Page 68 of Shattered Oaths

My heart aches at how far I’ve allowed myself to drift away from her.

“Justin was cheating on me,” I admit in a quiet voice.

Daisy’s eyes widen. “What? Who with?”

“His secretary.” I shrug like it’s no big deal. “And probably anyone else that would have him.”

“God, Bella. I’m so sorry,” Daisy says, her chin wobbling.

I eye her, confused by the tears gathering in her eyes. “Are you about to cry?”

“No,” she responds immediately, blinking furiously.

“Hormones?” I ask, trying to conceal the amusement in my voice.

She nods, her lip between her teeth. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” I bat a hand through the air. “I was sad about it for the first twenty-four hours, but when I woke up after those two days feeling lighter than I have in years, I quickly came to realise that I was never in love with him the way I thought I was. I think I was just in love with the idea of having the life you, Savannah and Liv have.”

We move on from the denim rail and on to the dresses and I run my fingers over the soft fabrics, taking out the ones that catch my eye.

“Do you think…” She pauses, debating her words. “Do you think Noah’s helped you realise that?” My heart thrashes in my chest just from the sound of his name, images of the past week assaulting me.

“In some ways, yes,” I tell her honestly, cheeks heating under her burning curiosity. “But it’s more than that.”

“There’s something going on between the two of you, isn’t there?”

I avert my gaze, focusing on the clothes for much longer than necessary. “It’s uh… new.”

Daisy gasps, clapping her hands excitedly and I quickly stop her, looking around the boutique to make sure she hasn’t drawn attention to us. “Would you stop?” I whisper, laughing.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m just happy for you. It’s about damn time.”

My brows pinch. “What do you mean?”

She rolls her eyes, throwing a cute tank top over my already weighed down arm. “Oh, please. It’s obvious the two of you have been dancing around each other for years.And I saw the way he was looking at you at the cookout the other day.”

“Does Killian know?” I ask, my breaths quickening with panic.

“No. I think Killian is the only person on this planet that hasn’t noticed the obvious attraction between you and Noah.”

Blowing out a relieved breath, I nod. “Noah thinks he’ll never allow it.”

Daisy scoffs. “Noah’s probably right. Killian told me years ago about some stupid promise he had him make.”

I freeze, gaze flying to hers. “What promise?”

Daisy continues perusing items of clothing, unbothered as she responds. “That he’d stay away from you.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I say, much louder than I intended which causes a few heads to turn in our direction, but I’m suddenly far too angry to give a shit.

“He’s married to my best friend, but I’m notallowedto go near his?” I ask, incredulous.

My body thrums in frustration. At Killian for making Noah take some sort of fucking oath, and at Noah for doing it.

Daisy looks at me, her eyes filled with sympathy, and I know what’s going to come out of her mouth before she even opens it.

“He was kinda right to do it, though, Bells. Noah is a player. Hasalwaysbeen a player. I don’t think the man has ever had a girlfriend.”