Page 40 of King of Hearts

“What do you mean?”

He stalked forward until he was in my space, tipping my face back.

“I mean, you called me several times, then when I came home, you were gone. It’s been hours. Mal hasn’t heard from you, and your GPS wasn’t working.”

I narrowed my eyes on him, a smart remark on the tip of my tongue…but there was something about the look in his eye that stopped me. He was truly worried for me, so much so that I had no idea what dark images had haunted him those hours I was gone. If the tables were turned, I’d be so angry with him.

Cradling his wrist, I peered up into his eyes and gave him the only truth I could that wouldn’t endanger him.

“I lied to you.”

Warm whiskey eyes settled on me, releasing a flutter of hope in my caved-in chest where nothing seemed to live or grow anymore.

Blinking away a tear, I softly explained it to him. “Holden isn’t in the picture. I didn’t want you to be in…” I paused, realizing I couldn’t tell him the real reason I had lied…so I could only give him a partial truth. “I didn’t want your pity, so I lied and said he was going with me.”

His thumb swept away my tear and then rubbed the wetness along my bottom lip.

Seeing his emotions reflect in his eyes always gave him away. Juan cared about me, more than he should…more than I could afford.

He would only get hurt by caring for me.

“When do you go?” he asked, a gentle touch landing on my hip. I could still feel it through the thick material of the robe.

“Tomorrow.” I hesitated…he couldn’t go. If I was being followed, they’d kill him.

“But Juan, I can’t—”

“I need to check my schedule,” Juan said coolly before turning on his heel and putting distance between us. I had hit a glass wall made purely of assumptions, but it bruised and left a mark. I had stupidly thought he was about to offer to go with me again…but he was only offering to check his schedule. Good then. We needed the space, I’d go alone, and he’d be safe.

His brow knitted when he faced me again, this time closer to the stairs.

“You calling earlier…what was the issue?”

I swallowed, forcing burning tears away. “Umm…I can’t remember.”

He stared at me as though he knew I was lying, but would he call me out on it?

“Where were you?” His hands linked across his chest while a dull look crossed his features. He was still angry with me. I was probably just an inconvenience. He’d likely had plans tonight and now he was missing them because I wouldn’t answer my phone.

“I was at Target…but then…”

He sneered, bringing his hand to his hair. “Of course you were just shopping. Shallow as fuck, and you don’t even think about the people around you. Why would you call me several times in a row and then just go radio silent? Do you have any idea how fucked up that was?”

A burning sensation filled my chest, bubbling over, filling every pore, every fiber of my soul. I had opened up to him, told him the truth, confronted the fact that I had lied to him, and I had assumed he’d forgive me, like Mallory always did.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, already wishing I could just go back to my forest and disappear there.

“I don’t think this is working, you living here,” he stated, bringing his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

Silence stretched between us as he stood with his confession in the air.

I swallowed every other word I wanted to utter. What could I say? I refused to let my heart sink or let the feeling of being insignificant wash over me. I steeled myself and nodded, walking past Juan. He deserved so much better than me, and the sooner I moved and exited his life, the sooner he’d find it.

“Okay.”

“That’s all you have to say?” he asked, his voice cracking.

I stared up at him, getting closer to where he stood. “What do you want me to say?”

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