Page 84 of Sinners' Appetite
Once I get inside, instead of taking a shower, I hop onto the bed and close my eyes.
This wasn’t what I had in mind. I should have fucking known better.
Dean is right. The longer I wait to tell Nikki about Amber and the whole situation surrounding her, the greater my chances are for her being upset.
I can’t risk losing her.
It would fucking kill me.
“Malachi?”
I open my eyes and smile when I see Nikki standing over me.
“Oh—I must have fell asleep…sorry, baby girl.” I sit up, stretching my arms out as I let out a groan.
“Dean made lunch for all of us,” she says, still a hint of annoyance in her tone.
“I’m not very hungry, but I’ll—” I start to say, until she cuts in.
“What the fuck is your problem? Why are you being like this?” she spits out angrily.
I sigh, bowing my head. “I’m just exhausted, that’s all, baby.”
“Bullshit,” she hisses.
“Nikki—please.”
“You haven’t touched me since last night. You’ve been so fucking distant ever since we played that game, and I think I know why.”
I keep my head held down as she continues. “I think something happened between you and Dean. Something that you both promised to never talk about again…”
Fuck.
“Nothing happened…” I murmur.
“Whatever it was, Malachi—you can talk to me.”
I lift my head and look her dead in the eyes. “Not this. You won’t understand.”
She walks over and sits down on the bed beside me, running her fingertips along the inside of my forearm. “Try me.”
“Fuck, Nikki. Just drop it, please.”
“Either you tell me, or—I can ask Dean myself.”
A rush of panic flows through me and I reach down to grab her hand. “I’d rather you didn’t. It’s in the past. It should stay that way.”
“It’s not in the past if you’re still bothered by it, Malachi.”
I don’t even know how to explain any of this to her. It’s not that I don’t think she deserves to know.
I just can’t find the words to start with.
“Tell me…” she insists.
“Fuck it.” I groan, trying to gather every bit of courage I have to explain everything as best as I can. “I had a fiancée.”
“Okay?”
