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"Do you always come out here by yourself?"
I turn to see Killian's friend standing with a bag on his back. He seems different. Where Killian is serious in his demeanor, his friend is the exact opposite. His expression reminds me of someone who just finished smiling. Playful.
"Sometimes. When I want to think."
He walks closer and sticks his hand out. "I'm Ciro by the way."
I look at his hand, reach out, and shake it. "Lillith Sin–Lillith."
I'm not used to having a different last name, and I honestly don’t feel comfortable using either one.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lillith. I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself, but you were wearing a mask at your wedding, and it seemed awkward."
"Your friend wears a mask, and you talk to him."
He smiles and nods. "Good point. I guess my reason is kind of lame, isn't it?"
I shrug my shoulders and look out at the sunset. "You don't owe me an explanation, Ciro. You have no reason to get to know me."
He surprises me by sitting next to me but maintains a respectable distance. "You're married to my best friend. I think that is reason enough."
I rest my arms on my knees, drawing them closer to ward off the chill from the wind as the sun dips lower. I still find his reason to be pointless. Why would he want to get to know me? I'm no one special. I haven't been introduced to any of Killian's friends, and I think it's for a reason.
"It isn't a love match, you know. It's probably why he didn't introduce me to you or the…others. I guess that would be awkward."
Knowing his girlfriends that he lets in the house so he can screw reminds me of the way I grew up with my father. At least when I chose a person, I had enough respect to keep things personal and honest. Ethan may have never made me feel the way Killian makes those women feel when having sex, but at least he never made me feel like I was unimportant.
I shiver but don't want to go inside just yet. It was peaceful until he showed up, talking about the man I'm trying to escape from mentally.
I hear rustling and a zipper being lowered. I turn my head, and my eyes widen when he leans close to drape his jacket over my shoulders like a blanket of warmth. He smells different—spicy—and not in a bad way, but it's not Killian's smell.
I grip the edge of the black jacket to keep it from sliding off my shoulders and meet his brown eyes. "Thank you," I say nervously.
"Where are you from?"
I’m surprised by his question, and a small smile tugs at my lips. "Here."
He shakes his head and points at my face. "Your eyes are different, and your hair is dark. It's…unusual.
I arch my brow. "Unusual," I mock.
He smiles, showing me his white teeth. "What I meant to say is that I've never seen someone look like you before. On or off the island."
"Are you calling me ugly and that I'm not good enough to live here?" I tease.
He gives me a throaty laugh, and I laugh along with him, but then his expression turns serious, and he stares at me for a second too long.
I blink hard, and my thoughts become a muddled mess because I have never had a man laugh along with me and then stare at me like I did something wrong.
"My mother was Armenian," I say quietly, looking away.
The thought of my mother causes a pang inside my chest because I never got the chance to know her. She never got the chance to hold me because she was dying after giving me life. I never knew her smell or her laugh.
"I'm sorry for staring at you. I…" He pauses and takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, but you're the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, and I mean that respectfully."
My eyes water, and I give him a sad smile. "I wish I wasn't," I whisper.
"You saidwas."
