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At that moment, I took my silly, impossible crush on Professor Anthony and locked it away where it would reside with my useless thoughts about Rafael, the vision of Lucien on his bed, the feel of Cato wrapped around me, and Wilder holding me as I cried. There was nothing that mattered more than making it work with Victor, because there was nothing that mattered more than Winter. As long as there were men on my list, I needed to be at Regalia University, which meant I needed to be his fiancée.
Dropping my feet, I leaned in. “Do I get my final two questions?”
“I agreed to three.”
“How about this? I ask them, but you have the right to refuse to answer.”
His smile started to return. “I always had that right, but okay. I’ll play along. Two more questions.”
“Can you teach me how to curse like you? Because once you get going, there’s no stopping you.”
Adonis tossed his head back laughing. I giggled as the tension broke.
“I’m afraid only years of practice can get you to my level. Plus, four years of rugby. Collect enough injuries, you’ll teach the paramedics to carry earplugs.”
“Sorry again about your...” I gestured to his bandage.
“You can admit now that you did this.”
I threw up my hands. “I swear it wasn’t me. I was the one who came running to your rescue with a bag full of medical supplies. When you tell this story in the future, name me as the hero, not the suspect.”
“That I can do.”
“And my last question.” My smile faded. “Can you forgive me for kissing you and making everything so awkward?”
Adonis slid his fingers under mine. “I—”
“Kissing?”
We jerked, whirling around as Victor stepped out from behind the stacks. Storm clouds cloaked his expression.
“What the fuck, Luna? You kissed my brother?”
I shot up, slipping out from Adonis’s touch. “Victor, wait. Let me explain—”
“Explain what? That you kissed Don and didn’t tell me? When did it happen?” He threw himself back when I tried to get close, keeping the distance between us. “How long has this been going on?”
“Nothing’s been going on,” Adonis said. “Vic, it’s not like that. Just calm down and listen.”
“Don’t fucking tell me to calm down! My brother and my fiancée are sneaking off together, messing around behind my back!”
“We didn’t!” I seized his arm, trying to make him look at me. “It was one time and before we agreed to be exclusive. Victor, I was drunk!”
“And that makes it okay!” He threw me off. “If it was that long ago, why didn’t either of you tell me?”
“Because I—”
“Save it,” he growled. “I don’t give a shit. I didn’t want to marry you anyway. Get out, Sinclair.”
I reeled like he slapped me. “What?”
“You heard me. Get the fuck out. We’re done.”
He stormed off, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the windows.
“Luna...”
I couldn’t look at Adonis, even if I wanted to. Tears blurred my vision, strangling my throat as I raced out.
“Luna, wait!”
His footfalls followed me down the steps, through the dining room, and into the garage. I threw open the door, throwing myself on the driver’s seat as Adonis stumbled out.
“Luna, don’t leave like this! Just let me talk to him. Let me—”
The rest was smothered by the squeal of tires. I sped away from Wilson Manor, wetness soaking my face and neck as Surrender to Me crooned through the speakers.
I PEELED MY EYES OPEN the next morning, sleep and crusty tears gluing them together. My reason for waking stroked my hair, their soothing touch easing the headache that chased me into sleep.
“Cato,” I croaked. “You have to go back to your room.”
“Who’s Cato?” asked a very feminine, and very not-Cato voice.
“Mom?” I lifted my head from the pillow, looking into my mom’s gentle smile.
The last night came back to me. Running from Victor’s house, taking off in the car, racing back to campus, doing a U-turn, and going home. I burst in on Mom and Jack eating dinner in bed, and kicked my stepfather out. Mom held me for hours, whispering comforting things until I fell into an exhausted sleep.
“How are you, my baby?” She kissed my temple. “Are you feeling any better?”
“No,” I muttered.
Pushing up, I got a proper look at my mother. I fell asleep with my head on her lap, leaving her to spend the night propped up against the headboard. She appeared as tired and uncomfortable as you’d expect from spending hours in that position, but... that was all I saw looking at her.
Her hair was clean and tied with a single ribbon. The robe that had become her second skin lay on the chaise, and the pajamas she had on were new. I knew this because I’d seen every one of my mother’s pajamas since I returned home. She stopped wearing anything else.
