Page 74 of The Ring Thief
“I don’t know,” I say. “But I think he’ll be looking at me all night, wondering if I put them on or not.”
A cackle escapes her. “Oh my god! He gave you the perfect way to torture him!”
I smile. “Yes, he did, and I’ll be taking sweet,sweetadvantage of it.”
She claps her hands, her expression delighted. “I like this side of you, Lil.”
The heat in my cheeks finally eases, and I spin back around to throw her a bemused look. “What side?”
“This confident, sassy side. I like that you aren’t just giving in; that you’re making him work to get back in your good graces.” Her words hit a target on my insecurities, making me flinch, and she frowns, standing up and coming towards me. “What is it?”
I shake my head, sinking my teeth into my lower lip. When I finally meet her eyes, there’s a stubborn glint there, making me sigh. “I just…I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing or not. Wouldn’t it be easier for both of us if we just stopped whatever this is? Called time of death and moved on with our lives. I can’t be with someone I don’t trust.”
“This isn’t about trusting him,” she announces, before flouncing out of the room. I gape after her, following her into the kitchen.
“What do you mean, it’s not about trusting him?” I demand, watching as she helps herself to a bottle of wine, filling two glasses... “What else would it be about?”
“Drink up.” She thrusts one glass into my hand, but when I don’t immediately put it to my lips, she presses a hand to the bottom, tipping it up towards my mouth. She’s relentless, forcing me to comply before the liquid tips all over my dress. She doesn’t release her hold until I’ve had several swallows, and I finally manage to extricate myself, backing away.
“Sasha!”
“What?” she asks innocently, leaning back against the counter,casually sipping at her own wine now that she’s stopped assaulting me. “You needed it. You’re being all, you know…uptight.”
“I’m not being uptight,” I retort defensively. “I’m just?—”
“Protecting yourself. It’s not about trusting him,” she says again, her tone going suspiciously gentle, like she thinks I’m about to bolt. It’s not an unreasonable fear, because my hands are sweating and I can’t make myself look her in the eye. “You don’t trustyourself.”
“Why wouldn’t I trust myself? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No, you didn’t,” she agrees easily. “But you also didn’t fight for him. You just walked away…and I’m not saying that was the wrong move to make, but you obviously weren’t ready to lose him, or we wouldn’t be here.” Swallowing the urge to get defensive, I look over just as she tilts her head, her mouth cocked to one side as she watches me knowingly. “Do you think Declan would hurt you again?”
I search deep for the answer. “No,” I say slowly. “But I also don’t think he wholly understands the damage he did.”
Realization has her eyes flaring wide. “You’re talking about Silvia, aren’t you? Not the company.”
I throw back the rest of the wine, before admitting, “She’s a problem for me. He told me she was involved because they were friends.” I shake my head. “She was horrible to me our entire relationship.” I flick up a finger. “She called him on our honeymoon.” Another finger. “Sweetheart.” I sneer at the word as a third finger rises. “He had coffee with her, while my world was falling apart, and they lookedreallyfreaking cozy.” The last finger lifts, and then my thumb as I finish with, “And now she’s telling everyone I trapped him into marriage.”
“Has he said anything about the rumors she’s spreading?”
I shake my head. “We haven’t exactly talked since the annulment, not properly or while sober.”
She grins at that, but then she pins a serious stare on me. “But you haven’t asked him, either.” It’s not a question, and I grimace guiltily. “You’re both falling into the exact same pattern. You’re not communicating, either of you.”
“And you’re making my point,” I tell her. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just let it die a natural death?”
She groans, closing her eyes. “There’s nothing natural about this.” Inhaling deeply, like she’s praying for patience. “Do you love him?”
I hesitate just long enough for her eyes to narrow, daring me to try and lie. “Yes.”
“And we know he loves you.” I shrug, but don’t bother arguing. “So, go on this date and let his actions speak for him. And then when he brings you home, for the love of god, talk to him, Lily. Tell him that this has been eating at you and give him a chance to make it right.”
I know she’s got a point, but fear surges into my throat, making it hard to take a full breath, my mind whirling withwhat if…what if…what if.I barely survived the first round with him.
“And if he lets me down again?” I breathe, the words a whisper in the air between us.
She gives me a soft smile. “If he does—and let me preface this by saying that I don’t think he will—then you grieve what’s been lost, and you move on. You and Declan are different people from the two who stood up at that altar. Do you really think you’ll both make the same mistakes?”
Before I can give her an answer, there’s a firm knock at the front door that has both our heads swiveling like owls. I don’t make a move to answer it, and Sasha sets her wine glass down and comes forward, wrapping me in a tight hug.
