Page 65 of Mine to Ruin

He kisses the corner of my lips. My entire heart must be on display for him, and when those dimples come out to play, I almost tell him we can skip the training and I’ll just move in. Instead, I place my hand on my drumming heart to force it to calm down.

With every round, my ass jiggles on the stool entrapped by the fight. The next break comes, and I excuse myself, mouthing, “I’ll be right back.”

He nods, but his eyes snap to two guys wearing suits who stand at the ready. His mother stands up to come with me, pushing at her husband’s shoulder to keep him in his seat. Strange.

“Brandon told me a lot about you. I am surprised you ended up with Kian,” she says as she walks with me towards the bathroom.

I can’t shake the feeling that she thinks it’s odd that I chose Kian over Brandon. “Brandon is a very good friend of mine,” I feel the need to tell her.

“Yes, I assumed there might be something there, considering how often he talks about you.”

“There was never anything going on with Brandon and me.” Annoyance flickers in my lower belly.

“Well, Kian made that pretty obvious tonight.”

We meet at the mirror in the bathroom, and she pats her perfectly styled blonde hair. Jewelry drips from her wrist and throat, the black satin dress hugging her lean body.

“I heard you are a very talented painter.”

“Thank you. I love to paint, and it is a bonus so many people like my art.”

“Brandon is not into art, but if he likes what you do, it must be great indeed. I’ll see it for myself at the gallery opening. I’ll be Brandon’s plus one.”

Does she have any idea how often she mentions her younger son? She powders her nose and I wash my hands.

Halfway out the door, she throws over her shoulder, “It’s a shame you’re with Kian. You and Brandon would have been a lovely couple.” I blink at her, and she shakes her head as she opens the door. “Such a pity.”

Outside, the two guys in suits follow us back to the VIP box. As we walk, I conclude that there is something wrong with Kian’s parents, and he’s keeping his distance for a reason. I find my seat next to Kian and his brows furrow when he sees the look on my face.

“Is everything all right?”

“Your family is odd,” I answer.

He sighs. “We don’t choose our family.” He pulls me to his side for the rest of the fight. My body relaxes, his fingers caressing my back. He takes me with him when it’s time to take a picture with the winner. It’s one of his boys. Kian congratulates him, and the fighter’s one good eye fills with pride. The other is red, and swelling.

We stay for some drinks, and more pictures are taken when Melanie joins us. The cameras click, overshadowing everything else.

“They’re like jackals. I wonder what the story will be this time? A threesome, me as the faithful fiancée while you cheat on me, maybe,” she muses as she empties a glass of champagne.

“You never cared before,” Kian replies, and she eyes him, a flash of upset crossing her face.

“You’re right, nothing has changed.”

I really try my best not to let her affect me and tilt my head. I squint at the blinding lights and my blood cells freeze. Every time I look somewhere, his father pops up. I wrap my hands around Kian’s arm. I want to leave.

He brushes my palm softly with his thumb as if telling me he understands my subliminal message. His lips find my ear, and he asks, “Ready to go home?”

I nod, and a smile appears in the corner of his lips.

“You can’t leave. It’s too early,” Melanie whines, and he shrugs, his eyes on me.

“Who said I can’t? I have to get up in the morning,” he replies and winks at me. People part the moment Kian and I stride toward the exit. We climb in the back of the car, and I exhale, relieved.

“Was it that bad?” he asks, and I hear the concern in his voice.

“No.”

Hope shimmers in his eyes. “Would you come with me again?”

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