Page 45 of Bound By Ink

Chapter 24

I shake my head as he leaves. What the hell am I doing? I can’t be with Killian. I’m reading too much into this. He’s always been affectionate and loving towards me. He’s always looked out for me.

It won’t work; he doesn’t do relationships. I’ve watched him go through numerous people, never returning, but a lot wait around, hoping for another chance. I don’t want to be like that. I don’t want to be a hanger-on, pining for him.

So, I stand and grab some clean clothes because I’ve slept in these, and they smell like Killian. I take a quick shower and dress smart. I stare at myself in the mirror. The bruise is dark purple, yellowing at the edges. The scab on my lip is thick.

I grab my coat and head downstairs. Killian is sitting on the sofa with Steven beside him. The TV is off, which never happens, and I stare at them both.

“You’re really gonna apologise to that cunt?” Steven spits at me. “I had to rip him off you, Scott.” He steps closer. “If I weren’t here. Scott, you know that’s not right. You know you can’t trust him again.”

“Steven, don’t. I need to apologise. I don’t expect him to forgive me. But I need to say sorry. What I did…” My gaze flicks to Killian. He stares me down but doesn’t tell Steven what happened between us. Why Derren lost it. “I just need to apologise.” I move toward the door. “I’ll grab an Uber.”

Killian stands and heads toward me. “I’ll take you.” I nod and step outside. The two of them start muttering a jumble of words, but I can’t make any of them out. And then Killian is behind me. He catches me up and places his hand on the small of my back; it torches my skin through my clothes. I quicken my steps towards the car. Killian opens the door for me, and I climb in before he heads to the driver’s side. I buckle my seatbelt and stare out of the window.

“Where am I taking you?”

“Sandwich shop,” I say, still gazing out of the car. He drives in silence.

When we pull up outside, he turns the engine off and turns to me. “I need to say something. I don’t want to fight. I just need you to listen. I will only say it once.” He looks at me. But I nod. “Nothing you did deserves being hit.” I turn away from him, but his hand rests on my leg. “Scott. Don’t settle for someone who treats you less than you’re worth. He doesn’t get to lay hands on you. If he does again, I will break every finger before shattering his hands so he’s never able to do anything like it again. I love you. I will always love you. If you need me, I will always be there for you. I’ll stay here while you go in. Do you understand?”

I turn to him, the tears in my eyes wanting to fall. Part of me wonders if there will ever be a chance for us,knowing he’ll never be able to give me a proper relationship.

“I understand. But I can’t do this with you here. I need to do this on my own.”

He nods, and I hold the door handle.

“Thank you, Killian.” His glare is passive, but the tightness in his jaw isn’t lost on me as I climb out of the car. I stare at him for an eternity before he drives away. The lights disappear, and I take a deep breath, standing on the curb. The cold nips at my skin. I turn and walk toward the sandwich shop. When I push the door open, our eyes lock as he’s standing, wiping the counter down. I keep eye contact and walk toward him.

“Can we talk?”

“I’m working,” he snaps.

“I see that. Can we talk, though?”

He glares at me. “My break’s in thirty minutes.”

“I’ll have a coffee then, please.” I offer him a tight smile. His scowl deepens, and he turns his back while he makes my drink before handing me the card machine. With his glare burning into me, I try to hold my composure and not let my hand shake. I pay, scoop up my drink and head to the back of the shop and hunker down in the corner. While I sit and wait, I watch the world go by and sip at my coffee, trying to keep the nerves at bay.

When he finally comes over to me, the disdain burned into his features fills my vision. It’s all I can see, and I want to fix it. I want to repair us and give this a shot. It’s all just a misunderstanding.

“I don’t have long, so make it fucking quick.”

“Derren, please sit down.”

“Make it quick, Scott.”

I take a deep breath, glancing down. I clasp my hands together and look at his chest, because I can’t face looking into his eyes. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to say how sorry I am.”

“Were you sorry while you were fucking him?” His arms cross over his chest.

“It wasn’t like that, Derren. It didn’t mean anything.” The lie hurts my heart as I say it, but I can’t stop it from falling from my lips. “It was a one-off. A stupid mistake.”

“I’m supposed to believe that?” He tightens his arms and glares at me. “I’m supposed to believe that it won’t happen again.”

“It won’t. I promise. Me and Killian…”

“Don’t, don’t say his fucking name.”