Page 61 of Dare To Live

“Sorry about that. So how are you? This is Ivan’s gallery, right?”

“I’m good. Yeah, it is. He’d … uhhh …” His hand lifts to rub the back of his neck and a slight hint of pink stains his cheeks. “He wants to meet you. He hosted one of your shows last year and hoped you’d go to it, but—”

“I don’t often go to them. It wasn’t anything personal.”

“I know. That’s what I told him, but …” he shrugs.

“But he figured out you know me and begged for a favor?”

He nods.

“It’s okay. I’m supposed to be driving to the Hamptons tomorrow, but I could delay it an extra day. How about we have dinner tomorrow night?” I take out my cell, check there are no messages, then navigate to the address book. “Give me your number and we’ll work something out.” I hand him my cell and he types into it before passing it back to me.

I send him a quick text. “There. Now you have my number. If tomorrow isn’t good for you, let me know. I’m staying at the Royal Crown Plaza. We could always meet for dinner there.”

“That sounds good.” He hesitates, then reaches out to pat my shoulder, a little awkwardly. “I’d really like to catch up properly. I love Ivan, but …”

“He doesn’t understand.” I nod. “What about Ari?”

His lips compress. “She won’t even talk about it. And sometimes I just … I need to talk about him, you know?”

“I know.” My voice is soft. “We’ll catch up, I promise.”

His eyes shift beyond me, and I turn to follow the direction of his gaze. Arabella is moving toward us, her attention pinned to me, a small frown knitting her brows together.

“Looks like you’re in trouble,” Miles murmurs.

I laugh quietly. “When aren’t I?”

“Don’t hurt her, Eli.”

I glance at the man beside me. “I can’t make any promises. Hurting each other seems to be what we do best.”

“Then leave her alone.”

My attention returns to Arabella and stays there. “I can’t do that either.”

Miles sighs. “I don’t understand you two. Kellan always said you were two halves of the same coin. But I don’t see it. She’s nothing like you. She’s sweet and you’re—”

“A monster,” I finish for him. “But sometimes even monsters need a little sweetness in their lives. And some nice girls have a darker side that needs feeding.” My head tilts and I smile down at the woman who comes to a stop in front of us both. “Hello, Hellcat. Do you have something for me?”

She turns to Miles. “Ivan is looking for you.”

“And that’s my cue to leave.” He kisses Arabella’s cheek, pats my shoulder once more and takes off, leaving us alone.

She stares at me. I stare right back.

“Tell me the truth. Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth, Eli.” Her voice is low and firm.

“About what?”

“You treated me like I was nothing more than an object to be used.”

My eyes track over her face, taking in the set of her jaw, the steel in her eyes. The way I answer her question will dictate what happens from here. She’s demanding the truth, but I’m not sure it’s something she’ll be happy hearing.

“I treated you the way you wanted me to.”

“How? How could something so cold, so … so impersonal be something I wanted from you?”

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