Page 87 of Broken Lies
Chapter Eighteen
RILEY
According to karma,bad actions lead to bad consequences. So, really, it shouldn't surprise me that messing around with Kieran Sullivan has left me feeling like a common whore.
I don’t know what possessed me to make a move on him last night in the pool. Maybe I got too caught up in the whole ‘fake wedding’ scenario and forgot that the kiss we shared was nothing more than for show.
Or maybe I just wanted to not feel so lonely for once in my life.
But after overhearing Kieran talk to Ronan, I wish I had chosen to stick with feeling lonely.
“You’re the one who forced me to marry Riley in the first place, so forgive me for trying to find some sort of way to make it tolerable.”
He didn’t say he regretted sleeping with me, but he didn’t have to. The meaning was right there, buried under the layers of sarcasm and frustration he threw at his brother.
I was just the fallout, a byproduct of some twisted plan Ronan orchestrated that Kieran has to find some way to tolerate.
God, I was so stupid.
I actually let myself believe he wanted me, that he meant all the sweet things he whispered in my ear as he took the one thing I never expected to give to him of all people.
At the time, it felt so right because when he touched me, I thought it was because he couldn’t help himself and not because I was a warm body in a cold hotel room.
I was too tired, both physically and emotionally, to do much more than stand under the shower last night before climbing into bed. I didn’t even have it in me to protest when Kieran climbed in beside me and pulled me into his arms even though the feeling of his skin against mine felt like a knife to the heart.
But when I wake the next morning, I find his side of the bed is cold with no Kieran in sight.
I should feel relieved, but the sinking feeling in my stomach has me wondering whether he’s decided to make a run for it.
“Riley? You up?”
Never mind.
The door to our suite slams shut, and I quickly plaster a fake smile on my face, despite the hollow ache in my chest.
I sit up in bed in time for Kieran to appear looking fresh-faced and carrying a jewelry bag from one of the designer stores in the hotel complex.
I frown. “What the hell is that?”
Kieran reaches inside the bag and pulls out a ring box.
“It’s a wedding ring.” He tosses it at me. “We need to make sure our story is rock solid.”
I snatch up the box and open it to find a thin gold band inside. As if I needed another reminder of the idiotic decision I made.
“I figured you wouldn’t want something too obnoxious.” He pulls out another box, which I figure has the matching band for him inside.
“This is fine.” I pull out the ring and slide it onto my finger.
It’s cold, and the sight of it makes my stomach turn.
“I suggest you get dressed. We need to leave for the airport soon.”
The flight home is quiet,but not due to Kieran’s lack of trying.
I lose count of how many times he asks if I want anything to drink or if I’m cold and need a blanket.
I shake my head every time. It’s easier than pretending I’m okay when I’m not.
