Page 34 of Key Change

“I prefer sitting here than at the sidewalk tables—unless I’m with friends, and they are usually louder than everyone else. How do you think I knew this park existed?”

“You bring all your…” He’d been about to say dates.

Cillian lifted his eyebrows and took a bite of ice cream like an absolute psychopath. He smacked his lips. “Lovers? Boyfriends? Paramours?”

“I don’t know what to call us… if there is an us. I’m so out of the scene.”

“I don’t know either.” His face became solemn.

Was this ice cream and a breakup? Was this where Cillian dumped his beaus? It was nice and public. As break up locations went, the park wasn’t a bad option.

“I need to talk to you about something, and I’m not sure how you’re going to react.” Cillian glanced over and must have seen the horror on Anthony’s face because he quickly clarified. “It’s not thetalk.”

“Okay, but it seems serious.”

“It is, and it’s been going on for a while, and I don’t know what to do. Can I spit it out, and if you never want to see me again, you can just walk away?”

Anthony frowned. “I can’t imagine you saying anything that would make me leave. Unless you’re married? Or lied about your status?”

Cillian shook his head. “I feel like they’d be less complicated. For the record, I’ve never been married or even engaged. And I’m more than happy to do a blood test since my last one was three months ago… though you are the only person I’ve slept with since.”

“You showed me, and I believe you.”

Cillian tilted his head, eyes on the street as he bit his ice cream. His tongue darted over his lip. “I’ve never told anyone, and I have no idea what to do. When I saw you at the party, andthe animosity between you and Hayden, I saw a chance. Yes, my friends wanted to find out what you’d done, so I cleared the air after I’d played to stop Hayden from shit-stirring.”

“I was outside. I heard you play. It must have cost him to have you play. I have it on good authority you’re the greatest pianist I’ve never heard of.”

Cillian smiled, but didn’t laugh. “That’s a joke from our uni days. We were so convinced of our own magnificence and so deeply insecure.”

“Aren’t you describing all artists?”

That got a half-hearted laugh out of Cillian. “Hayden didn’t pay me. He never does.”

“What do you mean? He has plenty of money.” But it was so like Hayden, to be cheap.

“He’s blackmailing me.” Cillian closed his eyes.

Blackmail? Hayden was many things, but blackmail…? Why on earth was he blackmailing Cillian? It didn’t make sense. Margot’s warning that Cillian wanted something echoed in his ears.

“And you thought because I’m an ex?—”

“No. Because you don’t like him, I thought you might help me. That’s why I approached you at the party, but that’s not why I slept with you.” Cillian looked at Anthony with glassy eyes. “It all got muddled after the kiss, and I let my dick take the lead. I should’ve told you sooner, and I’m sorry. And I understand if you hate me.”

Anthony wasn’t sure what he felt.

He knew there was a reason Cillian had talked to him at the party, and he’d been honest that his friends wanted to know what he’d done, so there was no reason to doubt this claim. Yet, at the same time, it made no sense. “Why would he blackmail you? No offence, but he has a fuck-ton of money.”

Chocolate ice cream dripped over Cillian’s fingers. “It’s not about money. It’s about power. He can make me jump, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.”

That sounded like Hayden. Hayden wouldn’t warn him away from Cillian himself. No, he’d make a few comments, and Margot would do it for him.

“It’s all such a fucking mess.” He licked his fingers and took a couple of bites. “Fuck, ice cream is supposed to make you feel better, and it’s not bloody working.”

Anthony’s thoughts churned and spun.

Cillian was upset at his ice cream, himself, and everything else.

“I need to ask, what does he have on you?”

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