Page 139 of Embriagado

I huffed. “Sounds like you hit the jackpot.”

He smiled again, yet it was so sad it nearly broke my heart. “I’m very fortunate.”

Fortunate.

Saying something like this with such a sad expression… shit. What this man was doing to me was fucking illegal. If only I could hug him, but I couldn’t. He’d probably stab me—or shoot me—so instead, I crossed my arms. Looking at him right now, I’d give just about anything to know what was going through his mind.

What a shame I was out of questions… not that it mattered. Either way, all I’d get from him would be more lies. But who was he lying to? Me or himself?

“We can go home,” I said, breaking the silence. “I’m done eating.”

“I have a question for you.”

Surprised, I sat up in my chair. “Yeah?”

“When will you tire of these meals? After all, they will only satisfy you for so long before they don’t.”

My lips curled up into a half smile.

“Why? Worried you’ll run out of money feeding me?”

It might have been subtle, but just then, his lips quivered like he was fighting a painful smile, and he cupped the tea mug harder.

“I’m saying that… this arrangement will soon not be enough, and ultimately, you’ll ask to revert to its original terms.” With his eyes not meeting mine, he took a deep breath. “So I’m asking… when?”

This guy will be the death of me.

Reaching forward, I slipped the mug from between his fingers.

Shocked, Ariyan looked up, that scared expression on his face, the one I rarely ever saw. It left a bad taste in my mouth, so I took a sip of his tea, which had gone cold by now. Done, I placed the mug back on the table and wiped my lips.

“You’d be surprised how much I can eat.”

The tension between his brows broke, and he seemed relieved. I liked that expression. It suited him much more than sadness. But knowing he’d probably hate me if I showed compassion, I instead knocked on the table and got up.

“I’m gonna pay tonight.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Yeah.”

He averted his stare, and I briefly watched as he chewed on his bottom lip. At the end of the day, we all deserved a bit of empathy, even a psycho like him.

* * *

“Need a ride?”

Surprised by his offer, I stopped and looked ahead. Standing next to his beautiful red bike, helmet in hand, Ariyan glanced back at me while waiting for my answer.

“Why are you being so nice today?” My lips curled into a teasing smile as he clicked his tongue.

“A simple no would have been more than enough.”

“Just saying—” I strolled closer to him. “—I might get used to your sweet side.”

The death glare he gave me made me take three steps backward.

“Whoa, how scary,” I chuckled.