Page 111 of Beautiful Scar

“About… what?” I swallow, already sure of the answer.

“You’ve come out of your shell way more than I ever thought you would, but you’re still the same old Dash.” He beams at me, but I don’t share his amusement.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re locking all those feelings up. That’s what you’ve always done, right?”

“I don’t, I mean, you’re not—” I cross my arms, my cheeks turning red with frustration. Because I know he’s right.

Bury it down. Chin up, spine straight. Act all prim and proper, become the perfect submissive girl, and nobody will hurt you.

That’s been my mantra for twelve long years.

Make all the trauma disappear through sheer force of will.

But it doesn’t work anymore. I can’t keep living my life pretending I’m one thing when really, I’m another entirely.

I’m not prim. I’m not proper. And I’m sure as heck not perfect.

I’m just Dasha, and I’m still trying to figure it out.

“You should tell him,” Evan says, glancing toward the kitchen before he stands up. “I bet he feels the same.”

“I don’t know.” I’m burning with butterflies and nervous fear. “Maybe he doesn’t.”

“Dash, you’re insane. Have you seen the way he looks at you? It’s like you’re a princess. No, like you’re a freaking angel.” He pats my shoulder as he walks past. “Tell themudakI said I’ll talk to him later. And next time, we’ll get along, all right?”

“Wait, hold on,” I say, hopping up. “Are you serious about, you know?—”

“See you later, Dash.” He walks off, leaving me alone in the dining room. I plop back down in my chair, feeling depleted and scared. Not because anything’s wrong, but because if Evan can see what I really think about Tigran, then I can’t keep it hidden for much longer.

Tigran emerges a few minutes later with some tea. “Did your brother leave?” he asks.

“A little while ago. I made him promise to get along with you better.” I take a sip of the herbal sleepy-time blend. “And now you’re going to do the same.”

He scowls, shaking his head. “Why would I do that? Thevngstanhas been nothing but a pain in my ass.”

I have no clue what that word means, but I suspect it’s notreally good happy friend.

“You’ll do it for me. And also because Evan’s just being protective.” I arch my eyebrows and blow on my tea. “Sound familiar?”

“He’s lucky I’m married to his sister,” Tigran grumbles. I love it when he gives in to me. I doubt he bends for basically anyone else. “Otherwise—” He cuts a hand across his throat.

“Make peace. He will too, I promise.”

“Fine. For you, anything. You know that.”

More butterflies assault my belly. Right where our baby’s growing.

“I know,” I say, grinning at my gorgeous husband.

Chapter 35

Tigran

“You know, I expected to hate this city,” Evan says as he walks beside me. He’s got this obnoxious swagger to his gait that annoys the hell out of me. “But it’s actually not so bad.”

“I’m so glad you approve of my city.”

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