Page 56 of Knotting else Matters

Her smile faltered, a faint, confused frown flickering across her face. “What?”

“You played me, Sophie. Manipulated me. Cancelled my hotel reservation, dumped me at Adrian’s place, and just assumed I’d be fine with it.”

“I was trying to help—”

“Help? By treating me like a pawn in your perfect, polished little fairy tale?” I stepped closer, the sharp, bitter ache twisting in my chest, the anger crashing over me like a wave. “I don’t need your help, Sophie. I didn’t ask for it.”

“Liv, you were alone. Stuck in a crappy hotel, going through a divorce, and you weren’t even going to come to the wedding if I hadn’t begged you.” Her voice rose, a faint, desperate edge threading through it. “I just wanted you to be part of this. I wanted you to be here.”

“Yeah? Well, I’m here now. I’ll stay for the wedding tomorrow, and then I’m gone.”

“Gone? You said you will stay another week after...” Her voice cracked, her wide, blue eyes filling with hurt. “Liv, please—”

“I don’t belong here. I never did.” My voice was sharp, a fierce, desperate edge threading through it, and I hated the way it cracked. “And you know it.”

Sophie’s lips tightened, her jaw clenching, and then her gaze swept over me, her eyes narrowing. “Niceclaim mark,by the way. Guess you found a way to keep yourself entertained.”

My fingers flew to the faint, bruised mark at the curve of my neck, the heat rushing to my cheeks, a wild, furious twist of shame and anger crashing through me.

“Yeah, well, congratulations. Your little game worked perfectly.”

“Game?” She stepped closer, her voice a fierce, desperate whisper. “Is that what you think this is? Me trying to make you miserable? I’m trying to keep you close, Liv. I’m trying ...”

“Maybe you should stop trying.” I turned, storming back toward the truck, the sharp, suffocating ache in my chest twisting, tightening, clawing at me.

“Maybe you should stop pretending you don’t want to stay.” Her voice was a fierce, breathless whisper, but I didn’t turn.

I couldn’t.

Because she was right.

And I hated her for it.

Adrian’s jaw tightened, the fierce, tense silence between us stretching, twisting, suffocating. His dark gaze stayed locked on mine, that wild, electric heat still burning beneath the cold, steady calm of his expression.

“I’ll take you back.” His voice was low, clipped, too controlled.

“No.” I shook my head, forcing a sharp, bitter smile. “I’ll get a cab.”

“Olivia—”

“See you tomorrow. At the wedding.”

I didn’t wait for his response. I turned, walking away, my heart pounding against my ribs, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. My fingers fumbled with my phone, the screen blurring as I pulled up the rideshare app, the sharp, blue light a cruel, relentless glare against the darkness.

The cab pulled up within minutes, the driver—a grizzled, gray-haired man with a warm, easy smile—leaning out the window. “Evenin’, miss. Where to?”

I hesitated, the twisting ache in my chest tightening, clawing at me. I couldn’t go back to the hotel. Not yet. Not when my thoughts were a tangled, desperate mess, not when the fierce, electric heat of Adrian’s gaze still burned against my skin.

“Take me to one of the Moon Goddess temples.”

The driver’s smile widened, a faint, knowing warmth in his eyes. “Got just the place for you. You wanna head up to the shrine? It’s quieter there. Better for prayer.”

“Sure.” I forced a smile, leaning back in the worn, leather seat, the faint scent of old lavender air freshener filling the cab. “Take me there.”

CHAPTER 14

Olivia

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