Page 176 of By His Rule

I look at the other chair around the small round table and then back up at him.

“I don’t think there’s enough space. That table over there is free,” I say, jerking my chin in the direction of a recently vacated table currently covered in trash.

His jaw pops in irritation, but to my surprise, he spins around and marches in that direction.

Internally, I do a little celebratory dance. Who knew it would be so easy to get rid of him?

My eyes widen when he shoves the trash from the table, places his lunch on top of it and then picks the entire thing up and carries it back over.

“What the hell are you doing?” I shriek as he lowers his newly accosted table next to mine.

Shrugging off his jacket, he drapes it on the back of the chair and lowers his ass to the seat.

“Close your mouth, Lorelei. You don’t make a good guppy.”

Anger surges through me.

“I’m trying to have a quiet lunch. Alone,” I warn, aware that we’ve caught the attention of a few fellow diners.

“And I’m having lunch with my girlfriend,” he states as if he truly believes the words.

My chin drops again at his audacity. But while my anger only increases, he smirks at me like he’s won something.

“That’s not…we’re not…” If possible, the amusement only grows. “You’re infuriating.”

“So you’ve mentioned before,” he says before biting into his sandwich.

I drag my eyes away from him and back to my screen, but I can no longer focus, and I end up reading the same sentence four times over.

Kian is focused on his cell and thankfully ignores my ridiculous attempt to continue working.

Giving up, I reach into my purse and pull my own cell out.

I’ve got a handful of email notifications, a stream of notifications from my group chat with my brothers, which reveals the usual—them trying to get the other in trouble—and a message from Tate.

I giggle at the meme she’s sent, causing Kian to look up. His attention makes my face heat, but I don’t let him know that I’m aware of him.

It’s the first time I’ve looked at my messages all day. It occurs to me that I never received a reply from Ryder after I sent the photo last night.

Tapping out of Tate’s message, I scan down my inbox, wondering why.

My eyes drop, and then so does my heart when I find that my thread with Kian is above Ryder’s.

No. That can’t be right. My heart races and my temperature soars to dangerous levels as reality dawns.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

Tell me I didn’t. Please, for the love of God, tell me that I didn’t…

Fuck. My. Life.

My stomach rolls, and I press my hand to it.

I’m going to be sick.

With my cell gripped tightly in my hand, I jump up from my seat and race to the bathroom.

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