Page 133 of Bad Influence
I kiss her before she can ask anything else. I told her once to not ask questions to maintain plausible deniability. I still meant it.
I was never fucking worried about our families, but when I pull back, I can see there’s a lightness in her eyes which wasn’tthere before. The guilt of leaving and going against her family’s expectations was really eating at her.
“I’ll never be able to walk past here without thinking of you,” she says, absent mindedly.
We’re walking past the designer store outside of which I told her I’m in love with her.
“Maybe it wasn’t the most romantic spot,” I admit.
“No, it was romantic. It was honest.”
Pushing her arm through mine, she rests her head on my shoulder.
“Are you okay?” I kiss the top of her head.
“Yeah. I think I always expected it to end the same way,” she says. “I spent so long feeling guilty even when I knew they wouldn’t accept it. Now, I don’t feel guilty anymore.”
“But you are sad.” It’s not a question because I’ve been through the same thing. Knowing your family, your parents, can never accept you because they love their social status more is always a hard blow. I learned it over years so by the time I left, it was easier.
“A little,” Caroline admits. “I’ve always known they won’t accept anything other than what they want for me. It’s difficult to finally face it.” She tilts her head up to look at me, eyes soft. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, butterfly.”
“Let’s go home, Killian.”
Epilogue
KILLIAN
“I’m soproud of you, darling,” Gran gushes. “Every single painting is perfect. I wish I can buy all of them.”
“Thanks, Gran.”
“I’m going to hang it right in the living room, so everyone has to look it.”
“You mean Mom and Dad have to look at it.”
She smiles slyly. “Perhaps.”
I look up, searching for Caroline in the dark, crowded gallery. I find her immediately, talking to her Aiden as they stand by the painting he’s bought.
The showcase is a hit. All the paintings have sold, which makes my agent very happy. Caroline excuses herself from Aiden and weaves through the crowd back to us. She’s wearing a tight black dress that’s completely backless except for the string of gold chain attaching one sleeve to the other and running down her back.
I’m going to enjoy taking it off her as much as I enjoyed watching her put it on.
“Gerry, Aiden was just telling me the two of you had quite the conversation,” Caroline says.
“He’s a sweet boy,” Gran says. “Too bad he’s single.”
“Please don’t meddle,” I say.
Gran looks at me innocently. “I won’t! He’s not my grandson. Now, where is Lilith?”
Gran looks around for Lilith and finally spots her in the crowd. With a wave, she goes to talk to her, and I wrap an arm around Caroline, pulling her against me.
“I’m so glad this is over,” I say.
“Me, too. I hated seeing you all stressed.”
