Kiki presses her fists to her forehead, releasing another frustrated growl. “You’re right. I do like her.” Her hands drop as she fixes me with an icy glare. “But I don’t like you. Not anymore.”
Those words snap the last bit of restraint.
“I amnotthe bad guy here.”
She lifts her wine glass and takes a hard swallow, covering her mouth with her hand as her breathing turns sharp, uneven. “You know what? Romy has perfect timing. I’m actually thrilled she came over.”
Well, that makes one of us.
“Why?”
“Because I was about to make a fucking fool out of myself.”
“How exactly did you plan to do that?” I continue moving closer, taking careful measured steps. I’m no fool. Any suddenmovement and she might chuck the wineglass at my head. “You said you needed to talk to me. I’m here. Talk.”
She scoffs at my demand. “Screw that. I’m not telling you anything now.”
The woman is jumping on my last, rapidly fraying nerve.
“What the fuck changed in the last five minutes?”
Her eyes blaze. “Oh, I don’t know. You and Romy playing happy little family?”
“Will you stop?” I need to rein this in before it goes completely off the rails. “Nothing happened between Romy and me.”
“Bullshit.” She leans against her desk, arms crossed, her foot tapping out a fast, syncopated rhythm. And she won’t look at me.
Fucking perfect.
“Not for nothing,” I fire back, my frustration boiling over, “you’re the one talking about moving to Los Angeles. Why do you care who I’m with? Why do you care if I’m sleeping with her, which I’m not, by the way.”
Well,thatgarners a reaction. She stomps her foot, another strangled cry flying past her lips. “You should be thrilled I might move away. Maybe Romy and I could trade places. A newer model for the old beat up one. Wouldn’t that make life easier for you?”
Is she totally gone? Does she have any idea how hard my life has been without her in it?
“Of course it wouldn’t make my life easier!” I’m inches from her now, the tension radiating off both of us. “Jesus, Kiki. You dumped me, remember? You don’t get to come back in here and?—”
“You think I don’t know that? I just—” She cuts herself off, covering her face with her hands and sagging against the edge of the desk. “Forget it. Leave me alone.”
Hell no. We are not playing by your rules tonight, Kiki. You’ve controlled the game for months. It’s my turn now.
I close the last bit of distance between us and brace my arms on either side of her, boxing her in with no escape.
Not until she tells me all the secrets I know she’s hiding.
I feel the heat rising off her, hear the uneven pull of her breathing, and it only fuels the primal need building in my chest—the need to touch her, the need to never stop.
“Talk to me,” I demand, leaning in. Leaving no room for lies.
“No.” Kiki’s gaze drops to the floor.
Not happening.
I grip her chin and tip her face up, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “We’re done avoiding this, Kiki. I deserve the damn truth.”
Her tongue traces her lower lip in a slow, unhurried drag. Whether it’s a deliberate maneuver, I can’t be sure, but it’s the final blow to my restraint.
“You want the truth? Fine.” She jerks her chin free and fixes me with her dark glare, the passion flaming in her eyes. “I don’t want to be your fucking friend.”
