weak laugh. “Niko isn’t actually a prince, Davis.”
“Let me have my romance,” he huffed. A second later, he caught our server’s eye. The man immediately strode to our table, a perk of being regulars. “We need popcorn,” Davis announced. “Do you have that parmesan-truffle kind?”
The server took his order and went to the bar to relay it.
“Why are we getting popcorn?” I asked. “I mean, I won’t say no to some, but is there a reason we need it?”
Davis rested his chin on his hand and leaned toward me. “Because your romantic life is officially the juiciest, and we have front-row seats. We need to talk about Niko.” He emphasized the more intimate nickname that Nikolai had asked me to use.
“Agreed,” Charlie said, jumping on the cheer-up-Allie train. “So, when are you going to let him whisk you off on a glamorous vacation? Date number ten?”
My laugh was less forced this time. Warmth flooded my chest, and the iron bands constricting my lungs loosened. “He suggested date number five. But we haven’t even kissed, you guys.”
“Excuse me?” Isabel asked, sounding almost indignant. “You’re dating the hottest billionaire in New York, and you haven’t kissed him yet? I would’ve climbed him like a tree by now.”
I ducked my head. “You know I’m not that experienced with men. I’m taking things slow.”
Even as I said the words, I remembered the heat of Max’s big hands roving over my body, caressing my most intimate places as though he wanted to brand every inch of me with his touch. My flesh tingled at the phantom feel of his calloused fingertips brushing over my tender flesh, lighting up my body with sensation I hadn’t known was possible. He’d imprinted himself on my skin, the first man to touch me like he owned me.
My chest ached with a throbbing beat, and I sucked in a small gasp at the sudden shock of pain.
“Okay, forget the popcorn,” Isabel announced in her most protective big-sister voice. “Allie, we’re taking you home. I think we need fuzzy blankets and a Disney film. And more pinot.”
“Totally,” Charlie agreed as Davis flagged down our server again, cancelling the order and asking for the check.
“Thanks,” I murmured, but even my love for my friends couldn’t loosen the tension around my lungs. “Um, I’m going to get some air. Meet you outside in a few? I’ll reimburse you for my part of the check.”
“Want me to come with?” Charlie offered.
“No, that’s okay. I just need a minute.” I couldn’t let my friends see me crumble. If they kept asking me about Max, I didn’t know how I’d manage to maintain my composure. And I couldn’t tell them the awful truth.
I slid off my seat and made my way to the exit, the room wavering around the edges of my watery vision. Somehow, I made it outside without completely breaking down. I gulped in a humid lungful of summer air, and the heat of the night singed my strangely chilled skin. I hugged my arms around myself, staving off a shiver.
I gritted my teeth, seeking a spark of anger to distract myself from the painful wound Max had inflicted. He’d touched me in ways I’d never allowed another man to touch me; he’d held me like I was something precious and fragile.
And I’d trusted him to keep me safe. He’d protected me so many times, and I’d foolishly made excuses for his criminal background. I should’ve known better. He’d told me over and over that I was naïve, but I’d been too proud to believe him.
But then his terrible sister had shown up outside my house. She’d subtly threatened Max and me. Everything had become very real in that moment.
Max had left with her, and he’d promised to come back to me. I’d believed he was protecting me yet again from a world I didn’t fully understand.
When he had returned, he’d hurt me in ways I never could’ve imagined. His family had said or done something to him that made him end things with me. I knew that, but it didn’t make the hurt go away. It didn’t ease the deep wound he’d inflicted.