“Adalynn don—”

“Kohen it’s simple, sit down and let’s enjoy the rest of our night. You’re making a bigger deal out of this than there needs to be.” I tug on his jeans. “Please don’t ruin our night because my friend, who I haven’t seen in a few months, said he misses me. It’s not what you think.”

I’m surprised nobody has yelled at him for blocking the screen. As if reading my mind, Kohen glances around the darken theater again. He huffs loudly and settles in a chair two seats away from me. Mature.

The movie starts before I can demand my phone back. Wanting to change the night around, I lean over to caress his hand with the tips of my fingers. He turns his head to me and shoots me a glare before facing the screen. I roll my eyes as I adjust myself in the chair.

If someone were to ask me what the movie was about, I couldn’t tell them a single thing. It could have been in a foreign language and I wouldn’t have known any better. Because instead of enjoying the new comedy, I focused on the fact that Kohen made no move to sit next to me. He acted as if I wasn’t even there. He’s punishing me for something I have no control over. It’s not like I can tell Jax, someone who’s been in my life for sixteen years, that he can’t text me.

Silence fills the ride home. He keeps me tucked under his arm in the backseat. Every time I ask if wants to talk about it, he ignores me. When the cab pulls up to our apartment building Kohen tosses cash onto the seat and jerks me out of the taxi. Actually fucking tugs me out of it. This has to be about more than Jax just texting me. Looks like I won’t have to wait too long to get to the bottom of it. After dragging me through the lobby and into the elevator, Kohen pushes me against the nearest wall.

“Are you going to tell me why you lied to me?”

“I didn’t . . .” I trail off at the pressure of his fingers digging into my skin.

“DO. NOT. LIE. TO. ME.”

With each word, he squeezes me harder. I nod but don’t say anything. I don’t know what to say.

“What’s really going on with you and Jax?”

“Nothing!” I say, glad that I can tell the truth.

He squeezes me tighter. I force myself not to react. I’m used to pain. I’ve inflicted pain on myself. This is nothing. I can handle this. I can handle Kohen when he’s irrationally upset over nothing. Well, not nothing since I’m the reason why he’s jealous in the first place.

“I’ve been hanging out with you more and Jax has been busy with work. We keep missing each other when I go to dinner with Logan and Connor. We’ve been friends for sixteen years, he’s my brother’s best friend. He’s always going to be in my life. The sooner you realize this, the better for us. I will not put up with you acting like this.”

His dark blue stormy eyes soften and I know he believes my lies. He blinks as if finally realizing he has me pinned against the wall of the elevator. He releases me and steps back.

“Adalynn, I’m so sorry, baby. I . . . I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please believe me.”

He lightly runs his fingers over my fresh bruises, then covers my cheeks with his hands. “I could never hurt you, Adalynn. I love you.” He trails kisses down my nose to my lips. “I love you so much, Adalynn. I’m so so sorry, baby.”

The pain in his voice hurts me more than the bruises. I know all about doing something you wish you could take back, but you can’t. I know all about hurting the people you love the most. I know all about wanting to change the impossible. I feel his pain as if it’s my own.

I stroke my hands up and down his strong chest. His muscles tense underneath my hands. I stare up at his handsome face so he believes what I have to say.

“I know, I know you didn’t mean it. You didn’t hurt me. You could never really hurt me Kohen.”

I lean up on my tiptoes, pull his head down with my hands and bring his lips to mine. In this one kiss I convey that we are all right, that I don’t blame him, and I’m not mad at him. We separate from each other when the elevator opens on my floor.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

He attention fixes on my bruises. I need to make him feel better. If he leaves like this he will only focus on the bruises, on hurting me. I don’t want that. I want to invite him in, to stay the night, but I think it would be best if we slept at our own places tonight. Not because I think I’m afraid of him, but because I think he needs time to himself. Another reason I don’t invite him in is because as much as I try to hide it, whenever he’s in my apartment I feel like I’m betraying Jax.

I’m ridiculous, I know.

I give him a long hug. I know he needs this reassurance before he goes back to his place. I force myself to relax into his embrace, something that’s harder to do than normal.

He kisses the top of my head. “I better go.”

I nod against his chest. After another minute of being in each other’s arms, he gently scoots away. Instead of kissing me in a way that will make my toes curl, he barely brushes his lips against mine.

“I love you, Adalynn. Never forget that.”

I remain silent. I don’t feel the same. He retreats into the elevator without another word.

A few minutes later, I do my nightly routine. I avoid the mirror. I do not want to see the bruises taking residence on my forearms. I can feel them. I don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing. Before I crawl into bed, I delete Jax’s text thread. I’m moving on with Kohen, I don’t need my past with Jax interfering with my present. Suddenly feeling as if all my energy has been stolen away, I’m pulled into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Nineteen

The next morning as I’m dressing, I stand transfixed, staring at the bluish bruise of Kohen’s fingerprints on my forearms. I lightly touch the bruise. It’s tender, but not as bad as it looks. My relief is short-lived when I realize that I’ll have to wear something to cover it up.

With heavy footsteps, I sort through every blouse I have, which is a lot. After five minutes of eyeing the dress I really want to wear today, I select my creme pencil skirt and my Diane Von Furstenberg deep green long sleeve blouse.

“This will have to do.” I say a silent goodbye to the dress.

Spreading everything out, I change into a La Perla matching bra and panty set that are white with a gold lace trim. I’m feeling better about my outfit choice already as I slid the bra into place. This see-through number is one of my favorites.

At work, I’m busy typing an email when I feel someone staring at me. Glancing up, I spot Kohen walking towards my office with a exquisite bouquet of red tulips. I ignore the curious glances coming our way, and meet him at my glass door.

“What are these for?” I breathe them in. “They’re lovely!”

He gives me a quick peck on my cheek. “They’re incentive for a beautiful brunette to go to lunch with me.”

I glance down at my watch. He’s just in time. “Okay, give me a minute to finish everything up here. Then I’m all yours.”

I let my boss know that I’m heading to lunch and give a quick wave to Harper as we pass her office on our way to the elevator. She barely notices us as she taps her keyboard. It’s a busy day for her. I make a mental note to bring her back something.

Kohen interlaces our fingers together as we stroll to a nearby sushi place. He hasn’t said much since we’ve left Malcara Enterprises. As we take our seats in the crowded restaurant, I break the silence.

“Are we okay?”

He lets out a long breath. “I should be asking you that.” He runs his hand roughly down his face. “I’m so sorry, Adalynn. I can’t believe I did that. I never intended to hurt you. I promise that I—”

I cover his mouth with my fingers. “Stop, Kohen. I told you last night, you have nothing to be sorry for and I meant it. Believe me. I’m fine.” I slide my fingers from his lips to caress his cheek. “You. Did. Not. Hurt. Me.”